PICTURE BOOK REVIEW: Donut: The Unicorn Who Wants to Fly by Laura Gehl & Andrea Zuill

DONUT

The Unicorn Who Wants to Fly

Story by Laura Gehl, Art by Andrea Zuill

Random House Studio, 2022

ISBN: 978-0-593-37625-6

Source: Blue Slip Media

Ages 4-8

All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Book Cover, summary, and illustrations provided by Blue Slip Media.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Here's the hilarious story of Donut, a scruffy unicorn who can't fly-- but who keeps on trying! From the author of One Big Pair of Underwear and the illustrator of Sweety.

When Donut, a fluffy, scruffy unicorn with a colorful horn spots a bird in the air, she thinks, why can't I be up there, too? And so she jumps! off of a log and and even a trampoline. But thump! she falls down to the ground. After many attempts at flight (including wings fashioned out of sticks), Donut schemes with the other animals in the field, and finally comes up with an ingenious and imaginative solution. Finally, her perseverance pays off-- and Donut flies!

With a simple text and expressive art, here is a character-driven story from a popular author-illustrator duo that's laugh-out-loud funny, ingenious, and sure to appeal to all those unicorn fans out there--especially those who like their unicorns a little on the imperfect side.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR

Laura Gehl is the award-winning author of more than thirty popular picture books, board books, and early readers including One Big Pair of Underwear, Except When They Don't, My Pillow Keeps Moving, and the Baby Scientist series. Like Donut, Laura would love to soar over trees and mountains, but she is also very happy hiking through trees and up mountains. Laura lives in Chevy Chase, Maryland, with her husband and four children. Visit Laura at lauragehl.com.

Twitter: @AuthorLauraGehl
Instagram: @authorlauragehl
Facebook: @AuthorLauraGehl

Andrea Zuill is the author-illustrator of Regina is NOT a Little Dinosaur; Sweety, a Booklist Best Book of the Year; and Wolf Camp, a Children’s Choice Award finalist. She is also the illustrator of Cat Dog Dog by Nelly Buchet, an ALA-ALSC Notable Children’s Book and winner of the 2021 Irma Black Award. Andrea lives in the heart of Southern California but often wishes she lived where it rains more. She is hoping to get her PhD in Unicorn Culture. Visit Andrea at andreazuill.org.

Twitter: @AndreaZuill

Instagram: @zuillmonkey

REVIEW

With unicorns so popular with young readers/listeners these days, this delightful book is bound to be a hit.  Not only is the unicorn adorable, but the sweet message about the power of persistence, creativity, and friendship shines through just right.  There is plenty of humor as well as the unicorn desperately or determinedly tries to find a way to fly.  Donut, the unicorn, tries a whole bunch of different things in an effort to fly.  But jumping off a stump or a trampoline doesn't work.  Wings really aren't a good idea.  Even dreams of planes and rocket packs doesn't lead anywhere.  Donut is discouraged but not down and out. Finally, with the help of friends, Donut finds a way into the skies.  The grin on Donut's face when success is achieved made me laugh out loud with delight.  Anyone who has found success after failure will be able to relate to the way Donut feels.  I loved the brief text that keeps things simple with phrases such as "Donut jumps" and "Donut thumps".  The illustrations perfectly add the details that make the text shine.  I especially loved the illustrations where Donut's friends offer comfort after failure (see below).  I also loved the fact that Donut isn't a perfect-looking unicorn, but a rather plump ordinary-looking unicorn (not that a unicorn is every truly ordinary), it makes Donut more relatable.  The ink drawings with digital coloring are fabulous and I thoroughly enjoyed them.  They are bright, colorful, and a delight all the way around.  I adored this book and look forward to many story time readings.

ILLUSTRATION SAMPLES