A Unicorn Named Rin

by Crystal Z. Lee, Li Liu (Illustrator)

The royal phoenix is missing from the Tang dynasty palace! Princess Pingyang is worried. Can Rin the unicorn find Fan the phoenix? Together with her friends—dragon, tiger, and tortoise—Rin embarks on a journey to mystical lands in China. Along the way, Rin discovers the value of teamwork and the warmth of friendship.

A Unicorn Named Rin celebrates the wonder and beauty of Chinese history and culture. This exquisitely illustrated picture book makes an ideal read for children 3-8 years old:
- Easy-to-read vocabulary enables confidence in early readers
- Whimsical illustrations encourage imagination in all unicorn lovers
- Storyline fosters dialogue around collaboration, empathy, and kindness
- Real locations in China make for an inspiring geography, history and cultural exploration adventure

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 22, 2021

About the author

Crystal Z. Lee is a Taiwanese American bilingual writer and a member of the Asian Authors Alliance. She has called many places home, including Taipei, New York, Shanghai, and the San Francisco Bay Area. She was formerly a public relations executive who had worked with brands in the fashion, beauty, and technology industries. She is the author of the novel Love and Other Moods, and children’s books Pei's Pineapple Cakes, Mei's Mermaid Mission, Kai the Dancing Butterfly, and A Unicorn Named Rin. Her poetry was included in the UK anthology, Tabula Rasa. Author website: https://www.crystalzleeauthor.com

Reviews

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a gifted copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via the author.

A unicorn named Rin is a beautifully illustrated children's book about a unicorn called Rin and her friends who are looking for their Phoenix friend on request of the Princess.
I loved the fact this book has an Asian Princess (who is also a great, strong leader for girls to look up to when you read about her history at the back of the book). Diverse books are always a hit with me and I love sharing them with my class at the school I work in.
I loved the cultural significance in this book and found it interesting as it touches upon Chinese history, folklaw and poems too.
The story is short and fast paced and has a beautiful ending. At the back of the book there are information for parents and the reader about the significance of the places Rin and her friends go in search of the Phoenix.
I'd suggest reading the info at the back before reading the story to/with your child just to familiarise yourself with the places so you can discuss these further with them as you read along.
I look forward to reading more by Crystal Z Lee as I thoroughly enjoyed this delightful, whimsical read!

[Pavlina Read more sleep less blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is absolutely cute! I loved it, it’s fast paced . This is about friendship and culture! I loved chrystal’s writing style in this one and I cannot wait to read it to my niece. I loved how it goes it keeps your interest from the beginning! I liked the journey and Rin!I loved the illustration .

[Tsundoku By the Day 📚 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5/5)

I cross my arms.
“What’s wrong?” Baihu asked.
“How can you all sing at a time like this?” I reply.
“Because we are a team. It’s what we do best,” Lon says.

This book was sooooooo cute—and I’m not just talking about the artwork. It follows a Chinese unicorn named Rin as she goes to find Fan the Royal Phoenix at the request of the Princess. Of course friends help along the way and we get to meet different creatures. The ending is increasingly adorable when they all sing the Tang poem. I think it’s my favorite part of the story.
I only took off half a star because I thought the story was a little long and could have been tightened and condensed in less pages.

I would recommend this for a younger audience maybe Kindergarten—ish and younger Elementary School age kids since some of the simpler lines (ex. Fan is not here.) are repetitive.

[Ruthie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received a review copy of A Unicorn Named Rin free of charge from the author Crystal Z. Lee as part of the Instagram tour with Prism Book Tours. It was my choice to read and review.

My 2 and 5 yr old girls LOVE unicorns and books with beautiful pictures. A Unicorn Named Rin hits both of those aspects. I'm always looking for ways to add diverse books to their bookshelf. They loved reading it and said "wow" on each page because of the beautiful illustrations. The messages of friendship and teamwork combined with the Chinese history, culture, and discussions of real geographic locations mean that not only do my children get to enjoy a beautiful unicorn book, but they are also learning something about another culture at the same time.

Besides a unicorn and a princess, this book also has a royal phoenix, dragon, tiger, and tortoise!

[Paula Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was drawn to this picture book because it had a cute Unicorn in the story as my favorite mythological creature is a Unicorn. This book is very cute and follows a Chinese legend with a variety of mythological creatures in the story. I also liked the way that it showcased the Chinese culture with its festival celebrations. In this story, our Princess Pingyang is getting ready for the festival, but she is missing her companion Phoenix - Fan. The Princess calls on Rin to help find Fan. During the story as Rin checks all the places he thinks that Fan can be, he also meets other mythological creatures who help search. In the end, they decide the way to draw Fan out is by singing a beautiful melody. This was a very cute picture book with amazing illustrations, especially of the creatures. I also liked how Princess Pingyang was her person and this book shows girls not only diversity with the AAPI but also that just like Princess Pingyang, they can be strong female role models. A Unicorn named Rin is perfect for readers aged 6-9 years as it is a sophisticated picture book.

[Kathreadsall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love unicorns, so I was so excited for this book! I loved learning about traditional Chinese folklore as the story progressed, and the beautiful illustrations helped bring the journey of Rin to live as she worked together with her friends to find Fan the phoenix!

Kids will enjoy the fantasy tale, and adults will enjoy the history being brought to life!

[Sophie's Reading Corner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so cute! I loved the illustrations and the story! It was fast paced and keeps you interested in their adventures as some magic animals are looking for their lost friend. It speaks about the power of friendship and culture. Loved it! Perfect for little ones :)

[Nursebookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved and enjoyed this a lot! Gorgeous illustrations and a fantastic message!

[Sarah Anderson-Pagal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Crystal and Feather and Dove Tours for sending me a copy of this gorgeous book!

My 3 year old absolutely loves this book! We saw a Phoenix lantern at the zoo the other day and she asked if it was from Rin. So the book left an impression on her.

As a mother of a half Filipina girl, I am happy to see Asian main characters in books. I am glad she can see diversity in what we read to her.

The story itself is so wonderful. It teaches friendship and working together to accomplish a task. Crystal also added information at the end of the book explaining the significance of the places Rin went to as well as the history of the Princess. I really loved this!

[escapingbyreading · Rating 3 out of 5]

A unicorn named Rin

Rating- 4/5

I was doing a math test when I received an email that I am on the book’s tour and I literally screamed.

The book is set in china and as an asian , I love representation in the book  and how little kids reading this book will be happy. I wish someone gave me this book when I was young. The plot of the book was really simple and not complex as it was a picture book but I enjoyed how much the author packed in this little book. I liked each and every character in the book. I made me know that unicorns were Chinese which really pleasant shock was for me.  The art done by Li Liu was really good and simple , but the only concern was that the cover looked a little different from the artwork inside the book .This sums up my review and if you are interested in the book , then I have a giveaway or you can purchase your copy from wherever books are sold

Thank you turn the pages book tour and publisher for sending a copy on my doorstep <3

[Reader Views · Rating 4 out of 5]

“A Unicorn Named Rin” by Crystal Z. Lee is the story about a unicorn named Rin who is asked by the princess to find the Royal Phoenix, Fan. Princess Pingyang is upset because she can’t find Fan anywhere and starts to think of where Fan might be. Rin gets help from friends. The first place he goes is to the lake where he meets Baihu the white tiger who offers to help. They look in the water and places that they knew he liked to be. On the way, Lon the purple dragon offers to help and they look in a cave and find Gui the turtle and messages on the walls from people a long time ago. They go to the festival where people were dancing and they sang a song. Rin is upset that they are singing because they can’t find Fan. Rin finally started singing with her friends and the Rin followed the song and found them. Then they go to the Princess’s party and sing their favorite song together. Rin now knows how to be a good friend with his new ones.

I like this story because I like that they found Fan, the phoenix. I like the pictures because they are pretty and each of the animals are a different color. Some of the pictures show Rin doing silly things. The pictures look different than other one’s I’ve seen, but I was told that it is because they are Chinese. I like all the colors. I didn’t know what all of the words meant in the story, so my mom explained them to me. This isn’t a book I could read on my own yet, but it was fun to listen. I know how Rin felt while trying to find Fan because I like to try to get things done right away, too, but I like that Rin found out how to calm down so that everyone felt happy, and that they ended up working together. I think that any kid would like this story because it’s easy to understand and imagine what’s happening.

Note from Mom: I like that this book brought some Chinese culture to Lydia. In the back of the book, the Chinese names for the animals in the story are listed, and then a short write-up about the real Princess Pingyang who lived in China during the Tang dynasty. I found this book educational for myself alongside Lydia while reading it to her. There isn’t anything wrong to say about the book, and I like that it emphasizes teamwork making the dream work.

[Grendolyn Soleil · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Unicorn Named Rin is a powerful story that takes children on an imaginative adventure. The story engages the young reader right from the start with a letter from Princess Pingyang who needs Rin’s help. From there, each page sparks the young reader’s imagination and teaches important lessons about patience, perseverance, and kindness. One of the most beautiful messages is the emphasis on community and teamwork.

The pacing of the story is good. It moves quickly enough to hold the young reader’s interest while still sharing valuable lessons along the way. The illustrations are truly beautiful and so expressive. They really bring the story to life. I found myself looking forward to each new page – tea parties, music, nature, festivals, and friendship!

This book is an enchanting celebration of Chinese culture, and I highly recommend A Unicorn Named Rin!

[Ruth Job Salamanca · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝘼𝙨 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙨, 𝙣𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙛𝙖𝙧 𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩.⁣⁣
𝘼 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙘𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙣𝙚𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙗𝙤𝙧, 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩.”⁣⁣
⁣⁣
This is a quick read that kiddos and kids at heart would enjoy! The colorful illustrations just suck you in with a fun story and a moral lesson about adventures and friendships. It’s something that I see myself falling in love with if I read this back when I was a kid 🤩 It doesn’t hurt that the characters were mythical creatures that definitely nurtures the imagination 🥰⁣⁣
⁣⁣

[Frank Chillura (OhYouRead) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Celebrating the folklore, places, and rich history of China, A Unicorn Named Rin not only entertains, but excites the mind. The colors are absolutely breathtaking and the entire book is whimsically and beautifully illustrated by Li Liu! After finishing the story, Crystal Z Lee goes on to give historical facts and explains the accuracy inside the book.

I loved every page more than the last and would have absolutely loved this as a kid. I have always been a lover of Unicorns... hence my obsession with My Little Pony in elementary school. 🤷🏻‍♂️ No Shame!

[Justine Barr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sophie and I are HUGE picture book fans, so I am delighted to be a part of a book tour group for A Unicorn Named Rin!
•
•
This new story, written by Crystal Lee and illustrated by Li Liu.
•
•
Sophie (who is 7) read the book to me with ease and wonder, and she and I talked in depth about working together with friends to solve a problem. She also loved the bright illustrations of each magical creature we met through the story, and she gives this book 5 Sophie 🌟’s!

[Jewelle L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This picture book brings Tang dynasty poems and Chinese mythical beasts to life.
Such a fun journey in ancient Tang with a Chinese unicorn. love that there is FINALLY a unicorn kid book with an Asian character too.

[S. Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a breathtaking book. I highly recommend it to anyone with children. It has a thorough plot that embraces friendship and laughter.

[Sammie · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can find my full review on my blog, The Bookwyrm's Den, here.

Many thanks to Balestier and Turn the Page Tours for a copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Minion's Thoughts:

My 10-year-old actually reviewed this one for my blog, so I'm going to post her review here:

I gave this book four unicorn horns because it didn’t have a whole lot of detail and there wasn’t very much going on, so it’s maybe better for littler kids. Where there was some things going on, it was pretty good. I liked all the animals and the way they did human things. I liked all the pictures of animals and what they looked like. They weren’t like other animals I’ve seen before in books. They were different colors and drawn differently.

About the Book:
A Unicorn Named Rin is about a phoenix that went missing, and a qilin, a chinese unicorn, named Rin that was the fastest flying unicorn in China had to go find the phoenix with some help from their friends. Rin meets lots of different animals along the way like a turtle, phoenix, and tiger that help them on their quest.

Five Things I Liked:
- All the different animals in the book.
- That all the animals could sing and the singing made the phoenix be able to find its way back.
- That the unicorn was sent to find the phoenix because it was the fastest flying unicorn in China.
- That all the animals could do things that only people could do like talk and read.
- I liked that the book told the name of the unicorn and where Rin lived.

My Thoughts:

In case you couldn’t tell … unicorns are kind of Minion’s thing. There seems to be a rush lately of unicorn books. Certainly, there’s been a major influx of them at the library I work at, as more and more readers seem to be picking them up. What these unicorn books don’t have, unfortunately, is diversity. Almost none at all. So imagine my excitement to have stumbled upon A Unicorn Named Rin, which not only has a unique Chinese unicorn (a.k.a. a qilin) but is set in China with very unique Chinese-inspired illustrations and some lesser-seen animals!

I highly recommend this one for readers who enjoy unicorns but want a little included diversity in there, too. I, for one, am tired of the same old unicorn stories. So yes to being set in China. Yes to all the Chinese culture (including language!) thrown into the book in an easy-to-understand way. I think it’s important for young readers to understand that the concepts they love (like unicorns, for example) aren’t just American or Western concepts and there are other beliefs out there.

There’s even a glossary in the back that explains the locations mentioned in the book and how they exist in real life. It also explains a little about the significance of the animals that appear in the book, which was also nice. It’s a fun story filled with unique animals and friendship that I think will be a winner for young readers, especially those who already love unicorns. This is probably a sort of unicorn story they haven’t seen yet.

[Lunnaris · Rating 5 out of 5]

For more reviews (también en español) please visit https://awindowtomysoul.com/

This is a different review for me because, believe it or not, I am not between 3 and 8 years old 🤣.

It is true that it's an easy-to-read story, which makes it good for building confidence in children, but it could also be useful for a person who wants to start reading in English. I think it is good advice to start reading children's books to practice another language.

Returning to the children, this is a nice story of friendship, in which the importance of teamwork is shown. However, what really makes it an amazing book for me, are the locations.

Rin and her friends must search for Fan, the royal phoenix, throughout various locations that stand out for some special reason. At the end of the book, Crystal provides an explanation of each of these places and their true history.

Also, Princess Pingyang seems like a great addition to me. It's amazing that you can introduce it to your child in this story, so that later he or she knows it was real and becomes even more inspiring. She's like a new Mulan (in a role model sense, I don't know much about Chinese history and I don't pretend to act like I do).

In short, it's a wonderful Chinese culture bath, delivered in the most subtle, but no less effective way. In addition, the contribution of the illustrations is magical. It is personally what convinced me to read the book.

[Siobhán♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a super quick and light read that shows the importance of cooperation and teamwork.
I really enjoyed this book and I loved learning about the Chinese culture in which Crystal Z. Lee incorporated into her book.

This book is one for you and your little ones to enjoy together (or.. You know, you could just enjoy it on your own and never fully admit it.😉) and just let your imaginations go wild. And, if you're like me, you may want to just look at the beautiful illustrations throughout this book. These illustrations perfectly matched the story and remained warm and beautiful all the way through.

Rin, the Unicorn, , is sent on a mission to find Fan, the Royal Phoenix. Along the way she finds some friends to help her on her mission to find Fan.

I must admit... I do believe that I am quite a little kid and definitely enjoyed this book (I'm forever 5 at heart, but don't you tell anyone that!).
I really loved Lee's writing and I adored Li Liu's illustrations! Both worked together to make a beautiful masterpiece of a book!

[Nanny Miss Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Unicorn Named Rin" by Crystal Z. Lee is magical. A universal lesson about friendship and not giving up is wonderfully woven into a very enjoyable adventure inspired by Chinese culture and mythology.

Rin, Princess Pingyang, and the main animal characters, loosely based on the Four Symbols of Chinese cosmology, are adorable and beautifully illustrated. Artist Li Lui combines traditional Eastern art with a bit of modern cartoonish whimsy that works really well together. There's a convenient glossary that tells you more about the various locations mentioned throughout the book.

Both author & illustrator have amazing technique; against each page of Liu's landscapes, Lee's words spark the imagination and hit all the right notes. Your little one will be drawn into the mystical nature of this fun, creative story. I definitely recommend adding this to your library!

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a cute book. I know that my niece will have a fun time reading this book as well. She is five and at the point of wanting to read by herself. For the most part, she can do that with this book. There are some larger words that she will need an adult's help pronouncing.

I was drawn to this book because I am a fan of unicorns. Rin, may be the prominent main character featured in this story but she is joined by her friends. All of who I just loved as much as her. Each one was different. There was a dragon, phoenix, and tortoise to name a few.

This book showed that no matter our backgrounds and how different we are; we can all be friends and harmonize like Rin and her friends do in this book. A Unicorn Named Rin is a five star read that will delight young readers!

[Michelle Fritz PA · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful book! The illustrations are colorful and fun. This sweet little book shares a powerful story of friendship featuring some enchanting characters. This adventure book will sweep your imagination away and is absolutely perfect for young ones as well as those young in heart. Every page is an absolute delight!

This is a beautiful celebration of Chinese culture and is about a unicorn named Rin. This starts with a letter and a request that introduces us to Rin's friends. We see the group come together to problem solve and save the day. Empathy and kindness are beautifully represented.

This is beautifully covered. The glossary in the back is filled with actual places and facts that makes this a must have for your home or school library.

[Amanda Hsiung-Blodgett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unicorn Magic Meets Cultural Ｗonders

I absolutely love this book! The captivating tale of Rin, the Chinese unicorn, paired with vibrant illustrations, enthralled my young readers as they followed her on a brave mission. Rin's adventure brilliantly showcases the values of courage, resilience, and friendship. What makes this story even more engaging are the gems of cultural and historical elements woven into the story and illustrations. These elements expand children's worldviews and spark a curiosity that will drive them to further exploration. You will also appreciate the Glossary of Rin's Map and the Author's Note. I wholeheartedly recommend A Unicorn Named Rin. This delightful and educational book is a must-have for both home and school libraries.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter and I were so excited to read this book when it arrived. We have now read it multiple times together. It is about a group of friends searching for their missing friend, the phoenix. They think about all the places that Fan enjoys and visits them in searching. The illustrations are beautiful and eye catching as we take a tour of locations in China. This story is heartwarming and offers lessons on being a friend in a fun way. I also enjoyed the information at the end of the story, explaining the history and the locations.

Thank you Crystal Z. Lee and Kate Rock Book Tours for an opportunity to read and review this story! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Bo (WonderousReads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 2 year old and I absolutely love this book! What a wonderful story about friends coming together to help each other out. All of the characters were adorable and each so different. The illustrations are stunning with such beautiful vibrant colors. I appreciated the fact that the author included actual locations and gave a fun glimpse into Chinese culture.

I had such a blast reading A Unicorn Named Rin to my daughter and explaining all of the new things to her. She was so curious about everything. What a great way for children to learn! I was so surprised when my daughter asked me to read this to her before bed because she I usually have to initiate story time!

[Danny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though I am a high school librarian, my library also has children's books in the collection (for English Language Learners, Special Education students, storytelling practice lessons, or for anyone who just needs to enjoy a children's book for whatever reason, myself included). Ms. Lee freely and generously gifted my library with three of her books for which my students and I are grateful.

The story of Princess Pingyang and Rin the Unicorn is a gorgeous tale of friendship, cooperation, hope, and ingenuity. The writing flows nicely, perfect for storytime, and the illustrations are rich and gorgeous. The author's note and glossary are perfect additions to the book.

[Isabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

When my 4-year-old unicorn-lover first saw the cover, she squealed and said, "Wow! I LOVE this so much!" She was engaged with the book immediately and asked questions throughout reading this book together. I appreciate that Lee's books incorporate Chinese historical and cultural insights into the storyline in a very approachable way for young children. I love that it includes a famous poem in Chinese. As with the mythical animals, these figures are heavily embedded in literature and cultural references in places like Taiwan, and important for my children to know as they visit Taiwan often. The more we read this book, the more we realize how wonderful it is!

[Sam (Sassyowlreads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Unicorn Named Rin was downright adorable! Rin the Unicorn with the help of her dragon, tiger and tortoise friends must track down the Royal Phoenix for Princess Pingyang. The themes of teamwork and friendship can be found throughout this magical adventure that is sure to spark the imagination.

The artwork was beautiful and perfectly combines Chinese culture and mythology with whimsical characters to enchant any little one who reads it.

Thank you so much to the author and Feather & Dove tours for a copy of this book!

[Maria_books1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The illustrations are very beautiful and the writing simple and pleasant!

As an adult I've been reading prose so it's been years since the last time I had an illustrated book in my hands so that was definitely an emotional "reunion" 😅 This book is a beautiful way to introduce kids to Chinese history and writing through a lovely and hopeful story. The glossary at the end of the book is a very nice addition that both kids and parents will definitely appreciate. I'm really excited to keep this book safe the following years until hopefully one day I can read it with my kids 🥰