What do you think?
Rate this book
This Is NOT a Unicorn!
Get ready for a magical and hilarious adventure about the most fantastic unicorn EVER!
This book is NOT about a unicorn! Well . . . OK, maybe it is! But THIS unicorn has a horn that can turn into the most incredible things - a magic wand, a helicopter, even a space rocket! Join the hilarious adventure and prepare to be amazed by your brilliant new friend.
With wonderful wordplay and a funny and sweet friendship at its heart, this is NOT a unicorn book to be missed!
his fabulously funny story has tons of appeal for both girls and boys - watch out for rockets, rainbows, helicopters, massive fish, ice cream sundaes and magical adventures.
This book is NOT about a unicorn! Well . . . OK, maybe it is! But THIS unicorn has a horn that can turn into the most incredible things - a magic wand, a helicopter, even a space rocket! Join the hilarious adventure and prepare to be amazed by your brilliant new friend.
With wonderful wordplay and a funny and sweet friendship at its heart, this is NOT a unicorn book to be missed!
his fabulously funny story has tons of appeal for both girls and boys - watch out for rockets, rainbows, helicopters, massive fish, ice cream sundaes and magical adventures.
32 pages, Hardcover
Published June 6, 2023
27 people want to read
About the author
Barry Timms
41 books12 followersBarry enjoys the way that stories bring people together. After many years spent editing children’s books, he is now telling tales of his own. Barry lives by an old water tower in South London and can often be found with pencil in hand, writing or drawing or both. He likes road movies, ghost trains and exploring forgotten side streets.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
January 6, 2023
Quite a fun book about unicorns... or wait not unicorns! I had fun with the first half, but after that I was a bit done with it. I don't know, too much repetition for me. Still the first half made me laugh and while repetitive, I did like seeing what his horn turned into in the next half. The ending, I just wished for more. Maybe I was too tired, but I just didn't get the ending.
The art was the best part of the whole thing. Sparkly. Colourful. Fun.
The art was the best part of the whole thing. Sparkly. Colourful. Fun.
November 4, 2023
3,5 stars
just a fun way to do unicorn puns ahahah very silly to be honest but for a child it can be very funny!
just a fun way to do unicorn puns ahahah very silly to be honest but for a child it can be very funny!
Read
May 10, 2023See my full review here: https://www.yabookscentral.com/this-i...
THIS IS NOT A UNICORN is a charming and fun picture book. The book begins with a seeming unicorn appearing for a little girl - but wait! This is not a unicorn! The horn on the unicorn changes into different objects that it uses for tasks like opening doors, blowing up balloons, and watering a garden, which are turned into phrases like "open-up-the-door-icorn." Each descriptor is accompanied by neon colored illustrations of the unicorn and girl together. The story ends by concluding that it's a "perfect-friend-for-you-nicorn" or "you-nicorn" for short.
What I loved: This was such a clever and cute rhyming story. Each page really rolled off the tongue and was fun to read aloud and for little ears to hear. The neon-colored, cartoonish illustrations will have a lot of appeal to young readers as each silly thing is depicted where described. The unicorn and girl do imaginative things from every day tasks to taking a rocket into outer space. This is really a story to spark creativity as children can think of what they would like to do with a unicorn whose horn can be anything.
The writing is clear and easy to read throughout, which will make it work well for any time. The silly ideas are sure to make some children giggle, and the repetitive phrasing will work well for toddlers and preschoolers who can appreciate the patterns and rhymes. Another cool feature is the inclusion of a download for the audiobook version (which includes a sound for children to know when to turn the page) for some independent reading fun.
Final verdict: THIS IS NOT A UNICORN is a delightful and entertaining picture book that will charm readers with its rhymes and bright colors. Recommend for toddlers, preschoolers, and young elementary school readers.
Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
THIS IS NOT A UNICORN is a charming and fun picture book. The book begins with a seeming unicorn appearing for a little girl - but wait! This is not a unicorn! The horn on the unicorn changes into different objects that it uses for tasks like opening doors, blowing up balloons, and watering a garden, which are turned into phrases like "open-up-the-door-icorn." Each descriptor is accompanied by neon colored illustrations of the unicorn and girl together. The story ends by concluding that it's a "perfect-friend-for-you-nicorn" or "you-nicorn" for short.
What I loved: This was such a clever and cute rhyming story. Each page really rolled off the tongue and was fun to read aloud and for little ears to hear. The neon-colored, cartoonish illustrations will have a lot of appeal to young readers as each silly thing is depicted where described. The unicorn and girl do imaginative things from every day tasks to taking a rocket into outer space. This is really a story to spark creativity as children can think of what they would like to do with a unicorn whose horn can be anything.
The writing is clear and easy to read throughout, which will make it work well for any time. The silly ideas are sure to make some children giggle, and the repetitive phrasing will work well for toddlers and preschoolers who can appreciate the patterns and rhymes. Another cool feature is the inclusion of a download for the audiobook version (which includes a sound for children to know when to turn the page) for some independent reading fun.
Final verdict: THIS IS NOT A UNICORN is a delightful and entertaining picture book that will charm readers with its rhymes and bright colors. Recommend for toddlers, preschoolers, and young elementary school readers.
Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
July 7, 2023
This might look like an ordinary unicorn, but it's NOT! This unicorn can change their horn to be anything they want. Their horn might be a trumpet, an icecream spoon, a key, a kayak oar, a helicopter, or feather duster. They can use their horn to be a tennis racket, a frying pan, a skipping rope, or a lamp. Most of all, this NOT-a-Unicorn is the "perfect friend for you"!
This book is so imaginative and fun! The story is quite unique, and it was amazing to see how many different uses you can find for a magical horn.
I love the colorful illustrations! The neon colors really pop off the page like sparkles of magic. The designs for the characters are adorable.
You can scan the QR code on the back cover to listen to an audio recording of this book being read out loud with some music and fun sound effects. I listened to some of it and it was so cute!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
This book is so imaginative and fun! The story is quite unique, and it was amazing to see how many different uses you can find for a magical horn.
I love the colorful illustrations! The neon colors really pop off the page like sparkles of magic. The designs for the characters are adorable.
You can scan the QR code on the back cover to listen to an audio recording of this book being read out loud with some music and fun sound effects. I listened to some of it and it was so cute!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
January 5, 2024
Gimmicky, yet fun... This reminds me of every book that Jose Aruego and Arianne Dewey made. The text and art battle for to be the center of attention.
A diverse young girl is startled when she is stopped on the street by "not a unicorn". It is a "...tune-icorn, a spoon-icorn, a blow-up-in-your balloon-icorn..." and 22 other things, with the last being a "you-nicorn".
Rhyming fun the whole way through, this makes a funny read aloud for preschoolers who will giggle and squeal with the turn of each page. While it feels a bit forced at times, unicorn lovers will certainly overlook this.
The cartoonish artwork anthropomorphizes the unicorn, as it walks on its hind legs and interacts with the little girl. The bright neon colors used for the unicorn's horn and mane jump off the oversized pages, screaming to be looked at.
It will be a hit with unicorn-lovers again and again... Recommended for PreSchool-K.
A diverse young girl is startled when she is stopped on the street by "not a unicorn". It is a "...tune-icorn, a spoon-icorn, a blow-up-in-your balloon-icorn..." and 22 other things, with the last being a "you-nicorn".
Rhyming fun the whole way through, this makes a funny read aloud for preschoolers who will giggle and squeal with the turn of each page. While it feels a bit forced at times, unicorn lovers will certainly overlook this.
The cartoonish artwork anthropomorphizes the unicorn, as it walks on its hind legs and interacts with the little girl. The bright neon colors used for the unicorn's horn and mane jump off the oversized pages, screaming to be looked at.
It will be a hit with unicorn-lovers again and again... Recommended for PreSchool-K.
September 22, 2023
Driven by several plays on the word "unicorn," this picture book--a 2.5 for me--features an adorable brown-skinned tot and the magical beast that comes into her life. While the title is deceptive since this surely IS a unicorn, it's not the typical one as its colorful horn can become a spoon, a sieve or a net for fishing, a helicopter, and even an umbrella, among other things. All of this outlandish repurposing of its horn is depicted with colorful artwork that fills the pages with splashes of pink. While the repetitive language might annoy adults, young readers will enjoy the story as they recognize the pattern used to introduce the unicorn. There's little doubt that this book will prompt a resurgence of interest in unicorns.
January 25, 2024
A delightful magical picture book showing all the ways this specific unicorn is not just your average adorable unicorn. Who else has a horn with magical transformation powers? A unicorn that could help you make fun music, scoop ice cream and help you blow up balloons? What's not to love?
I appreciate how the book addresses the reader and really makes it more of an interactive story, perfect for unicorn story time and read aloud sessions. The more I read it, the more I kept getting excited to see what the unicorn horn could do. It's a fun buildup with silly rhymes galore! The interactive play and the lovely illustrations will make it a joy to read.
I appreciate how the book addresses the reader and really makes it more of an interactive story, perfect for unicorn story time and read aloud sessions. The more I read it, the more I kept getting excited to see what the unicorn horn could do. It's a fun buildup with silly rhymes galore! The interactive play and the lovely illustrations will make it a joy to read.
January 16, 2025
"This Is Not a Unicorn!" is an imaginative and whimsical story about a young girl and her magical unicorn-like friend, who can transform its horn into almost anything – from a paintbrush to a musical instrument. Barry Timms’ charming text blends humor with heart, while Ged Adamson’s illustrations add an extra layer of playfulness.
The book celebrates creativity and individuality, encouraging young readers to embrace their imaginations and see the extraordinary in the everyday. With its catchy repetition and vibrant artwork, it’s a fantastic choice for EYFS children who are beginning to engage with storytelling and characters.
The book celebrates creativity and individuality, encouraging young readers to embrace their imaginations and see the extraordinary in the everyday. With its catchy repetition and vibrant artwork, it’s a fantastic choice for EYFS children who are beginning to engage with storytelling and characters.
January 17, 2022
Such a fun read with fantastic illustrations. If you have a young daughter you'll probably be inundated with unicorn related paraphernalia and sigh when yet another unicorn related toy/book enters the house. This book is different. It's refreshingly original and enjoyable to read out loud. Highly recommend.
Read
June 9, 2023I get what this picture book is trying to do and I think some children will enjoy it and find it funny and endearing. I felt, overall, though, the narrative read a little clunky to me and the ending didn't quite land. It wasn't memorable or one I would revisit.
***Note: I was given a review copy of this book via Publisher's Spotlight. Opinions are my own.
***Note: I was given a review copy of this book via Publisher's Spotlight. Opinions are my own.
September 24, 2023
The picture book market is saturated with unicorn books making it hard for one to be truly original and stand out. I didn't love this one. I'm sure kids who adore unicorns will find this one fun as it tells the story of a unicorn who uses his horn to do all kinds of magical things but it just didn't stand out for me.
November 13, 2023
Het volgende prentenboek dat ik uit mijn minibieb viste. De kleuren zijn wellicht aantrekkelijk voor kinderen, maar geef mij de zachtere en echtere tekeningen van ‘Kijk, konijnen’ maar. Het is het verhaal van een dier dat duidelijk een eenhoorn is maar zelf zegt geen eenhoorn te zijn. Het verhaal vond ik ook nogal zwakjes dus dit boek stond al vrij snel na het lezen weer in mijn minibieb.
February 4, 2024
Nire bi urteko alabari IZUGARRI gustatu zaio liburua. Ez dauka mezu ezkuturik, ez eta istorio zoragarririk, baina marrazkiak oso politak dira, kolorez betetako liburua da. Sormena lantzeko bidea ematen du, adarbakarra ez den adarbakarra da protagonista, eta bere adarra mila gauza ezberdinetan bihurtzen da. Liburua amaitu eta beste zer izan ote daitekeen asmatzen ibiltzen gara.
March 18, 2024
This is Not a Unicorn is a fun book about a unicorn with a horn that can turn into different things! It’s bright colorful, and silly. The rhyming text is engaging and flows really well and the sparkly artwork is so much fun! It did feel a little repetitive by the end, but my kid loved it and there were so many giggles as we read it together.
March 28, 2023
Stunning picture book. Bright, beautiful illustrations and amusing text based around a unicorn and all the things it could possibly be.
Read this at school today and all the children were laughing to - yR up to Y6 in a group activity!#
Part of Scholastics LOLLIES awards.
Read this at school today and all the children were laughing to - yR up to Y6 in a group activity!#
Part of Scholastics LOLLIES awards.
March 13, 2024
Showcases all of unicorn's shape-shifting abilities in a rhyming format. It's not a unicorn, it's a tune-icorn, a spoonicorn.
Colorful big illustations!
Not plot heavy because it's basically just fun silly illustrations
Colorful big illustations!
Not plot heavy because it's basically just fun silly illustrations
April 13, 2024
A good book for the unicorn obsessed children of the world. Bright, vibrant pictures will help hold a child's attention and fun scenarios in the book can lead to imaginative play and discussion. Great book for interaction with your children.
July 21, 2024
A young girl would like to introduce the reader to a very special animal that is NOT a unicorn. This unicorn-like animal has an assortment of odd appendages where his horn would be, making him a spoon-icorn, a look-inside-your-brain-icorn, etc. I found this story very repetitive and boring.
June 11, 2021
Such a FUN book, the story was engaging and enjoyable. Me and my daughter especially liked the audiobook add on included. The sound effects along with the narrator made the story extra special.
December 6, 2021
LOVED this, a wonderfully imaginative story playing on the word 'unicorn' - excellent for verbal understanding.
April 27, 2023
Florescent and fun! I enjoyed the imagination, bright colors, word play, and amazing characters in this picture book. Perfect for readers who love unicorns with creative skills.
May 7, 2023
Silly and colorful, but the text is too repetitive. I'm sure kids will love it.
July 25, 2023
Lovely and fun and universal book with a great message about creativity and a subtle subtext that sometimes you don't have to label.... A lovely subtle subtext. <3
Read
July 29, 2023Turn/Level: B(1)/3
Unicorns, Friends
Unicorns, Friends
October 10, 2023
Delightful book on unicorns. Bright illustrations pop out with fun and amazing things unicorns can do!
November 3, 2023
It’s a fun an silly book for kids about “not” being a unicorn.
November 11, 2023
Don't pigeonhole this unicorn!
February 21, 2024
Adamson Assignment #10
Ged Adamson didn't write this one, just illustrated it.
It was a book of nonsense rhyming words, a meaningless story and bright coloured pictures.
Ged Adamson didn't write this one, just illustrated it.
It was a book of nonsense rhyming words, a meaningless story and bright coloured pictures.
February 26, 2024
A fun and silly addition to your unicorn book collection. This book would be a great addition a creative and imagination storytime.
April 11, 2024
It was okay. It wasn’t terrible and it wasn’t great.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews