The Naughtiest Unicorn

Pip Bird's The Naughtiest Unicorn is a very silly magical school story for 6 year olds about a girl who dreams of the perfect unicorn and gets Dave.

What happens

Mira Desai has wanted to go to Unicorn School since FOREVER. Her big sister Rani already goes, and she never stops showing off about her beautiful unicorn and her shelf full of medals.

So when a sparkly envelope lands on Mira's pillow, she screams so loudly the cat flings himself off the bed.

She has it all planned. Her unicorn will be called Princess Delilah Sparklehoof. They'll be best friends, they'll go on amazing quests and they'll win LOADS of medals.

Getting there is the first problem. Rani tells her the magic portal is a wheelie bin in the leisure centre car park. (It isn't.)

Then comes the big moment. One by one, Mira's new classmates are matched with gorgeous glittering unicorns that sweep into the hall. Mira is the last to be called, and the name on her scroll is Dave.

Dave doesn't sweep in. He has to be pushed down the corridor on his bottom. He's small, not very sparkly, and extremely greedy. He finishes his hay in two bites, chews the corner of the desk and goes completely wild for doughnuts.

Every bit of trouble he causes earns Mira a Havoc Point. Three Havoc Points means detention, and detention means missing the first quest.

It's a properly funny book to read aloud. Mira's excitement comes out in capital letters, the jokes come thick and fast, and the class is full of great characters. Raheem is so nervous he practised going through the portal twelve times with his dad. Darcy, whose wheelchair has rainbow wheels, is sure she'll be famous one day. And show-off Jake, in his cowboy boots, has been promised the best unicorn going.

Underneath the giggles there's a nice little idea about getting something that isn't what you pictured. Has your reader ever been given something that looked a bit disappointing at first? Mira's not sure Dave is the unicorn best friend she wanted. You'll be rooting for him anyway.

What to read next

If Dave wins them over, The Naughtiest Unicorn at Christmas is in the library too. There's a Christmas play to rehearse, Mira is desperate for the lead, and there's a greedy unicorn who's bound to love the festive food.