What do you think?
Rate this book
Mini and Hardly and the Big Adventure
Mini is small and Hardly is smaller. They can’t wait to grow up. Being big means BIG adventures!
But perhaps they are about to discover that being little is quite special after all…
But perhaps they are about to discover that being little is quite special after all…
32 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2021
1 person is currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Rayner
55 books83 followersSee also Catherine Rayner for works on the Bronte sisters
Award winning author and illustrator Catherine Rayner studied Illustration at Edinburgh College of art. She fell in love with the city and still lives there with her husband, young son and a handful of creatures: Shannon the horse, Ena the grey cat and a goldfish called Richard.
She finds huge inspiration in her pets and often uses them as models, frequently asking Ena to pose so that she can study her posture and movement. Then she translates sketches of Ena into characters such as dragons and hares, not to mention moose and bears! But it was creatures of a wilder kind that inspired her first picture book, Augustus and His Smile - Catherine spent hours and hours watching and sketching tigers (in freezing temperatures) at Edinburgh Zoo.
Winner of the 2009 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal for her second book Harris Finds His Feet, Catherine has now been shortlisted four times for the award. She was also awarded the Best New Illustrator Award at the Booktrust Early Years Awards in 2006 and was named one of Booktrust’s ten Best New Illustrators in 2008. In 2010, she was the inaugural illustrator in residence at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. In 2012 Catherine’s book Iris and Isaac won the UKLA Children’s Book Award and the Dutch edition of Solomon Crocodile has been selected as PICTURE BOOK OF THE YEAR 2014 in The Netherlands by the CPNB.
Award winning author and illustrator Catherine Rayner studied Illustration at Edinburgh College of art. She fell in love with the city and still lives there with her husband, young son and a handful of creatures: Shannon the horse, Ena the grey cat and a goldfish called Richard.
She finds huge inspiration in her pets and often uses them as models, frequently asking Ena to pose so that she can study her posture and movement. Then she translates sketches of Ena into characters such as dragons and hares, not to mention moose and bears! But it was creatures of a wilder kind that inspired her first picture book, Augustus and His Smile - Catherine spent hours and hours watching and sketching tigers (in freezing temperatures) at Edinburgh Zoo.
Winner of the 2009 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal for her second book Harris Finds His Feet, Catherine has now been shortlisted four times for the award. She was also awarded the Best New Illustrator Award at the Booktrust Early Years Awards in 2006 and was named one of Booktrust’s ten Best New Illustrators in 2008. In 2010, she was the inaugural illustrator in residence at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. In 2012 Catherine’s book Iris and Isaac won the UKLA Children’s Book Award and the Dutch edition of Solomon Crocodile has been selected as PICTURE BOOK OF THE YEAR 2014 in The Netherlands by the CPNB.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 27, 2022
Very pretty illustrations but found the storyline lacking. Two young winged unicorns want to be older so they can have adventures, after having one and being found by mum they decide it's quite nice being small after all.
I can imagine this book would have great appeal for small horse lovers. It would have been nice for these winged unicorns to have been called pegacorns or winged unicorns, the story refers to them as unicorns. A bit more to the storyline would have elevated this to a four star read.
I can imagine this book would have great appeal for small horse lovers. It would have been nice for these winged unicorns to have been called pegacorns or winged unicorns, the story refers to them as unicorns. A bit more to the storyline would have elevated this to a four star read.
October 12, 2021
The illustrations were pretty but the story was a little ho-hum.
January 25, 2024
Mini and Hardly are two tiny unicorns who long to grow up until they discover adulthood is not as ideal as imagined.
Many children will identify with the main character’s desire to be adults as an opportunity to a ‘free world’ where they can eat whatever they wish and play unlimitedly. Mini and Hardly proceed to the ‘big adventure’ and explore the world by galloping, cantering, and flying across fields, forests, and mountains until they face unfavourable weather conditions. Alone on the coast with waves crashing and thunders rolling, playing mums and dads was not a good plan. Saved by their mother, Mini and Hardly ponder the benefits of being small and conclude, "Right now we are perfect!”
The beautiful illustrations by the Kate Greenway Medallist – Catherine Rayner offer a range of colour palettes which enhance the feelings and the atmosphere. “Mini and Hardly and the Big Adventure” is an easy-to-follow story, but it allows children to appreciate who they are and enjoy childhood moments. A classic unicorn story might be more appealing to female youngsters, with an attractive cover that will draw children to make it their first buying choice or borrow from the library.
Many children will identify with the main character’s desire to be adults as an opportunity to a ‘free world’ where they can eat whatever they wish and play unlimitedly. Mini and Hardly proceed to the ‘big adventure’ and explore the world by galloping, cantering, and flying across fields, forests, and mountains until they face unfavourable weather conditions. Alone on the coast with waves crashing and thunders rolling, playing mums and dads was not a good plan. Saved by their mother, Mini and Hardly ponder the benefits of being small and conclude, "Right now we are perfect!”
The beautiful illustrations by the Kate Greenway Medallist – Catherine Rayner offer a range of colour palettes which enhance the feelings and the atmosphere. “Mini and Hardly and the Big Adventure” is an easy-to-follow story, but it allows children to appreciate who they are and enjoy childhood moments. A classic unicorn story might be more appealing to female youngsters, with an attractive cover that will draw children to make it their first buying choice or borrow from the library.
October 2, 2021
What I guess are watercolours illustrate this volume where two young little unicorns (of the flying variety, no less) are so determined to grow up and be big and strong and stay up all night and have adventures, that they, well, get in a pickle. The moral is obvious, so it's a little annoying the text pads out the ending with their dialogue, even long after we've all worked out what's what. Added to the fact I wasn't a huge fan of the artwork style, whatever form it took, and I think three and a half stars is my max. It's certainly worth a look, but is no classic imho.
March 31, 2022
This book was endearing. I loved the cute illustrations of Mini and Hardley. Sometimes it is hard for children to feel so little, like Mini and Hardley. The lesson of this book was to show that it is fun and carefree to be little. I feel as though this book didn't make that message very clear for children to see, however. It felt like it just told children that, instead of showing them why.
August 2, 2024
A sweet story to encourage young children to enjoy their being young while they can. They will grow up soon enough. These adorable little unicorns also have wings, so they are able to fly, as well as the parent who comes to find them. But best of all are Rayner's lovely watercolors (?) in kind of a loose and breezy style.
June 27, 2023
This is such a beautifully illustrated book, it’s such a lovely story ,my girls loved it as they love unicorns and horses, it was a great hit, but also great to explain about not going off by yourself. Perfect
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 31, 2021
So love her illustrations!
August 4, 2022
A delightful, beautifully illustrated story of two young unicorns who long to be bigger so they can have more exciting adventures, but find out that being small has its advantages.
March 14, 2024
A simple tale with really beautiful illustrations!
June 5, 2024
Lovely vocabulary
December 27, 2025
This is yet another adorable book. I love unicorns, especially tiny ones. These tiny unicorns can't wait to get bigger and go on adventures! But this story is a good reminder to kids that being a kid for now is just fine. Go read it!
May 25, 2022
A really fun, sweet book!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews