First Day of Unicorn School
Author: Jess Hernandez
Illustrator: Mariano Epelbaum
Published January 1st, 2021 by Capstone Publishing
Summary: Milly is incredibly excited to go to Unicorn School, a school that accepts only the best and the brightest. There’s only one problem: she isn’t a unicorn! She’s a donkey in a party hat. Milly first feels uncomfortable but eventually learns that she and the others at the school have more in common than it might have seemed.
About the Author: Jess Hernandez is a writer, librarian, teacher, and all-around word girl. When not being used as a human canvas for baby food art, she writes books for kids. Her debut book, FIRST DAY OF UNICORN SCHOOL, illustrated by Mariano Epelbaum, came out in Jan. 1, 2021 from Capstone. Sometimes she writes essays, poems, and short stories for grown-ups, too. Jess lives in a very small, very LOUD house in Washington with her husband, their three children, a blind Labrador, and seven chickens.
Review: This book is so relatable! Everyone has those first day jitters when they are about to start at a new school, no matter how excited they are, so Milly and the reader will definitely have something in common. And just like Milly, the reader probably realized that although everyone is different at their school, they all are awesome and fit in in their own way at school.
In addition to the story, I really liked the fun colors of the illustrations, and Milly is so expressive!
Trent’s Review: I really liked it because I love animals and it was funny when they all revealed the truth showing their fake unicorn horns and manes. In the end, Milly found the truth everyone and the school became for all animals, so Milly fit in.
Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: As an educator, Jess created extension activities to go with First Day of Unicorn School!
Coloring Pages
Lesson Plans
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Unicorn School Lesson plan 1: Social/Emotional Awareness
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Unicorn School Lesson plan 2: Math Connection
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Lesson plan 3: Coming Soon!
And Jess does online visits with schools or groups! https://www.jesshernandezwrites.com/school-visits
Discussion Questions:
- What was Milly so worried about when she first got to the school?
- Why did Milly want to go to unicorn school?
- How did the author use word play when having the different animals speak?
- Why did Milly turn around right before she almost left the school?
- Have students draw their own “unicorn” (any animal with a fake horn and hair!)
- How were all the animals at the school the same? Different?
Flagged Passages:
Read This If You Love: Thelma the Unicorn by Aaron Blabey, Kevin the Unicorn by Jessika Von Innerebner, Danbi Leads the School Parade by Anna Kim, Clover Kitty Goes to Kittygarten by Laura Purdie Salas
Recommended For:
**Thank you to the author and Capstone for providing a copy for review!**
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