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Phoebe and Her Unicorn #16
Unicornado
A new school year means many things for nine-year-old Phoebe Howell and her unicorn best friend, Marigold Heavenly Nostrils. They prepare for a school dance (lame!), meet new friends (ghosts and gnomes and goblins, OH MY!), and even experience a rare supernatural phenomenon called a Unicornado! In fact, sometimes things get almost too magical. Marigold’s presence attracts pixies, talking birds, and a sphinx, turning Phoebe’s house into a magical sylvan glen. And Marigold even briefly transforms Phoebe into a goblin.
176 pages, Paperback
Published October 18, 2022
149 people are currently reading
215 people want to read
About the author
Dana Simpson
61 books336 followersDana 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
December 12, 2022
What is a "unicornado?" You'll have to read through this whole book to find out. Don't worry. There is lots of fun along the way. In the first 30 pages, you will meet Stella the Sphynx, see Marigold show off her air guitar skills, and find out how unicorns cheat at chess using special rules just for them. Also on my list of faves from this edition: Marigold trying to out-sparkle the Christmas tree and her sorting of Phoebe's Froot-Os to prove she isn't color blind. Enjoy this "ride" from Fall to Spring with Phoebe and her Unicorn. 🦄 👧
November 3, 2022
Honestly, I feel like a broken record about each new book in the series, but in the best possible way.
Every time a new one comes out, I know it will be hilarious and quirky and charming and comforting and it will make me smile and laugh and just feel better about the world.
And it always does!
I love this series and I loved this book and I felt better for having read it. You should, too!
Every time a new one comes out, I know it will be hilarious and quirky and charming and comforting and it will make me smile and laugh and just feel better about the world.
And it always does!
I love this series and I loved this book and I felt better for having read it. You should, too!
October 29, 2022
These are still good, with some very laugh-out-loud moments, but the premise is wearing a little thin. High points for this book: plenty of Dakota, including an excellent storyline about how sometimes things end; the random casting of a particular song on a "magic" broom that caught me off guard so I laughed my fool head off; and continued moments where Simpson throws in little things that will amuse adults and whiz right past the intended age group. I admire her ability to do this without ruining the experience for the children these stories are meant for.
March 30, 2023
More adventures with Phoebe and Marigold Heavenly Nostrils. Love their sweet and funny friendship! Always worthwhile lessons among the silliness. Always lots of sparkles.
October 2, 2022
my first meeting with Phoebe and her unicorn, and it was delightful.
January 9, 2023
Delightful!
These get better and better. The attempt to reconcile Phoebe’s mostly ex-tormentor and the goblin princess is a terrific bit, as is the whole segment around the dance.
These get better and better. The attempt to reconcile Phoebe’s mostly ex-tormentor and the goblin princess is a terrific bit, as is the whole segment around the dance.
November 6, 2022
I've loved the "Phoebe and Her Unicorn" comic for a long time now, and consider it a spiritual successor of sorts to "Calvin and Hobbes." Like the boy and his tiger, Phoebe and Marigold get up to all sorts of adventures, ponder on human nature, and poke friendly fun at one another. I had worried for awhile that the formula was getting a little stale... but "Unicornado" shows that not only have these characters shown real development over the course of the strip, but that the comic is still as fun as ever.
"Unicornado" follows Phoebe and Marigold Heavenly Nostrils as they continue to navigate a world where mythical creatures walk among humans... to unexpected and wacky results. Phoebe's yard becomes a sylvan glen, and a sphinx parks itself at her front door and exchanges dad jokes with her father. Phoebe ends up going undercover as a goblin to find out why her frenemy Dakota had a falling-out with the Goblin Queen. A school dance leads to a possible first crush. And Lord Splendid Humility, the most beautiful and most humble unicorn in existence, finally reveals his face!
I've already reviewed many of the "Phoebe and Her Unicorn" collections, so I'll just say that the art remains great -- a nice balance between stylization and detail -- and I love the designs of the fantastic creatures. In the last couple of collections I've found some of the jokes repetitive, but here Dana Simpson has incorporated some fresh new material, some story arcs that play with the implications of magic creatures living among humans, and hints of actual character development. It's made clear that relationships aren't static but evolve just like actual people -- and even Marigold herself sees growth as a character, beyond her usual vain yet silly self.
"Unicornado" is probably one of the best of the recent collections, and shows that this comic remains one of the best comic strips currently running. And I wouldn't mind seeing another graphic novel featuring these characters...
"Unicornado" follows Phoebe and Marigold Heavenly Nostrils as they continue to navigate a world where mythical creatures walk among humans... to unexpected and wacky results. Phoebe's yard becomes a sylvan glen, and a sphinx parks itself at her front door and exchanges dad jokes with her father. Phoebe ends up going undercover as a goblin to find out why her frenemy Dakota had a falling-out with the Goblin Queen. A school dance leads to a possible first crush. And Lord Splendid Humility, the most beautiful and most humble unicorn in existence, finally reveals his face!
I've already reviewed many of the "Phoebe and Her Unicorn" collections, so I'll just say that the art remains great -- a nice balance between stylization and detail -- and I love the designs of the fantastic creatures. In the last couple of collections I've found some of the jokes repetitive, but here Dana Simpson has incorporated some fresh new material, some story arcs that play with the implications of magic creatures living among humans, and hints of actual character development. It's made clear that relationships aren't static but evolve just like actual people -- and even Marigold herself sees growth as a character, beyond her usual vain yet silly self.
"Unicornado" is probably one of the best of the recent collections, and shows that this comic remains one of the best comic strips currently running. And I wouldn't mind seeing another graphic novel featuring these characters...
April 18, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars
‘You know...when you said we were going to
get "roasted by dragons" today, I was worried.
Me too! But the jokes are far tamer than I expected.’
unicorns, fun characters & entertaining humour. what’s not to like? not five star level mind blowing but definitely a fun and nostalgic read.
‘You know...when you said we were going to
get "roasted by dragons" today, I was worried.
Me too! But the jokes are far tamer than I expected.’
unicorns, fun characters & entertaining humour. what’s not to like? not five star level mind blowing but definitely a fun and nostalgic read.
November 7, 2022
I just want to snuggle these books, they're so funny and heartwarming.
October 24, 2022
This is the...oh well, I have no idea what book number this is in the series because there have been more than a few released. In any case, this is my first time visiting Phoebe and her unicorn, and it was quite the treat.
Phoebe is nine years old and has an unicorn for a best friend. While they've been friends for awhile in this edition, that doesn't mean that things are boring. The unicorn has quite the attitude and, yet, is very sweet. Just a unicorn of its own. Phoebe loves her unicorn with all of her heart but does call the creature out, when things get to ridiculous. Plus, it's hard to say what will pop up next when the land of magic is involved.
Normally, I'm not a huge unicorn fan, so I went into this a little skeptical, but with all of the silliness that was soon long forgotten. This unicorn may have magic and sparkle (the secret to this is released in these pages, btw), but it has quite the healthy self-esteem and humor. Some of the situations might go above the younger end of the intended age group's heads, but the rest will make everyone smile. So, it adds enough range to keep a slightly wider group entertained. I also was thrilled to see that this doesn't leave reading skills behind. While it's a graphic novel, the author makes sure to stretch the vocabulary. There's even a glossary at the end to help with those more difficult terms. Of course, that's only a sideline benefit as humor is key on every single page. So kudos on this end!
The illustrations are bright and bring across the scenes well. The unicorn is well cast and has antics and poses, which are smile worthy on their own. The balance between text and illustrations is well played, letting each end take over its fair share. I enjoyed seeing the emotions and characters sparkle (not just the unicorn in a literal sense) and shine. I've become a fan and can only hope there are many more of these to come. I received a DRC and found this to be so much more fun than I expected.
Phoebe is nine years old and has an unicorn for a best friend. While they've been friends for awhile in this edition, that doesn't mean that things are boring. The unicorn has quite the attitude and, yet, is very sweet. Just a unicorn of its own. Phoebe loves her unicorn with all of her heart but does call the creature out, when things get to ridiculous. Plus, it's hard to say what will pop up next when the land of magic is involved.
Normally, I'm not a huge unicorn fan, so I went into this a little skeptical, but with all of the silliness that was soon long forgotten. This unicorn may have magic and sparkle (the secret to this is released in these pages, btw), but it has quite the healthy self-esteem and humor. Some of the situations might go above the younger end of the intended age group's heads, but the rest will make everyone smile. So, it adds enough range to keep a slightly wider group entertained. I also was thrilled to see that this doesn't leave reading skills behind. While it's a graphic novel, the author makes sure to stretch the vocabulary. There's even a glossary at the end to help with those more difficult terms. Of course, that's only a sideline benefit as humor is key on every single page. So kudos on this end!
The illustrations are bright and bring across the scenes well. The unicorn is well cast and has antics and poses, which are smile worthy on their own. The balance between text and illustrations is well played, letting each end take over its fair share. I enjoyed seeing the emotions and characters sparkle (not just the unicorn in a literal sense) and shine. I've become a fan and can only hope there are many more of these to come. I received a DRC and found this to be so much more fun than I expected.
September 28, 2023
Now that Marigold has been hanging out with her human, Phoebe, for so long, Phoebe’s home is now a magical sylvan glen. This means there’s pixies and sometimes Phoebe will be able to understand the deep philosophical squarks of birds.
There is a downside to this, with the distinct possibility that it’s going to take longer to receive their pizza delivery.
Max looks up from his phone long enough to play chess with Phoebe. Phoebe and Marigold explore a corn maze.
We go back to school with Phoebe, and human and unicorn dress up for Halloween. Phoebe and Marigold discuss tail ornamentation and resolutions. Phoebe goes to her first school dance. Sort of.
I always look forward to catching up with Phoebe and Marigold. Max and Dakota made a couple of appearances each and Phoebe’s dad managed to sneak in a dad joke.
There weren’t as many chuckles for me on this collection. They can’t all be favourites, though. I’m still enjoying the series as a whole and am interested in finding out what’s next.
I’m rounding up from 3.5 stars.
Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com/
There is a downside to this, with the distinct possibility that it’s going to take longer to receive their pizza delivery.
Max looks up from his phone long enough to play chess with Phoebe. Phoebe and Marigold explore a corn maze.
We go back to school with Phoebe, and human and unicorn dress up for Halloween. Phoebe and Marigold discuss tail ornamentation and resolutions. Phoebe goes to her first school dance. Sort of.
I always look forward to catching up with Phoebe and Marigold. Max and Dakota made a couple of appearances each and Phoebe’s dad managed to sneak in a dad joke.
There weren’t as many chuckles for me on this collection. They can’t all be favourites, though. I’m still enjoying the series as a whole and am interested in finding out what’s next.
I’m rounding up from 3.5 stars.
Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com/
March 17, 2023
Phoebe and her best friend, Marigold Heavenly Nostrils, are up to their usual unpredictable adventures that mix everyday life and magic.
This was a delightful diversion yesterday afternoon. Time with Phoebe and Marigold is sure to bring a smile to the face and a laugh to the lips. It's a splendid stress reliever. This collection's notable adventures were the affects of Marigold's ongoing visits on Phoebe's house, visiting a corn maze (and their different perspectives on it, one thinks it is entertainment, the other a restaurant), Marigold's attempts to scare Phoebe for Halloween, trying to help Dakota and the Goblin Queen reconcile (which sees Marigold magicking Phoebe into a goblin for a bit), some Christmas & New Year's antics, Phoebe getting to see LSH's face (which drives Marigold crazy), and Phoebe accidentally asking Max to a school dance (which ends about the way you'd expect from Phoebe and Max ). I love how Phoebe is a good friend and how she embraces who she is herself and all her quirks. Delightful fun.
This was a delightful diversion yesterday afternoon. Time with Phoebe and Marigold is sure to bring a smile to the face and a laugh to the lips. It's a splendid stress reliever. This collection's notable adventures were the affects of Marigold's ongoing visits on Phoebe's house, visiting a corn maze (and their different perspectives on it, one thinks it is entertainment, the other a restaurant), Marigold's attempts to scare Phoebe for Halloween, trying to help Dakota and the Goblin Queen reconcile (which sees Marigold magicking Phoebe into a goblin for a bit), some Christmas & New Year's antics, Phoebe getting to see LSH's face (which drives Marigold crazy), and Phoebe accidentally asking Max to a school dance (which ends about the way you'd expect from Phoebe and Max ). I love how Phoebe is a good friend and how she embraces who she is herself and all her quirks. Delightful fun.
April 17, 2023
Hoopla doesn't let me bookmark pages, or take screenshots. I'm not trying to steal intellectual property, I just want to REMEMBER THINGS.
So, I take notes of things I want to mention in reviews. Like how Phoebe dressed as Captain Marvel for Halloween (yassssssssss), or how she got turned into a Goblin so we finally get to hear actual Goblin conversation. (Dakota fits in perfectly!)
But then I hit this comic.
And yes, it's a funny "old people are old" but also "we are old" joke.
But it hit the right spot in my heart and quieted everything down for a minute. Which is something Dana Simpson has always been good at.
I love these books. A lot.
*NO, I did not steal the intellectual property to get the screenshot back off me I really wanted to have it somewhere digitally.
So, I take notes of things I want to mention in reviews. Like how Phoebe dressed as Captain Marvel for Halloween (yassssssssss), or how she got turned into a Goblin so we finally get to hear actual Goblin conversation. (Dakota fits in perfectly!)
But then I hit this comic.
And yes, it's a funny "old people are old" but also "we are old" joke.
But it hit the right spot in my heart and quieted everything down for a minute. Which is something Dana Simpson has always been good at.
I love these books. A lot.
*NO, I did not steal the intellectual property to get the screenshot back off me I really wanted to have it somewhere digitally.
January 28, 2023
What happens when you spend too much time with a unicorn? Well, your house might turn into a magical sylvan glen where pixies and sphinxes frolic. You might also have the Shield of Boringness rub off on you. Of course, Phoebe also gets to spend time with her friend Max, though playing chess isn't as fun as she thinks it should be (even playing by unicorn rules, she loses.) And she tries to help Dakota when she is feeling sad about missing the goblin queen. Then they all attend a school dance
Phoebe and Marigold go to a corn maze (or is it the new unicorn restaurant? Phoebe and Marigold also get to have fun at Christmas and Halloween. Even meeting a real (or sort of real) ghost. And what happens when Marigold gets a step counter?
Delightful as always.
Phoebe and Marigold go to a corn maze (or is it the new unicorn restaurant? Phoebe and Marigold also get to have fun at Christmas and Halloween. Even meeting a real (or sort of real) ghost. And what happens when Marigold gets a step counter?
Delightful as always.
February 5, 2023
I will start by thanking Andrew McMeel for providing me a copy of this title as part of a giveaway. I took a chance on Phoebe and Marigold and found out that Unicornado is one of those books whose main audience is kids, but the author has not forgotten the adults who might read it as well. Like Big Nate, Phoebe is a perpetual kid in school, but with a unicorn as a friend. That make fact upends her life in so many way what with pixies drifting by, a sphinx guarding her door, becoming a goblin, etc. And it has a glossary! How many books have those these days? All in all, an entertaining diversion!
February 23, 2023
There isn't much I can say about this book that I haven't said about all of them. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this series, and every time I open a new book I know exactly what to expect, in a good way. Phoebe and Marigold's friendship continues to deepen, and once again her parents are awesome.
As always, I cannot WAIT for the next book, and I hope there are many more to come.
One note - I thought it was interesting that the titular plot took place on the second-to-last page, though. I would have loved more from that story!
As always, I cannot WAIT for the next book, and I hope there are many more to come.
One note - I thought it was interesting that the titular plot took place on the second-to-last page, though. I would have loved more from that story!
January 1, 2023
Dakota. Goblins. Yay! And there are some clear story arcs in this one. I enjoy every one of the books, but I find that the collections that work best for me are the ones that kind of follow a bit of a storyline from comic to comic. This one was spread out over a broader period of time, but still had a number of comics that worked together and then as a whole flowed nicely.
And I finished it just after midnight so this is my first completed book of the new year!
And I finished it just after midnight so this is my first completed book of the new year!
January 29, 2023
Graphic Novel
Phoebe and Marigold return to move through another school year. I appreciate how Simpson has deepened their friendship through the series and still offers fresh humor. Phoebe's world broadens to include more time with Max and experiences without Marigold. Well drawn artwork brings the characters to life.
Phoebe and Marigold return to move through another school year. I appreciate how Simpson has deepened their friendship through the series and still offers fresh humor. Phoebe's world broadens to include more time with Max and experiences without Marigold. Well drawn artwork brings the characters to life.
March 22, 2024
Phoebe Howell and her unicorn best friend, Marigold Heavenly Nostrils are back for another school year and New Year, involving school dances, games of tag, trick or treating, and various other magical related adventures. Phoebe even gets turned into a goblin, and gets to enjoy the experience of having a tail for a few days.
December 27, 2022
I adore these books! They always make me smile, and frequently giggle with glee. Phoebe becoming a gnome is greatly entertaining. A great way to bring brightness to a day that started out quite challenging.
October 20, 2022
It's a good thing Simpson cranks out about two of these a year, because I cannot get enough of Phoebe and Marigold.
October 26, 2022
These are super cute. Worth the ten minutes it took me to read it before bed. 🙂
November 20, 2022
One thing I enjoy about Phoebe and Her Unicorn is that there’s plot progression, character development, and constant callbacks to previous strips. This series is still cute and fun.
November 25, 2022
I'm not sure who I relate to more: Phoebe or her parents...
November 25, 2022
I was already chortling by the second comic. This installment was hilarious, and included so many creative ideas and situations. I laughed out loud many times.
December 6, 2022
Phoebe and Her Unicorn Adventures are always fun.
Read
December 9, 2022What a nice break in a chaotic day.
January 16, 2023
Another fun phoebe and marigold adventure!
February 18, 2023
Always a good read!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews