What do you think?
Rate this book
I Wished for a Unicorn
Wishes really can come true in this optimistic story about the power of imagination with verse by children's poet Robert Heidbreder.
Paperback
First published January 15, 2000
30 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
February 5, 2021
#26 in my 365 Kids Books challenge and request to Goodreads that the Top Readers, etc. lists be fixed. For a full explanation see my review for 101 Amazing Facts about Australia You can see all the books on their own shelf.
Another splendid example of how good illustrations can not just visualize a story, but also add an extra dimension. Heidbreder's text is amusing, showing how a child can spin a golden fantasy out of straw. It's a popular theme because adults don't do much of that kind of imagining, but are inclined to complain that kids don't know how to anymore, a complaint that likely precedes language, when it would have just been something like a head shake meant to imply that using specific words makes the kids lazy and unable to imagine what someone else means by that tsk noise. Denton's art enables one to see what is really there and how it might very well be, say, a unicorn. Charming and instructive.
Also, I really like that in the absence of a need to demonstrate a specific look for a child, Denton depicts one who is not obviously boy or girl. I am so sick of stereotyped gender markers.
Library copy
Another splendid example of how good illustrations can not just visualize a story, but also add an extra dimension. Heidbreder's text is amusing, showing how a child can spin a golden fantasy out of straw. It's a popular theme because adults don't do much of that kind of imagining, but are inclined to complain that kids don't know how to anymore, a complaint that likely precedes language, when it would have just been something like a head shake meant to imply that using specific words makes the kids lazy and unable to imagine what someone else means by that tsk noise. Denton's art enables one to see what is really there and how it might very well be, say, a unicorn. Charming and instructive.
Also, I really like that in the absence of a need to demonstrate a specific look for a child, Denton depicts one who is not obviously boy or girl. I am so sick of stereotyped gender markers.
Library copy
February 10, 2019
Review: I gave this 5 stars because of the artistic element that is added throughout the book. It portrays students to find their imagination.
Summary: A girl and her imagination. She uses her imagination to transform her dog into a unicorn and goes on magical adventures throughout the day. She returns home safely with her dog by her side. Tomorrow she wants to wish for a unicorn again .
I would add this in my classroom and make sure that it gets read to students with adding different activities to enhance their imagination. The rhyming throughout the book grabs students attention and shows them a different way of literacy.
Summary: A girl and her imagination. She uses her imagination to transform her dog into a unicorn and goes on magical adventures throughout the day. She returns home safely with her dog by her side. Tomorrow she wants to wish for a unicorn again .
I would add this in my classroom and make sure that it gets read to students with adding different activities to enhance their imagination. The rhyming throughout the book grabs students attention and shows them a different way of literacy.
April 6, 2019
And if you wish the right way, you get what you wish for. THAT'S CALLED IMAGINATION, YOUTH
February 5, 2023
I used to read this book all the time when I was a kid. It has a great story involving a child’s imagination, I think most kids would enjoy it.
September 17, 2025
A little girl wishes very hard for a unicorn, and when she goes out to play in her backyard, she sees a unicorn looking at her. The reader will understand that that is her dog, but the little girl’s creative imagination takes her and her “unicorn” on amazing adventures. Fun, nicely illustrated, rhyming story.
May 28, 2012
A little girl makes this wish and is delighted to find that it come trues! So what if the unicorn wags his tail, digs for bones, and howls instead of neighs? The unicorn leads the girl into a magical wood and their adventures begin. They cross a moat to a golden castle, zap a fierce dragon, shrink an evil wizard, and dig for buried treasure. After such a strenuous adventure, the girl and her unicorn fall fast asleep. When the girl wakes up, she finds herself in the backyard again. The unicorn is gone, leaving only her dog. But the girl is sure that tomorrow when she goes out to play, she’ll wish for and find a unicorn again.
The illustrations in this rip-roaring adventure combine pen and ink with painterly techniques. The sundrenched colors are blended together creating a great sense of depth and texture in the whimsical drawings. I will say that it’s difficult to tell if the protagonist is meant to be a girl or a boy, but in a way I like the ambiguity because it allows kids to imagine whichever gender they prefer. The rhyming text is a lot of fun to read aloud with lots of descriptive phrases that are fun to play with, “thunderous roar,” “danger lurked,” “crumpled and old.” Even though the two friends go on quite a few adventures, the text keeps the story moving along at a quick pace.
Full Review at Picture-Book-a-Day: http://picturebookaday.blogspot.com/2...
The illustrations in this rip-roaring adventure combine pen and ink with painterly techniques. The sundrenched colors are blended together creating a great sense of depth and texture in the whimsical drawings. I will say that it’s difficult to tell if the protagonist is meant to be a girl or a boy, but in a way I like the ambiguity because it allows kids to imagine whichever gender they prefer. The rhyming text is a lot of fun to read aloud with lots of descriptive phrases that are fun to play with, “thunderous roar,” “danger lurked,” “crumpled and old.” Even though the two friends go on quite a few adventures, the text keeps the story moving along at a quick pace.
Full Review at Picture-Book-a-Day: http://picturebookaday.blogspot.com/2...
January 31, 2014
This book reflects about the white American Eskimo Unicorn dog in my life.I wake up with my Unicorn white dog each day and hope for a little adventure.Sometimes i sit alone gardening in my small yard and my Unicorn dog watches me out the front window. Same idea,He may not have a horn but he is still my Unicorn.He always paws at me to take him out to walk and the best thing i love about him is he cuddles me and licks my tears when i'm sad.He looks at me so sincere almost magical and sends me off on a journey in my mind. He barks and growls to protect me from other animals,but i see past his charm as he's still my Unicorn.Sometimes i take him on adventures with me and my knight.Then once it's time to sleep he follows me to dream land.When i wake up my Unicorn dog is always still there right next to me.
Thank you,i just had to get my take of the story of how it is in my life. I love the drawings and ideas of this book.The fact that the child always has a smile makes it fun to read.It's nice to read a story of a child who is determined to have their imagination come true. I can relate to this child because i'm usually always happy with my white Unicorn dog.He makes me happy.I love how optimism is displayed throughout the book.If you have a white dog or your just looking for a Unicorn imagination this is the book for you.It's short and sweet. Happy reading.
Thank you,i just had to get my take of the story of how it is in my life. I love the drawings and ideas of this book.The fact that the child always has a smile makes it fun to read.It's nice to read a story of a child who is determined to have their imagination come true. I can relate to this child because i'm usually always happy with my white Unicorn dog.He makes me happy.I love how optimism is displayed throughout the book.If you have a white dog or your just looking for a Unicorn imagination this is the book for you.It's short and sweet. Happy reading.
August 29, 2012
This is a cute story that explores the world of imagination. The character in the story wished for a unicorn, but instead had a dog. Despite that, she was perfectly happy with pretending with the dog. This could be used to discuss with young students the importance of not getting upset when they do not always get what they want and be happy with the things they do have. This could aslo be used to discuss the things the students wish for (ice-breaker activity).
Read
July 24, 2010I love this story because its imaginative and it makes pretending something that is okay to do. We all have dreams and things we wish would come true, and it is good to foster those dreams in a child. You could do so many activities focusing on creativity and imagination.
September 16, 2010
This book is a clever rhyming book which shows a ton of imagination. A little girl wishes for a unicorn- and she gets one, in the form of her dog! They go on a fun journey together and arrive home safely.
September 17, 2010
This book is so great! The illustrations are beautiful and it is a great prediction book for children. It can also help the child imagine and want to come up with things to do in their own back yard (even if it is real or not). The story line was amazing and it was incredibly enjoyable!
April 18, 2011
The main character wished for a Unicorn. One day, he found a unicorn and went an adventure. However, when he woke up there was only a dog. Therefore, the main character imagine the dog as a unicorn. This will be a good book to teach the younger students about imagination.
August 27, 2008
A great book for creative imaginations.
September 6, 2008
A little girl's wish for a unicorn turns into an adventure of fun and exciting things. I liked this book a lot because it teaches children how to use their imagination.
September 26, 2008
How far can your imagination fly?
Read
April 30, 2009Fiction:
Please Louise by Wishinsky, Frieda
The Wish by Lieshout, Elle van
Nonfiction:
Wish : wishing traditions around the world
Activity/Movement/Song:
Craft:
Please Louise by Wishinsky, Frieda
The Wish by Lieshout, Elle van
Nonfiction:
Wish : wishing traditions around the world
Activity/Movement/Song:
Craft:
February 5, 2010
This is a good book. It teaches children how to use their imagination.
September 20, 2010
My students loved this book because the girl's imagination was so creative! They laughed at everything she did and how silly it was to think a dog was a unicorn.
March 14, 2012
A little girl is playing in her backyard when she wishes for a unicorn. It appears but looks an awful lot like her dog. They do go on many adventures.
July 20, 2012
I really liked how the "unicorn" was really her dog. A great book about imagination.
February 13, 2013
This is great when encouraging students to use their imagination.
April 8, 2013
A great book about wishing/imagining/dreaming. There are not very many unicorns books out there - this is simple and sweet.
September 5, 2008
Cute, but I thought it would be better. Or actually about a unicorn.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews