It's Okay to Be a Unicorn!

Cornelius J. Sparklesteed is a hatter who lives in Hoofington—a town with an extreme dislike of all things unicorn, although otherwise, quite nice. As Cornelius prepares for the exciting honor to perform in the grand holiday show, Hoofpalooza, he runs into several friends around town and gives them little boosts of positivity, as well as a nudge to push the boundaries: wilder flavors, more rainbows, and a little kazoo action. Resolved to unveil his true identity at the show, Cornelius declares he is a unicorn during his big finish. While the facial expressions of the crowd of horses suggest that Cornelius’s revelation might be met with something other than acceptance, somewhat unexpectedly—and with a distance from most realities that is perhaps harmfully large—his announcement is met with resounding acceptance as all the horses don horns in a full about-face of Hoofington’s anti-unicorn policy. Tharp digitally illustrates the tale in a bright and energetic fashion, with frequent resorts to slapstick humor. While Cornelius’ profession as a hatter is cleverly ideal for someone with a horn to hide, the narrative gives away almost immediately to its readers his true identity, which lessens the story’s intrigue. However, the message about being oneself and letting uniqueness shine is all positive and showcases the impact that one individual spreading kindness can have.