PUNYCORN

A diminutive, pure-hearted unicorn and his band of underdogs must save their kingdom from an evil ogre.

Punycorn is a trainee cadet in an elite troop protecting the kingdom of Carbuncle, although he’s not taken very seriously and is mostly tasked with cleaning Uni Palace. Unbeknownst to the huddle of hero unicorns who leave Punycorn behind to go on a special mission, a revenge plot is brewing in the Bastion of Evil, helmed by Sir Ogre and his clever sister; the ogre is aided by his magical Gauntlets of Ultimate Victory, which are, hilariously, pink mittens on a string. Unable to reach the rest of his troop after taking a distress call about the havoc being wreaked by Sir Ogre’s army, Punycorn travels to the Council of Wizards seeking help and is assigned the quest to form a Kinship of Heroes and save Carbuncle. Eager to prove himself, Punycorn assembles a motley crew of helpers: a dragon who can’t breathe fire, a pacifist sword, and a dung beetle. Chapters that shift perspectives between Punycorn and Sir Ogre present this tale of good versus evil, deftly moving the plot forward. Vibrantly colored, whimsical illustrations augment the reading experience, and readers are treated to several impressive full-page action scenes, along with plenty of humor. Themes of friendship and perseverance drive this first series installment.

A satisfyingly fun adventure with an irresistible, plucky hero.