Nobody Rides the Unicorn [Hardcover]

Adrian Mitchell (Author), Stephen Lambert (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up

Zoe is a nobody - a poor orphan with nothing of her own but a golden singing voice. When a greedy king exploits her voice to capture a unicorn, Zoe rebels and helps the unicorn escape. Then her faith and courage lead her to the land of the unicorns, a place of happiness where at last she is somebody indeed.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Zoe is a poor, orphaned beggar girl living on the outskirts of the kingdom of Joppardy. She is also the quietest, gentlest girl in the land, which is exactly what the king is looking for. He needs the horn of a unicorn, and according to the king's adviser Doctor Slythe, only sweet young girls can trap the fierce and elusive beasts. The king tricks Zoe into entering the deep forest with him and the doctor, and luring a unicorn with her innocent songs ("His coat is like snowflakes/ woven with silk./ When he goes galloping/ He flows like milk"). Just as a unicorn puts his head in her lap to sleep, hundreds of men attack and trap the beautiful animal. Zoe, furious at the deception, sets the unicorn free, and the "little nobody" is banished from the kingdom. With nowhere else to turn, she wanders off to find her unicorn:

Zoe said, "Me, I'm nobody."
"Climb on my back, kind Nobody," said the unicorn with his eyes. "For Nobody rides the unicorn."

Zoe may have broken the laws of the kingdom, but she is abiding the laws of her conscience. Ultimately, what reader can deny that she has done the right thing? Poet Adrian Mitchell's lyrical text about a girl who, in following her heart, befriends a unicorn, meshes perfectly with the dark, velvety, mystical illustrations by Stephen Lambert. These are the kinds of pictures that stay with a reader for a lifetime. For every fan of myth and strong female leads, this story is just right. (Ages 6 to 9)

From Publishers Weekly

Impressionistic artwork creates a dreamy, surreal backdrop for this story of an orphan girl who beguiles a unicorn. The king of Joppardy learns from Doctor Slythe that he must obtain the horn of a unicorn in order to protect him from harm. The two deceptively persuade a waif named Zoe--"nobody's child"--to lure a unicorn with her gentle voice, but when she learns of the king's plans, she sets the unicorn free and is banished from the kingdom. She then makes her way to the "secret valley of the unicorns," where her kindness is rewarded. Though Mitchell's (Maudie and the Green Children) prose is pedestrian in places, particularly Zoe's song to the unicorn ("His mind is peaceful as the grass./ He is the loveliest one of all/ And he lives behind the waterfall"), it also contains flashes of pure poetry ("The air was torn by trumpets," signals the legendary beast's capture). It's Lambert's (Bedtime) otherworldly illustrations that lift the book to a higher level. His sophisticated use of mist-filtered light and shadow, and his seamless blend of old-world elegance and hints of modern life, make this a cautionary tale with a sense of immediacy (a red car winds its way up to a medieval castle; the heroine and king wear contemporary clothing). Mysterious visual themes are interwoven; a giraffe and a boatman with four geese make intermittent appearances. The enigmatic, lush imagery will haunt readers long after the somewhat forgettable story has ended. Ages 4-8. (Apr.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books; First Edition edition (April 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0439112044
• ISBN-13: 978-0439112048
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 9.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #954,014 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Fairy Tale, August 31, 2000

By 

Roz Levine - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nobody Rides the Unicorn (Hardcover)

Adrian Mitchell has written a wonderful fairy tale, complete with evil king, beggar girl turned heroine and happily ever after ending. Zoe is "nobody's" child and lives alone on the outskirts of town. Her voice is soft and sweet. When the king wants to capture a unicorn for the magic in its horn, he tricks Zoe into helping him. He sends her into the forest to sing softly and when a beautiful unicorn comes, lies down and puts his head in her lap, the king's men capture it. But Zoe is angry, defies the king and sets the unicorn free. After she is banished from the kingdom, she sets out to find her special friend. Nobody Rides the Unicorn is a lovely, sensitive story, with a message, the whole family will treasure. Children will begin to understand the rewards of doing what is right and listening to their consciences. The story is complimented with beautiful illustrations and the artwork is as special and appealing to youngsters, as the tale itself. As a great bedtime story and a must for all home libraries, this book will be a part of your family for many years to come.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best modern fairytales!!!, May 3, 2001

By 

Siren "Siren" (Palm Coast, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nobody Rides the Unicorn (Hardcover)

I bought this both, for my 2 year old daughter and for me, an avid unicorns lover/collector. If it's about unicorns, I buy it. Didn't care so much of story, just saw a unicorn. After reading though, I was touched by the story. Never since the Last Unicorn have I read such a wonderful unicorn story. Unlike Last Unicorn, this story keeps my daughter's attention as well, till she gets older. Always in unicorn folklore you hear "nobody rides a unicorn". You can attract it, pet it, talk to it, and capture it, but riding was all but impossible in most true unicorn stories. It only seemed natural that a little "nobody" was allowed to ride a magnificent beast. A wonderful story for all ages and most of all, unicorn lovers!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cherished Family Classic, December 20, 2003

By 

Sarah L. Rinelli (Sacramento, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Nobody Rides the Unicorn (Hardcover)

As my 4 year-old daughter added Nobody Rides the Unicorn to our ready-to-check-out pile of books at the library, I had no idea what a permanent part of our lives this story was going to be.

Immediately, Rachel was drawn to this tale. We have had many long discussions about the importance of doing the right thing, protecting animals and treating them kindly, and how the unicorn finally rewarded Zoe's humble heroism with a ride on his beautiful back. We read this book every single night for the 3 weeks that we had checked it out from the library.

I surprised Rachel with a hardcover copy of this book for her 5th birthday. We had a birthday party at our home, with most of her preschool class in attendance. I was so surprised and pleased when Rachel brought me her new copy of Nobody Rides the Unicorn and asked me to read it to the children as part of the birthday party! I can say that every little person listened intently, and both the children and parents were moved by Zoe's story.

This book would make a cherished gift for a child, and I can also say, as a First Grade teacher, that this book makes an excellent read aloud for primary students.