Octicorn Party!

Octicorn wants to have a party, but he doesn’t want to have a catastrophe—which is sure to ensue if no one shows up to his party. He sets out inviting guests, starting with Unicorn, then inviting a handful of others, including Turtle, Beaver, and Lion. Octicorn celebrates each guest’s acceptance of his invitation until he realizes that their conditions of acceptance conflict: Turtle wants a party where no one talks, but “Unicorn will talk Turtle right back into his shell,” and Lion “will probably show up and try to eat the other guests!” Just when it seems Octicorn will have to call off the party, he changes it from a pool party to a “do what you want, be who you are, no matter what anyone else thinks, party.” Fans of Octicorn, first introduced in Hello, My Name Is Octicorn, will enjoy this sequel, which offers many of the same elements: clever humor, a creative character, and very simple illustrations. Details from the original story are also incorporated, including Octicorn’s love of cupcakes, his stereo, and his interest in being part of a party. For others, the book’s style will feel unprofessional and unappealing, with the childish design of Octicorn and his guests and the bare simplicity of the pages.