Louie Lets Loose!

by Rachel Hamilton, Oscar Armelles (Illustrator)

In this hilarious new fiction series, Louie the unicorn searches for stardom in New York City. Louie's story is brought to life with a unique visual approach, combining real New York photography with funny character illustrations.

'Dear Ma and Pa,
The New York School for Performing Arts is the perfect place for a unicorn like me. So far it has been totally AWESOME! Madame Twirler says that 'pigs will fly' before I get the lead part in a show. Man, I would LOVE to see that! After all, New York has a unicorn in town, so why not flying pigs?
Love you more than cake,
Louie xx'

Genres: Fantasy, Childrens, Humor, School

128 pages, Paperback

Published February 4, 2016

About the author

Rachel Hamilton’s first children’s book, 'The Case of the Exploding Loo', was published by Simon & Schuster in May 2014 and the second book in the series, 'The Case of the Exploding Brains', came out in February 2015. 'The Case of the Exploding Loo' won the Worcestershire Awesomest Book Award and the Ossett Riveting Reads Award. It was also runner up in the Montegrappa First Fiction award at the Emirates Festival of Literature and nominated for the Leeds Book Award and Redbridge Children's Book Award as well as being chosen as a recommended holiday read by The Sunday Express, the National Geographic Kids Magazine, and the Travel Show.

Rachel's second series, 'The Unicorn in New York' is published by Oxford University Press, The first book - 'Louie Let's Loose' - was chosen as part of the Big Read Great Summer Reads programme, the second book came out June 2016 and the third is due out in February 2016

Rachel is a graduate of both Oxford University and Cambridge University and has put her education to good use by working in an advertising agency, a secondary school, a building site and a men’s prison. She developed a passion for story-telling as an English teacher when she discovered it was the perfect way to get her students to shhh and listen to her.

Rachel now divides her time between the UK and Dubai, creating funny books for 9 to 12 year-olds and talking to young people about the joys of reading and writing. Rachel loves to make people laugh, especially when it’s intentional rather than accidental.

Reviews

[Blair Sims · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved it so much. It needs more action, but I loved it so so much because unicorns are my favorite things in the whole wide world. And, I liked that it was in New York City.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you enjoy word play and unicorns or characters that are disarmingly naive and think the best of others, even those who are out to trick them, you will enjoy this new series. In the first title in the series, Louie is a unicorn who has his eyes set on seeing his name in lights. He sets off for the New York School of Performing Arts. Readers will get a kick out of all the misunderstandings that occur as Louie tries to take the school and the city by storm. With three new friends, a mermaid, a troll, and a faun, he looks for ways to shine even while being sabotaged by Archie, another more experienced unicorn who is clearly jealous of Louie. I was entertained by all his mistakes, his good intentions, and how he put his unicorn horn to good use in making holes in donuts at a cafe. All the corny jokes concerning unicorns make me laugh too. The use of photos from the city and small sketches adds to the book's humor and allows readers to visualize each of the characters more clearly. I will look forward to the next installment in this humorous series. Louie is charming without realizing it, and my heart goes out to him because of how trusting he is toward others who do not have his best interest at heart.

[Rebecca Palermo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary:
Louie decides that Story Land is too boring and he travels to NYC to pursue his dreams of being a superstar. Louie makes some mistakes along the way and meets another unicorn, Archie, who tries to wreck Louie's chances of becoming a star in NYC.

Evaluation:
I LOVED this book. I think this is a great book for transitional readers because of it's big text and pictures. The book has a lot of humor and I believe that students would really love reading about Louie. I think this book also reminds young readers to keep following their dreams no matter what.

Teaching Point:
With this book, I would have a group of students on the same level read it and complete a book review about it independently. I would then have my students participate in a literature circle about the book so they can listen to their peers perspectives and take aways from the book. I think it is a great way for young readers to begin to practice reading chapter books.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I discovered this gem because my reading buddy where I volunteer delights in all things whimsical and outright silly. She not only reads the story but will return to certain passages to act out her favorite passages, and I'm certain she would enjoy playing any one of these characters. Louie the Unicorn is generous to others, even those who wish him misfortune or outright sabotage him. He's also confident and loyal, just ask the other fantastic characters -- a mermaid, a troll, and a faun -- who are his roommates at his prestigious New York school. Loveable misfits one and all, they will charm you. Read this many times with a young person you love.

[Earl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Silly new early chapter book series about theatrical magical creatures. Louie the Unicorn decides to go to New York to pursue his dreams of being a star but he doesn't realize that another unicorn may not want to share the spotlight with him. Think Glee and Tim Federle's Nate books.

What's weird about this UK import is that the illustrator doesn't really get mentioned in the credits. At least, he doesn't have a dedication nor a short bio on the back of the book. The art is in the style of a less-consistent Knuffle Bunny.

[Connie T. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Louie the unicorn has decided it's his destiny "to become a supersized New York superstar" and heads to the New York School of Performing Arts to pursue his dream. He and his friends from Story Land (a mermaid, a troll, and a faun) have the best intentions and the kindest hearts but they come across as misfits. Louie, especially, seems inept at reading social interactions. His misunderstandings are supposed to be humorous (in an Amelia Bedelia sort of way) but I found the whole book to be boring.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

I laughed out loud... when this unicorn arrives in NYC, his reactions to the city around him remind me so much of Buddy in the movie Elf. Quirky, fun illustrations and an easy-to-follow storyline... even if it's super silly. :-)

This book brought a smile to my face. That's worth a lot!

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super silly intermediate chapter book. Perfect for boys or girls 2nd-3rd grade. Louie is a unicorn with a flair for the dramatic. He travels to the big city to become a star meeting a host of characters along the way. Pure silliness to the point of absurd and ridiculous. But fun!

[Karen Piedra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kids will love this hilarious book! The photographs with the cartoon pictures over it gives it a New York City feel.

[Rachel Harder · Rating 3 out of 5]

I could see some of my students loving this one- hilarious.

[Karen S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good beginning chapter book with moving plot line. Lots of double meaning phrases and idioms.

[Danielle Mootz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kids enjoyed this short yet busy chapter book!

[Miss Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

A unicorn heads to New York City to learn to be a performer at a famous school where he meets friends and foes, Early Elementary and up

[Mary T · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found this in a Little Free Library and read it aloud to my 6-year-old. Reminded me a bit of Elf but unicorn-in-NY style. I had to explain some of it to my son.

[Ebony Class · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked this book -LG

[Rachel]

Cute, inclusive series

[ale · Rating 4 out of 5]

para pasar el ratito, más para niños

[Anya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute. It's got an interesting mashup of photos with illustrations over top that makes it seem like a unicorn really could be running around New York. The humor is also blissfully satirical so that parents will enjoy reading this to their young 'uns.

[zapkode · Rating 5 out of 5]

{My thoughts} – When I was a child I use to collect unicorns. They were one of those mythical creatures that use to fascinate me. I don’t collect them anymore, but they still are rather fascinating.

Louie is a unicorn that dreams of making it big in New York. He travels there from Story Land in hopes to attend the New York School of Performing Arts. When he gets to New York, he doesn’t quite understand how it is that humans mean to actually communicate with him and mistakes rudeness as acts of interest or liking.

On his way to the school he finds a Cafe where he eats his fill in cake and then ends up in a bit of trouble with the owner because he doesn’t have a way to pay for the cakes he’s ate. They strike a deal and then she sends him with a map to the school. When he gets to the school he makes some more poor judgment calls and ends up making a bunch of humans rather unhappy with him. Eventually it kind of gets sorted out – or the reader gets a better grasp of what’s going on.

If you’d like to know what happens be sure to read this book. It’s filled with Unicorns and Donuts and to me that makes it a pretty nice little book to read. I think any child that wants to have a fast silly read can enjoy this book. I look forward to passing it on to my children as well as to reading the other books in the series.

[Jessica Hartley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book for my 7 year old. She loves unicorns and laughed hysterically at Louie. All in all a smart purchase from her book fair.

[Emily Small]

2018 Summer Reading Title

Funny, punny, spectacular. Louie makes his way to NY from Story Land, and he hopes to make it big in the big city. All while making new friends along the way.