From Publishers Weekly
Giblin's ( Chimney Sweeps ; The Truth About Santa Claus ) meticulously researched text examines the historical, mythical, religious and physical significance of the unicorn. He describes unicornlike creatures that have existed through the ages, beginning with a "dinosaur unicorn" that lived 120 million years ago. Also documented is the appearance of unicorns in writings by Greeks and Romans, tales from ancient China and the accounts of Marco Polo and other European explorers. An insert of color photos accompanies a detailed interpretation of the renowned Franco-Flemish Unicorn tapestries. Finally, Giblin examines some contemporary "unicorns," from a goat with a transplanted horn featured in the 1985 Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus to the endangered Indian rhino. McDermott's carefully rendered, dramatic drawings complement the volume's many intriguing prints and photos. Through somewhat heavy going for the casual reader, this fact- and legend-filled book will be of great interest to youngsters fascinated by the elusive unicorn. Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Grade 5 Up-- A book that brings together the many and various conceptions of the unicorn recorded through Western history and reported in legendary tales from as far as India and China. Giblin skillfully weaves the scattered references from fables, natural history, and travel tales into a coherent narrative of the developing legend of the unicorn. The recurrent appeal of the mythical beast is explained by the magical properties attributed to its shining horn, the linkage to the Christian story, and the intriguing pictorial renditions of the creature. Photographs, prints, and full-page black-and-white illustrations in a realistic style support an elegantly written text, printed on pages designed with space and grace for pleasant reading. The inclusion of a full-color insert from the Cloisters, showing the seven tapestries of the Hunt of the Unicorn, brightens the book and shows the most appealing idealization of this well-loved mythical beast. --Shirley Wilton, Ocean County College, Toms River, NJ
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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