When You Adopt a Pugicorn

August 16, 2021
The team behind When You Adopt a Starwhal offers a rainbow-hued lesson in acceptance. Every year, in the Fairyland town of Twinkleton-Under-Beanstalk, young royals pick perfect unicorn pets at Mrs. Paws’s Haven for Magical Pets. But when Princess Ava, a Black child clad in a sparkly pink dress and red sneakers, arrives, the shop has already run out. Instead, Mrs. Paws introduces her to Pugicorn, an excitable pup “with a funny snuffly nose, a curly little tail, and a rainbow-colored horn.” Ava attempts to turn Pugicorn into the best unicorn ever; when unicorn training doesn’t incite transformation, however (“And as for leaping over rainbows? Nope. No chance” ), she attends the Unicorn Picnic without Pugicorn. But a dilemma may just make Ava miss her unique pup. Digital illustrations by Budgen present dynamic, animation-style characters against a twinkly atmosphere, complementing Rose’s simple message that encourages trying new things and accepting differences. Ages 4–8.