Unicorn Playlist

Phoebe and Her Unicorn #14

by Dana Simpson

Best friends Phoebe Howell and Marigold Heavenly Nostrils march to their own beat, but life isn’t all rainbows and unicorns. With so many problems in the world and drama at school, Phoebe wonders why unicorns aren’t in charge instead of humans. With Marigold, each day is full of magic, from introducing Phoebe to unicorn music to crashing a goblin popularity contest, and even tracking down long-lost family members like Infernus, the Unicorn of Death (who ends up being surprisingly adorable). In Unicorn Playlist, Phoebe and Marigold play all the hits.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Comics, Middle Grade, Humor, Childrens, Fiction

176 pages, Paperback

Published October 19, 2021

About the author

Dana Claire Simpson grew up in Gig Harbor, Washington, drawing the entire time. She eventually graduated from The Evergreen State College, despite having spent all her time drawing, and not always for credit.

Attempts at doing real work along the way are hardly worth mentioning; the relevant fact is that, from 1998 to 2008, she drew the internet comic strip Ozy and Millie. After winning the Amazon-sponsored Comic Strip Superstar Contest in 2009, Universal Uclick signed her to a development deal for Heavenly Nostrils.

She currently lives in the Seattle area with her tech genius husband and her fairly stupid cat.

Reviews

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are some really great bits in this new collection. Phoebe participates in a goblin popularity contest with a plunger on her head. How high will she score? Marigold gives more details about her family and why she is particularly close to sister Florence. Even unicorns have their own genetic resource: UnicornAncestors.com. Who knew? Phoebe and Marigold play wiffle ball. Bonk! The Comedy Roast of Marigold Heavenly Nostrils includes an epic speech by Dragon. The bit with Phoebe meeting her time-travelling self made me laugh out loud. A nonbinary cousin of Marigold's is introduced in this book. Ferny is short for Infernus, the Unicorn of Death. All in all, another strong addition to the series. I realized I missed a book. Yay! More Phoebe and Marigold to enjoy this year.

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

Unicorn Playlist is one of the latest installments in the Phoebe and Her Unicorn series.
I live these bright colourful comic style books.
Phoebe is a little glum in this book which was quite relatable at times. Phoebe and Her Unicorn can't decide on what music to play that they both enjoy listening to.
They also go off to meet Phoebes Unicorn relatives - Florence (her sister) and Infernus who is the Unicorn of Death (her cousin).
I've enjoyed all of these so far and can't wait to read what the characters get up to next!

[S. ≽^•⩊•^≼ I'm not here yet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unicorn Playlist, Another Phoebe and Her Unicorn Adventure is the fourteenth title of Phoebe and Her Unicorn by Dana Simpson, a funny story with beautiful bright color pictures.

In this adventure, Phoebe and her best friend, unicorn Marigold tried to find music that they both enjoy.
Marigold was curious to know more about her relative. They're going to meet her sister, Florence, and her cousin, Infernus, the unicorn of death.
I'm glad that goblins and their queen also were, BLART.

Marigold: "Robin Hood" is an old human legend? But there are no humans at all in this story, so far.
Phoebe: Well, this is an animal version of it. Sometimes humans like stores that arent about us.

Many thanks to Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for giving me the chance to read Unicorn Playlist by Dana Simpson, I have given my honest review.

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 5 out of 5]

That distraction talk is everything I needed during this lockdown.

Phoebe and Marigolds do their magic again.

I got quite emotional when I started reading this middle grade graphic novel. I could relate with what Phoebe said about what she's feeling.

I love how the dialogue representation got upgraded to this level.

However, I still prefer the older artstyle when it comes to the illustration.

Such a good read.

If you don't know about this series, you can check them out and give it a go because I absolutely love this series.

Just binge-read the series this autumn with the kids. The play with words and character study will be worth it.

Thank you, author/artist and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the advance reader copy.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is full of joy. On a gray, hard day, my preordered copy of this book arrived and I tossed aside everything to curl up with it and a cup of hot chocolate. It was SO the right decision! By the time I'd read the first 20 pages, I was feeling so much happier and better about everything, and the whole book was, as always, a delight. I loved every moment of it.

[Schizanthus Nerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

With the adult world intruding on her, Phoebe is having a sad day. We all need a unicorn best friend right now and fortunately for Phoebe, she has Marigold Heavenly Nostrils. Marigold regales Phoebe with stories of the time when unicorns ruled the Earth, how The Pointy Express preceded horn wi-fi and her time at Sparkle Academy.

Phoebe and Marigold discover they have different tastes in music, which causes no conflict at all.

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Eventually they find a song that they both like.

The Goblin Queen challenges Dakota to a popularity contest. Phoebe explains the Magical Christmas Loophole to Marigold, after getting over her Christmas anticipointment. Phoebe teaches Marigold about distraction.

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Max and Phoebe exchange Valentines. Phoebe has lunch with Dakota and her friends.

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Marigold makes a Formal Declaration of Resolution to learn more about her family. We meet one of her cousins, Infernus, the Unicorn of Death. They’re not as scary as they sound. I’m looking forward to attending Marigold’s family reunion with her and Phoebe in a future collection.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the opportunity to read this graphic novel.

Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com

[orangerful · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just the palate cleanser I needed after some horror fiction left a bad taste in my mouth. Phoebe and Heavenly Nostrils continue to amuse me in their shenanigans.

[Mel (Epic Reading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every girl under age 10 that I know right now is obsessed with these books/comics. And after reading this collection of shorts I know why! They are witty, cute, ridiculous, clever, and fun all at once. Our unicorn star asks questions that can be both silly and smart at the same time.
This is an excellent way for children to learn about different literary uses including: sarcasm, hyperbole, metaphor, etc. They may not realize that is what is being used but it at least gives them introductions to these styles.
I really adored reading this cute little book. And while this one isn’t a full story (more snippets of conversations) it didn’t take away from the core friendship that Phoebe and her unicorn clearly have.
Perfect for a road trip or kiddo bored that has a hard time concentrating or focusing on full, long stories. These little stories should be perfect in size. Also great for those kids who need more visual cues to understand or improve their English.
Unicorn Playlist is perfect for its intended audience. It’s easy to understand why these are THE books for little girls (or boys who love unicorns) right now.

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

[Erin Subramanian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was thrilled that this volume introduced a non-binary character!

[Emma Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another seriously solid installment of Phoebe & Her Unicorn! My ten-year-old sister adores these comics, and I do too—which I think speaks to Dana Simpson’s skill as a storyteller. To me, when a kids’ book can be enjoyed by not only kids but also adults, that’s the mark of a good kids’ book.

Unicorn Playlist continues with a lot of the elements I’ve loved in previous installments. Marigold and Phoebe’s friendship grows. Dakota gets into trouble with the Goblin Queen. Lord Splendid Humility puts in an appearance. Along with the magical shenanigans, Phoebe deals with friend trouble and concerns over the things she sees on the news.

As always, Dana Simpson does a wonderful job capturing how it feels to be nine. Simpson treats Phoebe’s problems and anxieties seriously, without trivializing them—and I think that’s a big part of the reason that my little sister and I can both enjoy these comics. Despite the difference in our ages, we both understand how it feels to worry about the news and to be anxious about meeting new people. Phoebe’s concerns aren’t treated as less valid because she’s young.

Unicorn Playlist is funny, hopeful, and wholesome. I already can’t wait for the next book.

[britt_brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Phoebe and Marigold are up to their usual fun BFF things. For years, I’ve been buying, reading, then mailing these to my niece, but she is now no longer interested. She doesn’t read for pleasure anymore, apparently. Sad. So, idk if I’ll continue after this.

[Rachel Holtzclaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

you already know i'm a phoebe and her unicorn evangelist

[Jennyfer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meet Phoebe, an average 9yo whose best friend happens to be a unicorn, Marigold Heavenly Nostrils. But Marigold isn't an imaginary friend, she is very much real, as are the unicorns, goblins and dragons that populate the pages beside human friends.

Reminiscent of Calvin and Hobbes (but with more sparkles, less pouncing), Unicorn Playlist is an irreverent slice-of-life comic that addresses both ordinary events and big issues.

There is even a non-binary unicorn, and a couple of pages/strips devoted to pronouns and the addressing of said unicorn. This was done perfectly, without being awkward or preachy.

This book is one of a long line of comics about Phoebe and Marigold, and while it does work ad a standalone comic book, I plan to look the rest of thr series up later.

An overall fun read. I loved the music references scattered throughout.

*Many thanks to Netgalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

[Theediscerning · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another collection of these slightly twee, slightly more meaningful comic strips, where we start with our heroine down in the dumps a little. She's peed off with the world the adults have promised as her inheritance, and that's not really enlivened by talk of communication systems of old. But before long we're back on an even keel, with the unicorn playing a Beatles LP with the point of its horn as the stylus, and so on. Unfamiliar territory, though, like someone called Dakota and a challenge from a goblin queen (or something), proves you cannot really come to these pages without much prior knowledge. That said, the conceited unicorn and its at-times worldly-wise human are still quite good company, and especially so for returning fans. But less of the woke pronoun bollux next time, please.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

These have been getting progressively better and they are even adding learning experiences and that made me happy

[Lover of books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this one!

[Melissa McShane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This gets my standard rating for the series, as I tend to enjoy the books very much as I'm reading them, but forget which things happened in which volume after about a week. Still, there was plenty of Dakota in this one, which is always great, and I had a few laugh-out-loud moments. Not bad for the first read of the year.

[Diana Flores · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started with book #14 in this series and will be reading them ALL. So impressed with the quality of this youth graphic novel. Perfect for upper elementary. The themes addressed in this issue alone were really surprising and VERY well done. 👏👏👏👏👏

[Melinda Bender · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phoebe is best friends with Marigold Heavenly Nostrils who happens to be a unicorn. Marigold introduces Phoebe to her magical world and introduces her to other characters like her cousin Infernious the Unicorn of Death and Phoebe herself from an alternative dimension. Fun story.

[Kellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still very much enjoy Phoebe and Marigold. I loved the references to Disney's animated Robin Hood and TMBG.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Younger elementary students love Phoebe and her unicorn, Marigold, and when I received a copy of this book 14 in the series, I decided it was time to find out why. The reasons are simple:
1. Bold, colorful, well-done graphic panels,
2. Unicorns, goblins, dragons
3. Silly jokes
4. Magic and sparkles
5. Random subject changes with each topic only lasting a few pages
6. Plenty of white space and short spurts of dialog for each character, making the reading less intimidating

But with the quick change topics and most of them left unfinished, I found the book less appealing from a language arts/plot diagram/story progression perspective. On the plus side, Simpson includes some more challenging vocabulary for the target age group of grades 2-4, some words that are defined in the glossary (a unique feature for a fictional graphic novel), some with context clues, and others that students will have to look up or ask an older friend.

Representation: non-binary humans and unicorns are mentioned and defined several times, classmates of Phoebe are shown to be from a mixture of ethnicities.

Content is free of profanity, sexual content, or violence (except for the unicorn horn poking).

[Lindsey Lawntea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phoebe and Marigold share a love of music. They explore some of Marigold's relatives. Marigold teaches Phoebe how to time travel. Phoebe participates in a popularity contest with unexpected results. I really enjoyed this collection and Phoebe and Her Unicorn still have the magic that makes me feel like I'm a 10 year old unicorn girl again.

Note: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not compensated in any other fashion for the review and the opinions reflected below are entirely my own. Special thanks to the publisher and author for providing the copy.

[Jenn Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again the Unicorn and Phoebe books do not disappoint. Dad accidentally left the news up on his computer and Phoebe saw it. I have been there with my own kids and this just broke my heart. I know the feeling of watching your kids get disillusioned with the world. But the book isn't all sadness. Even though the book hits some touch topics it is also silly. But that silliness doesn't stop it from ringing true, even if you aren't a kid. I love this series so much!

[Liander (The Towering Pile) Lavoie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A non-binary unicorn with the pronoun "neigh" is the representation I never knew I wanted.

[magpie · Rating 3 out of 5]

still cute

[Kenya Starflight · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Phoebe and Her Unicorn" remains one of my favorite comic strips, and I've loved every collection that has come out so far. One might wonder if following a serial comic such as this might get repetitive at times... and to some extent, it can. But even if some of the gags get repetitive and some of the characters' schticks wear thin after awhile, they're still enjoyable, and we even get a new character introduced in this collection!

The artwork remains fun as always, nicely stylized and with a look that would translate well to animation (hint hint, animation studios...). I appreciate the different designs for the various characters, with even the unicorns showing plenty of variation in their body types. And it's nice to see Phoebe wearing different outfits instead of being reduced to the same outfit in every strip.

The gags typical of this comic have gotten a little repetitive over time -- there's only so many times that "unicorns do this thing humans supposedly invented, only better" can be funny, and Splendid Humility's extreme dedication to humility feels like a one-off gag that's been stretched too far. But the comic does try to mix it up, and the story arcs are entertaining as well. And I do appreciate that, while it does follow some of the same formula as "Calvin and Hobbes," it lacks the often cynical and misanthropic overtones that C&H could often have, choosing to have fun and be goofy instead of lashing out at things the creator doesn't like.

"Unicorn Playlist" is another fun collection, and I'm still greatly enjoying this comic. So many other comics that run in newspapers feel like they're overstaying their welcome and trying too hard to still be relevant, so it's nice to see one that remains fresh and funny.

[Becky B · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of comics featuring best friends Phoebe (human) and Marigold Heavenly Nostrils (unicorn). This collection has recurring themes of favorite tunes, bemoaning the state of the world, Marigold exploring her family history and meeting her cousin, friends and frenemies, and Marigold trying to learn humility.

You can tell covid and current events were impacting some of these. They aren't overall as funny, and a touch more serious. It starts off with Phoebe depressed by the state of the world. Marigold's cousin introduces a non-binary character to the series (which they explain and talk about a few times). There were moments of the usual Phoebe and Marigold humor which made me smile, but as a whole this is a quieter installment. I did like the Christmas series in this one; those will go down as classics.

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was received as an ARC from Andrews McMeel Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

I love this series and could not wait to see what adventure awaits for Phoebe and Her Unicorn. Dana Simpson creates these whimsical plots that are perfect for our young and teen readers and the illustrations are so eye-catching and whimsical that its the first book they look at and grab. I loved the tie in with "Unicorn Music" and the discovery of long lost friends and Family of Marigold and their secrets they hide to make the adventure more interesting. I can't wait to see what adventure Dana comes up with next and I am sure it will be a hit for our library's graphic novel collection.

We will consider adding this title to our J Graphic Novel collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

[Jessi · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the book starts out, Phoebe is sad because she saw some of the recent news on her dad's computer. And, well, the world can be a scary place. Luckily, we all have Marigold Heavenly Nostrils who can distract us even for a little while with her charming narcissism and love of Phoebe.
We learn about when the mail used to have more than just credit card offers, we learn what Marigold wishes for, we learn about Phoebe and Marigold's favorite music, some of Marigold's family tree (Infernus, the Unicorn of Death (also known as "Ferny")). There is also an interesting twist between Dakota and the goblins that I did not see coming. Luckily, she still wants to be friends with Phoebe. Lots of little jokes in between with my favorite being Phoebe's father getting a call that says "Scam Likely" and Marigold thinks it's a unicorn with the same name.

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Unicorn Playlist' by Dana Simpson is the 14th book in the Phoebe and Her Unicorn series.

When the collection opens, Phoebe is sad, and Marigold tries to figure out why. Then it's on to mail delivery systems and we learn about the Pointy Express. We also learn that unicorns invented bluetooth and there are alternate worlds with very different versions of Phoebe.

These books offer consistent humor and fun situations. There are always new things to find out about the world of unicorns. The book also includes a glossary for younger readers to learn new words.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.