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Unicorn Diaries #1
Bo's Magical New Friend
Meet Rainbow Tinseltail and the unicorns of Sparklegrove Forest, in this magical series from the creator of the bestselling Owl Diaries series!
Pick a book. Grow a Reader!
This series is part of Scholastic's early chapter book line Branches, aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and stamina. Branches books help readers grow!
Bo Tinseltail loves going to Sparklegrove School with the other unicorns. Every unicorn has a magical power. Bo is a Wish Unicorn with the power to grant wishes. Bo has lots of friends, but one thing Bo wants more than anything is a best friend. When a new unicorn named Sunny Huckleberry pops into the forest, will Bo's big wish finally come true? And what will Sunny's Unicorn Power be? Discover this TWINKLE-TASTIC, full-color series from Rebecca Elliott, creator of the USA Today bestselling Owl Diaries series!
Pick a book. Grow a Reader!
This series is part of Scholastic's early chapter book line Branches, aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and stamina. Branches books help readers grow!
Bo Tinseltail loves going to Sparklegrove School with the other unicorns. Every unicorn has a magical power. Bo is a Wish Unicorn with the power to grant wishes. Bo has lots of friends, but one thing Bo wants more than anything is a best friend. When a new unicorn named Sunny Huckleberry pops into the forest, will Bo's big wish finally come true? And what will Sunny's Unicorn Power be? Discover this TWINKLE-TASTIC, full-color series from Rebecca Elliott, creator of the USA Today bestselling Owl Diaries series!
80 pages, Hardcover
First published December 26, 2019
263 people are currently reading
772 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Elliott
238 books301 followersRebecca Elliott is the author and illustrator of the best-selling Owl Diaries series (Scholastic US) & over 20 picture books including Just Because, Sometimes, Naked Trevor and Zoo Girl, for which she was nominated for the 2012 Kate Greenaway Medal.
Her new series The Unicorn Diaries (Scholastic US) & her first YA novel 'Pretty Funny ' (Penguin Random House) are out now.
Her new series The Unicorn Diaries (Scholastic US) & her first YA novel 'Pretty Funny ' (Penguin Random House) are out now.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews
December 17, 2019
Sometimes it’s nice to read a book that’s just plain fun and that makes you smile on every page. :-)
Everything adorable and colorful about unicorns comes to life in this first book in the Unicorn Diaries series! If you love the Owl Diaries books like I do, definitely pick this one up. Can’t wait to share it with the kids at school!
Everything adorable and colorful about unicorns comes to life in this first book in the Unicorn Diaries series! If you love the Owl Diaries books like I do, definitely pick this one up. Can’t wait to share it with the kids at school!
June 20, 2019
This is going to be a HUGE hit amongst the new reader brigade. A fun read with friendship and problem solving at the core, this series is going to be a firm favorite from the get go.
February 29, 2020
Everything adorable cute and colorful about unicorns comes to life in this first book in The Unicorn Diaries series
Bo Tinseltail loves going to Sparklegrove School with the other unicorns. Every unicorn has a magical power. Bo is a Wish Unicorn with the power to grant wishes. Bo has lots of friends, but one thing Bo wants more than anything is a best friend. When a new unicorn named Sunny Huckleberry pops into the forest, will Bo's big wish finally come true? And what will Sunny's Unicorn Power be?
Bo Tinseltail loves going to Sparklegrove School with the other unicorns. Every unicorn has a magical power. Bo is a Wish Unicorn with the power to grant wishes. Bo has lots of friends, but one thing Bo wants more than anything is a best friend. When a new unicorn named Sunny Huckleberry pops into the forest, will Bo's big wish finally come true? And what will Sunny's Unicorn Power be?
August 26, 2019
Super sugary sweet, but a fun unicorn story about friendship. Early readers will enjoy seeing themselves on the overly colorful and busy illustrations.
March 10, 2020
I love unicorns!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 1, 2021
This is really cute and charming. I would have eaten it up as a kid. I appreciate the diversity and inclusion woven into the story. Also, it’s just wonderfully fun.
November 10, 2022
I want to read all of these early chapter books series we keep getting.
June 12, 2025
The first chapter book my daughter and I read together! Does this count toward my reading goal? Lol it was a chapter book after all!
Super cute book! Loved the illustrations and story!
Super cute book! Loved the illustrations and story!
December 9, 2019
By the same author as Owl Diaries + Unicorns? This will be a big hit with my students!
January 16, 2026
Mila liked this book, I did not. I thought it was dumb and honestly confusing. Too many weird words for her to read and so I ended up reading it to her.
March 15, 2020
3.75 stars
reading with Lexi and X was "pretending" not to listen.
reading with Lexi and X was "pretending" not to listen.
February 27, 2020
Bo’s Magical New Friend (Unicorn Diaries #4) by Rebecca Elliott, 72 pages. EARLY READER. Scholastic Branches, 2019. $5 (paperback). 9781338323320
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Rainbow Tinseltail is so excited because a new unicorn has appeared! She is hoping that Sunny Huckleberry will be her extra special friend. First, though, Bo wants to help Sunny find his talent and they all need to earn their Unicorn Power Patch.
The Unicorn Diaries are so adorable. And even better, the stories hang together in a nice tale. If a unicorn-loving girl is ready to ready on their own, this is a fun series to enjoy.
Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Rainbow Tinseltail is so excited because a new unicorn has appeared! She is hoping that Sunny Huckleberry will be her extra special friend. First, though, Bo wants to help Sunny find his talent and they all need to earn their Unicorn Power Patch.
The Unicorn Diaries are so adorable. And even better, the stories hang together in a nice tale. If a unicorn-loving girl is ready to ready on their own, this is a fun series to enjoy.
Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
March 30, 2020
I was looking forward to reading this book series (Owl Diaries is one of my favorites). I was really disappointed in this one. The characters weren't that engaging to me and the story was a little ho-hum.
July 28, 2020
Cute illustrations, magical powers and adventure. My 6 year old granddaughter really liked this series. First grade reading level with some made up words like glitterific. Great addition to all of my elementary libraries.
January 15, 2020
New series from the author of Owl Diaries.
One of the unicorns shares the story of school life as a diary.
Charming illustrations and text will draw mid-elementary readers in. And, unicorns...
One of the unicorns shares the story of school life as a diary.
Charming illustrations and text will draw mid-elementary readers in. And, unicorns...
December 8, 2020
I checked this out for my daughter to read because we loved the Owl Diaries series (by the same author) but I didn’t like this one nearly as much. It was cute, but not my cup of tea.
October 1, 2024
My daughter really got invested into this series. She’s in 1st grade. Her school just started writing paragraphs and descriptions in school. This book introduced her to diaries (journaling which I’m big on since college). She’s listed a diary on her Christmas list now. I gave this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. The story felt complete. It was a good pace for her. Wasn’t too cutesy or bubbly. Aside from all of the pink on the cover, the story was gender neutral. The story and characters were relatable to her since she is in Boy Scouts of America and her best friend is a boy. Illustrations were great. The back had great discussion questions that we used to discuss the book after we were done. My daughter asked a great question which threw me off so I had to find out. We read about the author but she asked, “who was the illustrator”? Google gave me all the answers 😁 The author is the writer and illustrator which my daughter assumed she was since it wasn’t written on the cover. She amazes me how much she’s falling in love with reading and writing, and how observant she is. Sometimes I would think the book was too advanced for her but then I would ask a question and she would answer correctly. I hope that joy never changes for her.
I loved it and highly recommend this book. We look forward to book 2.
I loved it and highly recommend this book. We look forward to book 2.
July 29, 2020
This is the perfect early chapter book! Bo’s Magical New Friend is the first in the Unicorn Diary series. It tells the delightful tale of how Bo (short for Rainbow), makes friends with a new unicorn Sunny. Kaylee liked this so much that even though Daddy finished the book last night, she moved the bookmark back two chapters so we could reread her favorite parts again tonight.
I wish I had a photo of the inside pages because I loved how the book is crafted. First each page is full of bright colorful pictures. But I also loved how the text is arranged. Since this is a diary (remember it’s the Unicorn Diaries), it makes sense stylistically that the words are on lined pages, but it also makes it easier to read. There are also times when the unicorn speak with speech bubbles, and the text falls right in line so it’s easy to tell what to read next. She’s still at the age where these books are being read to her, but I’d imagine in a year or so, she’ll be reading these herself. These are crafted with that type of early reader in mind.
No only is there a whole series of these to read, but a companion series The Owl Diaries. It wouldn’t surprise me if eventually we’ll make it through them all!
4.5/5
I wish I had a photo of the inside pages because I loved how the book is crafted. First each page is full of bright colorful pictures. But I also loved how the text is arranged. Since this is a diary (remember it’s the Unicorn Diaries), it makes sense stylistically that the words are on lined pages, but it also makes it easier to read. There are also times when the unicorn speak with speech bubbles, and the text falls right in line so it’s easy to tell what to read next. She’s still at the age where these books are being read to her, but I’d imagine in a year or so, she’ll be reading these herself. These are crafted with that type of early reader in mind.
No only is there a whole series of these to read, but a companion series The Owl Diaries. It wouldn’t surprise me if eventually we’ll make it through them all!
4.5/5
July 29, 2023
This is very likely the LOUDEST book I've ever read! I don't think I've seen so many contrasting colours together in a single place before!
Luckily, this makes it easy to tell the characters apart! (unless possibly if you're colourblind, but I expect that's still easier than if they're all a solid colour, since they still have patterns)
I also tagged this as "lgbtq" because I'm FAIRLY certain Bo's gender is specifically unmentioned for a reason, which is easy to do when the story is told in first person (hence diary!). Even the book description avoids saying, "Bo is a (gender here)!" I actually like this, because there really isn't a reason for any of them to have gender at ALL, since the book *starts out* by explaining that unicorns reproduce asexually (not using that word, but they do) by just *popping* into existence on particularly starry days.
Fun times!
About the one concern I have is that Bo states that "We [unicorns] glow when we're nervous." It's not that kind of series, but I'd imagine the glowing would make them flag-waving targets if some predator came along to eat them. Just kind of unfortunate, even though I'm sure it was supposed to be a cute quirk.
Recommended for young unicorn fans of ANY gender! :D
Luckily, this makes it easy to tell the characters apart! (unless possibly if you're colourblind, but I expect that's still easier than if they're all a solid colour, since they still have patterns)
I also tagged this as "lgbtq" because I'm FAIRLY certain Bo's gender is specifically unmentioned for a reason, which is easy to do when the story is told in first person (hence diary!). Even the book description avoids saying, "Bo is a (gender here)!" I actually like this, because there really isn't a reason for any of them to have gender at ALL, since the book *starts out* by explaining that unicorns reproduce asexually (not using that word, but they do) by just *popping* into existence on particularly starry days.
Fun times!
About the one concern I have is that Bo states that "We [unicorns] glow when we're nervous." It's not that kind of series, but I'd imagine the glowing would make them flag-waving targets if some predator came along to eat them. Just kind of unfortunate, even though I'm sure it was supposed to be a cute quirk.
Recommended for young unicorn fans of ANY gender! :D
October 15, 2020
It was the third book in this series that caught my eye at the library - a colorful unicorn on the cover wearing armor and carrying a shield, and hovering above him a similarly clad pixie riding a dragonfly. Naturally, I had to get the first two books to look at. These are reading level 2, for First and Second Graders. The author has a very similar series Owl Diaries which is also great. This series is just a little more magical with fairies and pixies and trolls. My favorite so far are the pixies! The artwork is colorful and engaging. Each unicorn has their own unique magical power. Bo can grant one wish every week. The stories are all about using their skills and teamwork to overcome obstacles, make friends, and help others.
Description: Bo Tinseltail loves going to Sparklegrove School with the other unicorns. Every unicorn has a magical power. Bo is a Wish Unicorn with the power to grant wishes. Bo has lots of friends, but one thing Bo wants more than anything is a best friend. When a new unicorn named Sunny Huckleberry pops into the forest, will Bo's big wish finally come true? And what will Sunny's Unicorn Power be?
Description: Bo Tinseltail loves going to Sparklegrove School with the other unicorns. Every unicorn has a magical power. Bo is a Wish Unicorn with the power to grant wishes. Bo has lots of friends, but one thing Bo wants more than anything is a best friend. When a new unicorn named Sunny Huckleberry pops into the forest, will Bo's big wish finally come true? And what will Sunny's Unicorn Power be?
January 2, 2021
For more reviews, check out my blog: Craft-Cycle
A fun read for unicorn-lovers. With adorable names, unique powers, and fun adventures, these unicorns demonstrate the importance of friendship and being kind to one another.
This book is written at a Grade 2 reading level and considered of interest to 1st to 2nd graders.
In this first book, we are introduced to Bo, who has the power to grant one wish a week. Told in a diary format, Bo describes the arrival of a new unicorn and some of the mishaps that ensue.
The writing is simple and engaging, making it a nice beginning chapter book for young readers. From outsmarting trolls to helping a friend in need, there is a lot of adventure and fun to be had in this book.
The artwork is colorful and lovely. Great use of patterns and textures within the pictures. I really enjoyed the creative scenery.
Includes a short section at the end with questions and prompts to test memory/reading comprehension and creative thinking/problem solving.
A nice start to a series with a colorful aesthetic, interesting characters, and an emphasis on friendship.
A fun read for unicorn-lovers. With adorable names, unique powers, and fun adventures, these unicorns demonstrate the importance of friendship and being kind to one another.
This book is written at a Grade 2 reading level and considered of interest to 1st to 2nd graders.
In this first book, we are introduced to Bo, who has the power to grant one wish a week. Told in a diary format, Bo describes the arrival of a new unicorn and some of the mishaps that ensue.
The writing is simple and engaging, making it a nice beginning chapter book for young readers. From outsmarting trolls to helping a friend in need, there is a lot of adventure and fun to be had in this book.
The artwork is colorful and lovely. Great use of patterns and textures within the pictures. I really enjoyed the creative scenery.
Includes a short section at the end with questions and prompts to test memory/reading comprehension and creative thinking/problem solving.
A nice start to a series with a colorful aesthetic, interesting characters, and an emphasis on friendship.
February 9, 2020
@kidlitexchange Partner: Unicorn Diaries: Bo’s Magical New Friend by Rebecca Elliott. AVAILABLE NOW through @scholasticinc.
This cute, colorful book perfect for ages 5-8 is like Diary of a Wimpy Kid if Greg Heffley turned all sunshine, rainbows, and friendship. Bo the unicorn has the power to grant wishes, and needs to make one come true to earn her badge. She has the chance to help a new friend, Sunny, and earn her badge at the same time, but when Sunny takes Bo’s efforts the wrong way, Bo has to figure out how to save their friendship.
This is the first book in a new series and it’s honestly the cutest thing. Not quite a graphic novel and not quite NOT a graphic novel, it’s the perfect hybrid book for reluctant readers. And unicorns are all the rage these days! 🦄 🌈
Unicorn Diaries is available now! And if you have a little reader who would like this book, be sure to check out my review of Diary of a Pug: Pug’s Snow Day! Thank you @kidlitexchange for the review copy; all opinions are my own.
This cute, colorful book perfect for ages 5-8 is like Diary of a Wimpy Kid if Greg Heffley turned all sunshine, rainbows, and friendship. Bo the unicorn has the power to grant wishes, and needs to make one come true to earn her badge. She has the chance to help a new friend, Sunny, and earn her badge at the same time, but when Sunny takes Bo’s efforts the wrong way, Bo has to figure out how to save their friendship.
This is the first book in a new series and it’s honestly the cutest thing. Not quite a graphic novel and not quite NOT a graphic novel, it’s the perfect hybrid book for reluctant readers. And unicorns are all the rage these days! 🦄 🌈
Unicorn Diaries is available now! And if you have a little reader who would like this book, be sure to check out my review of Diary of a Pug: Pug’s Snow Day! Thank you @kidlitexchange for the review copy; all opinions are my own.
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October 22, 2020This was...interesting haha! There was actually a lot I really liked. The unicorn world is given a strong introduction (They sneeze glitter and sleep on clouds! Scary trolls live in Sparklegrove Forest!). The plot is fun and multifaceted, as the unicorns make a new friend in Sunny and work to earn their patches and use their powers. However, some of this was too silly for me to handle. Unicorns aren't born, they just pop into the world on starry nights?! Uhh, okay. Some of the names also had me scratching my head. Monty Dumpling? Do unicorns eat dumplings along with cloud fluff pie? I don't get it. And Thingamabob Unicorn--how did that make it out of the editing process? Plus, this was incredibly similar to the style of the Owl Diaries in both format and tone. It didn't feel super original or like a creative stretch for the author. Bottom line? I can't wait to give this to unicorn-loving kids. But I will be secretly laughing about Thingamabob Unicorn when I do.
November 5, 2020
Rainbow who goes by Bo is a unicorn attending and living at Sparklegrove School for Unicorns. Every unicorn at the school has a special ability and spends their days at school learning unicorn skills and earning patches for their blankets. Bo is a wish unicorn and hopes someone will make a wish so she can earn her new patch. She also hopes that a new unicorn arrives who can be a best friend. When Sunny pops into existence in their forest and starts attending school, he doesn't know his unicorn ability yet. Bo really hopes he'll make a wish so she can help him and get her patch, but is that how a true friend should act?
Adorable, vibrant illustrations combined with a fanciful unicorn world make this a book that is sure to have fast, ardent fans. I really liked the important lesson on friendship and how friendship should be based on common interests and care, not what you can get out of someone else. Hand this to unicorn lovers, graphic novel readers, and fantasy fans.
Adorable, vibrant illustrations combined with a fanciful unicorn world make this a book that is sure to have fast, ardent fans. I really liked the important lesson on friendship and how friendship should be based on common interests and care, not what you can get out of someone else. Hand this to unicorn lovers, graphic novel readers, and fantasy fans.
May 23, 2020
Rainbow “Bo” Tinseltail lives in Sparklegrove Forest and goes to S.S.U. with all her unicorn friends. Bo likes all the other unicorns, but she confesses to her diary that she doesn’t really have a best friend. She hopes that is going to change when a new unicorn comes to school. His name is Sunny Huckleberry and he seems very nice.
But Bo has other things to think about because this week at S.S.U. they are working on getting a patch for using their Unicorn Power to help someone else. Bo’s power is granting wishes to others, so she feels like that patch in in the bag. But Sunny doesn’t even know what his power is so how will he get his patch? Can Bo figure out a way to help him?
Cute. Very popular with 2nd and 3rd grade girls.
But Bo has other things to think about because this week at S.S.U. they are working on getting a patch for using their Unicorn Power to help someone else. Bo’s power is granting wishes to others, so she feels like that patch in in the bag. But Sunny doesn’t even know what his power is so how will he get his patch? Can Bo figure out a way to help him?
Cute. Very popular with 2nd and 3rd grade girls.
May 4, 2021
Bo is a unicorn who has started a new diary and we get to meet and know her through her written entries over the span of six days. (This is the 1st book in this Unicorn Diaries series.) Bo lives in Sparklegrove Forest with lots of other magical creatures: trolls, fairies, goblins and tree sprites, to name a few. She goes to a unicorn school with her other buddies, but what she really wishes for is a best friend. A new unicorn, Sunny, shows up. Will Bo get her wish?
I love the diary style of this book. The illustrations are magically colorful and cute. The message about friendship and helping others is well done.
I love the diary style of this book. The illustrations are magically colorful and cute. The message about friendship and helping others is well done.
January 30, 2022
My now 8-year-old fell in love with the Owl Diaries series a few years ago, so it was a no-brainer that Unicorn Diaries would be added to our library. Bo's Magical New Friend introduces us to the world of unicorns in diary format as told by Bo. We learn that unicorns each have a special magical talent and that each week at school the unicorns work towards earning a special patch for their patch blanket. I read this chapter book aloud to my almost 5-year-old in two bedtime sittings and she just loved the pictures and repeating short parts of the dialogue.
This a great beginning reader's chapter book with colorful illustrations and a cute lesson about friendship.
This a great beginning reader's chapter book with colorful illustrations and a cute lesson about friendship.
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March 31, 2022Unicorn Day -- April
Rainbow Tinseltail and the other students at Sparklegrove School for Unicorns are excited when a brand new unicorn, Sunny Huckleberry, enters the school, but Sunny does not know what his special magical power is, and the thought that he might not have any power at all is making him unhappy; Rainbow (whose power is granting wishes) is eager to help him--even though he does not seem to want her help.
Reading Level: Reading level: Grade 2.
Appeals to: 1st-2nd graders.
540L Lexile
Decoding demand: 72 (high) Semantic demand: 88 (very high) Syntactic demand: 64 (high) Structure demand: 89 (very high) Lexile
Rainbow Tinseltail and the other students at Sparklegrove School for Unicorns are excited when a brand new unicorn, Sunny Huckleberry, enters the school, but Sunny does not know what his special magical power is, and the thought that he might not have any power at all is making him unhappy; Rainbow (whose power is granting wishes) is eager to help him--even though he does not seem to want her help.
Reading Level: Reading level: Grade 2.
Appeals to: 1st-2nd graders.
540L Lexile
Decoding demand: 72 (high) Semantic demand: 88 (very high) Syntactic demand: 64 (high) Structure demand: 89 (very high) Lexile
March 21, 2022
Bo has never had a best friend and hopes that the new unicorn will become a best friend. After a misunderstanding in trying to help Sunny figure out his Unicorn Power, Bo is determined to prove they are a good friend. Just like Owl Diaries with the notebook-style page with bright colorful (they are unicorns after all) illustrations throughout. I like the lesson about doing something without the guarantee of a reward. For fans of Owl Diaries, Sparkleton, and Unicorn University. Though, a first chapter book about unicorns sells itself.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews