The Unicorn and the Lake

by Marianna Mayer, Michael Hague (Illustrator)

Book by Mayer, Marianna

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Unicorns, Fantasy, Animals, Fairy Tales, Fiction

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Marianna Mayer is a children's book author and artist recognized for her beautifully written retellings of classic folk and fairy tales. Born in New York City, she began her artistic training early and studied at the Art Students League after a year of college. Her first book was published at the age of nineteen. Mayer has authored several acclaimed works, including Baba Yaga and Vasilisa the Brave, Pegasus, and The Twelve Dancing Princesses, often collaborating with renowned illustrators such as Kinuko Y. Craft and Michael Hague. She was previously married to illustrator Mercer Mayer.

Reviews

[Joseph Glass · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a piece of pure magic from my childhood. I'm deeply contented when I can read a picture book and still feel the same sense of wonder even after so many years. Priceless.

[Mir · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anti-snake propaganda.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I totally appreciate Mayer's approach to this book, building the story from three sources (explained at the front, along with a very interesting background on unicorns and their place in ancient stories and beliefs).

While I wasn't amazed by the story's style, I could appreciate it. And I thought some of the illustrations were quite beautiful.

For me, I prefer works by the Craft duo for beauty in both story and words, and but this was along a similar vein. If you like unicorns, I think you'll enjoy this book.

[Stuart · Rating 5 out of 5]

My absolute favorite children's book of all time! Totally responsible for my obsession with fantasy creatures, unicorns in particular, and perhaps my fear of snakes to boot. Beautifully illustrated and still very poignant.

[Monique · Rating 3 out of 5]

The unicorn was gigantic in his mighty splendor; his spirit was ruthless, and his mane flowed like windswept flames.

[Jonathan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is an iteration of the legend of the unicorn based, in part, off of the author's interpretation of the tale told by a series of tapestries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. While I think the premise of the story is sound and interesting, the result is dark and antiquated. Unfortunately, I found the book to be too esoteric for my taste, but it might serve as a decent introductory picture book for children interested in fantasy and unicorn legend.

[Stephanie A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations and a powerful childhood memory. For a long time, I felt certain in my heart that we had pure water to drink because of the long-ago magic of the unicorn dipping his horn into a lake. And even as a child, I felt profound sadness that the unicorn was too magical to live among the regular animals and had to vanish far away in remote mountain locations.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

There was a unicorn who was pure white as mountain snow. But people tried to hunt the unicorn down. So, the unicorn went up in the mountains. Down below the serpent caused a lot of problems. The unicorn came came down from the mountain and had a fierce battle with the serpent. The unicorn won the battle. When the unicorn went back up the mountain, he left a trail of flowers behind him.

I love this book because it has action and interesting moments. The unicorn protects all the animals and is brave.

The book has a good ending. The illustrations are really realistic. The serpent is very frightening and he is not nice to all the other animals.

When I read this book it gives me something to think about. The unicorn knows what the other animals are feeling.

Julia (age 7)

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

The unicorn returns from self-imposed exile to purify the water poisoned by the serpent.

This is a retelling of a unicorn legend demonstrating the healing properties of a unicorn's horn, which has the power to heal, cleanse, and act as an antidote to poisons. The conflict between the unicorn and the serpent embody the struggle of good versus evil.

The illustrations are by Michael Hague who is known for his unicorn artwork.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fascinating tale that describes how a unicorn who is forced to live up in the mountains (due to human hunters) saves the animals in the lower lands by first procuring water, ridding the lands of an evil serpent, then rendering the lake water safe to drink after the serpent poisoned it. The illustrations are colorful and depict the magical creature in all of its glory. The story is a bit lengthy for younger children, but we enjoyed reading it together.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jan 3, 25 - 3 Stars
Yet again, sentimentality got to my last review I think. Still a good story but not 4 stars.

May 13, 21 - 4 Stars
Nice allegory of Christ.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Marianna Mayer and illustrator Michael Hague join forces in this original fairy-tale about the unicorn, and his role in preserving all of the animals of the world during a dangerous drought. Driven into the high mountains by human hunters, the unicorn is forgotten by all the animals, who also lose their ability to speak to one another. More vulnerable than ever to the depredations of the serpent, the animals become truly desperate when the rain ceases and the world slowly dries. Crying to the heavens for relief, they are saved by the unicorn, who pierces the clouds with his horn and brings the rain. But the serpent, determined to cause trouble, poisons the lake, leading the unicorn to intervene again...

In her brief forward, Mayer discusses her three main sources for this tale—the ancient Greek text of the Physiologus ; Johannes Witte de Hese's medieval travelogue, the Itinerarius; and the Unicorn Tapestries at the Cloisters Museum in New York City. Being quite familiar with the last of these (the Cloisters is a museum I have visited many times, since childhood), I was already quite familiar with the idea of the unicorn's horn having magical qualities, including the ability to purify water, so that element of the story here felt very familiar. In any case, I found the story in The Unicorn and the Lake quite engaging, and the artwork lovely. I was particularly struck by the fact that the unicorn spares the serpent, after their battle, and that the latter feels a sense of shame, as I don't think I've ever seen another story in which the snake is a villain, but isn't irredeemably bad. In any case, this is one I would recommend to young unicorn fans and fairy-tale lovers. Mayer and Hague would go on to collaborate on another unicorn picture book a few years after this one, The Unicorn Alphabet , which I now plan to track down.

[Rizzykaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations are beautiful, I struggle with the snake always representing evil, it feels religious and my daughter likes snakes so she was concerned about the unicorn hurting the snake.
The language is too advanced for younger kiddos so I had to explain what happened but it's a beautiful book. My daughter who is unicorn-obsessed loved that the unicorn saved the day and I enjoyed the dark/melancholy tone.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations and a very helpful forward with further resources and inspiration for unicorn lore. As civilizations, we believed in unicorns for hundreds of years! Like dragons, they are a fascinating subject of our past.

[Mosley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Breathtaking art, with a heartfelt story. Perfect for any fantasy lover.

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely illustrations and a rather intense unicorn fairy tale. This reminded me of something I would have plucked off the shelves as a unicorn-obsessed kid, and possibly did.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

The art is too much, the story doesn't charm (partly, I think, because we don't get to know any individuals) and snakes don't deserve to have their bad reputation reinforced.

[Geo Hendrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story and good pictures!

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love unicorns and am a sucker for the Christian themes.

[Name · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was the best thing to ever happen to me as a kid

[Amber Swan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A childhood favorite that I rediscovered. Michael Hague’s illustrations are as charming as I remember them, and there is a nice intro about the unicorn tapestries and general myths and legends.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once upon a time all of the land lived in harmony. The mystical unicorn lived among all other animals in harmony and the land was fruitful. But due to constant threats from hunters the unicorn eventually had to leave. Once he disappeared the animals began to forget how to talk to others besides their own kind. Along with this forgetfulness came evil in the form of a snake. The snake attacked the other animals. Some animals were able to defend themselves. Others fled the threat of the snake. During this time the lake began to dry up and the rains didn't come. Now the animals who used to be able to defend themselves began to succumb to the snake because they couldn't get to water.

Finally the animals remembered each other. They finally come together to call for rain. The unicorn, high up in the mountains, saw the trouble the animals were in. He responded by reaching up into the sky and opening the clouds with his horn. Finally rain poured down. The snake did not like this one bit. So he infected the water with his venom. Again the animals could not drink. The unicorn decides he must join the animals once again to fully solve this problem. The unicorn and snake immediately begin to battle each other until the snake is shamed into slinking away.

The unicorn uses his horn to inject magic back into the land so the water comes back. But he knows he must return to the mountains to be free from the hunters.

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used to have a paperback of this gorgeous book, but lost it over the years. I'm not planning on getting a replacement. A damaged copy from the Boston Public Library is available on The Open Library. Who knows how long it will stay up.

There is a page long introduction by the author listing the sources for her story. This is not a straight retelling of an old myth. She uses bits from myths, but adds quite a bit of her own imagination. For example, the unicorn brings rain, which I don't remember from any myth.

The text is okay, but the art is phenomenal. There's a sentence on the copyright page explaining how it was created. There are lot of lovely details to feast your eyes on. It was funny to see animals from all over the world living around one lake, and at least one breed of domestic sheep, but the story is apparently set just after the Garden of Eden rigamarole.

The unicorn is pictured on less than half of the small book's pages. That helped to highlight how rare he was, and how special it was to see him. As the cover shows, this is a very equine unicorn.

When I bought my copy decades ago, I believed unicorns not only had lived, but were still alive, hidden somewhere. Mayer hints these same beliefs in her introduction. I hope she was just being playful. I think it's best just to tell kids the truth instead of them being bitterly disappointed when they figure it out for themselves.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

The unicorn in this story has long since retreated into hiding to escape human hunters. When a terrible drought dries up the lake, the forest animals, in desperation, try to call rain from the sky. The unicorn, high in his mountain retreat, hears their cries and pierces a cloud with his horn so that the rain falls. The animals' respite from thirst is short-lived, however, when an evil serpent poisons the lake. The unicorn battles with and defeats the serpent, then purifies the lake. The paintings are a combination of watercolor, gouache and ink in full color. The solid white unicorn is depicted with cloven hooves, a lion's tail, and goat's beard. Every child, ages 4-10, who loves unicorns will cherich this book.

[Kristi Hovington · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was one of my favorite books as a child, and like all of the other books that i REALLY hope my children love, i placed it on the shelf without introduction, hoping they would go to it on their own.

I placed this on their bookshelf months ago, and they both noticed it a few days later, flipped through the pages, and then put it back. Alas.

However, over the past week, they've asked me to read this to them no less than 15 times. They both cuddle up on my lap, and I read the book and they ask questions about why the serpent is so mean, why the unicorn has to leave the valley, etc. moments like this easily rank in the top parenting moments category.

this gives me great hope that they will take to harry potter and LOTR when the time comes!

[Jewels · Rating 3 out of 5]

Years ago I became enamored with an artist named Michael Hague. I came across his work because I was also enamored with unicorns. Ms. Mayer wove this children's story from three historical works, and I love the fact that she did so to bring a bit of myth and folklore alive for a younger generation. I now get to turn this lovely bit of art over to my daughter, and I hope she will keep it for the next generation too.

[Erma Talamante · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful, allegorical story of a unicorn and the animals in the woods. The paintings emphasize the beauty and goodness of the unicorn, and the terrifying image of the serpent. Beautiful for the frameable images, the poetic story, and the deeper meaning. A great story to share with younger children that does not require extra explanations.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous illustrations!

[Paula · Rating 2 out of 5]

A longer story about how there is magic around when the unicorn is.
When a serpent poisons the lake where all the animals drink, only the unicorn has the power to save them.

[Bree · Rating 1 out of 5]

Notes::
Really scary serpent thing would give my daughter nightmares.
Not really that well-written either