Unicorns

by Erin Peabody, Jomike Tejido (Illustrator)

Are elegant, elusive unicorns real, or just a myth? You decide with this new book in the nonfiction series, Behind the Legend!

Behind the Legend looks at creatures and monsters throughout history and analyzes them through a scientific, myth-busting lens, debating whether or not the sightings and evidence provided are adequate proof of their existence. In Unicorns, readers learn about all the sightings and "proof" of them, from stories in history of people who sought unicorns, like Julius Caesar, Genghis Khan, and Marco Polo, to why they were hunted so fiercely. This book also discusses additional history about the creatures, such as why their horns were so valued in medieval times, their presence in pop culture, and people's present-day search for unicorns. Complete with engaging anecdotes, interesting sidebars, and fantastic illustrations, kids won't want to put this book down!

Genres: Nonfiction, Childrens, Science, Fairy Tales, Mythology

129 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 2, 2018

About the author

Hi, I'm an author, conservationist and mother who writes about nature and science.

Reviews

[Kristen Mirek · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as good at the Loch Ness Monster book.

I mean, I love they quoted The Last Unicorn, but this one spent way too much time on things other than proof of unicorns. There'd be one line about how an explorer or philosopher mentioned unicorns in their writings, and then five paragraphs of other things the person did. And pages upon pages of how poisons were a big thing in the Middle Ages, a famous poison maker, and how people thought unicorn horns could protect them from it. There's actually very little about the existence of unicorns in this book, and nothing regarding the Chinese unicorn, Japanese kirin, Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, or other famous encounters. It all felt very one-sided, and not at all open to whether they did or could exist.

[MNBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have checked out nearly this entire series from our library and my son has described these books as addictive—once you start reading you have to finish. These are great options for filling out a nonfiction reading requirement and each book is a short 30-45 minute read. The illustrations are fantastic and I love all the historical references. You could really find yourself going on a tangent and looking into other references (which is encouraged in these books)!

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice compilation of folklore with nice black and white sketches.

[Rebekah]

I'm slightly disappointed with the amount of bias in the book, especially since it says right on the cover "you decide," but overall it was an interesting read.

[Leonard Alvarado · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was great, but it could be better

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

So often titles about mythical creatures are introduced in a hodgepodge of formats. This book with it's historic sequence of the horned beast from ancient times to the present is logical and full of whimsical quips. Aristotle described a he-goat "skimming over the whole earth without touching the ground." with a big horn protruding from his forehead. Various cultures have their own versions of unicorns from Persia, Greece, China, and especially the European legends of the Middle Ages. The conclusion gives just enough details, leaving the reader even more fascinated, as they graze the illustrations on almost every page, with lots features of interest such as "unicorn math" capturing their curiosity. They will want to read a few more titles about unicorns from the "For Further Reading" section at the end of the book.

[Joanne Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the way this book explored its subject through history and legend. Each page or spread presented a new myth, detail, or source which makes it perfect for kids in elementary and middle grades. Along with the facts, the book asks questions which are useful in any logical line of inquiry. There were many factual sources listed and explained, though they would need further footnoting for school reports. I think this book would both entertain and inform, and look forward to exploring the other books in the series. While the tone of the prose was a little dumbed-down, I think it did a good job engaging the reader.

[Rouge Unicorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book talks about the legend of the beast, the myth, and the beauty of the unicorn, and how abused it was and how narwhals lost their population because of unicorn horns.

[Sarahs Reads ToKids · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a unicorn lover and so are my girls. We really enjoyed reading this book together.

[Kimberly Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

See my Review here: https://youtu.be/n2JL_SxwOcQ

[Acheron Welch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the medieval unicorn illustrations.