HERE THERE BE UNICORNS

The prolific Yolen (Old Dame Counterpane, p. 1419, etc.) follows her collection of stories and poems about dragons, There Must be Dragons (1993), with this similar collection about unicorns. In these 18 original pieces with accompanying autobiographical introductions, Yolen attempts to convey the majesty of this beloved mythical creature. Unfortunately, most of her stories are merely workmanlike, and the poems, with the exception of "The Hunting of the Narwhale" ballad, are unspectacular. Two stories that stand out, however, are "An Infestation of Unicorns" and "The Boy Who Drew Unicorns." While the surprise ending of the former will only be a surprise to the most unsophisticated of readers, the story is still witty and fun to read. The latter is about a damaged little boy who is healed by a unicorn, and Yolen expresses both the boy's heartache and his recovery with painful clarity. The accompanying pieces, in contrast, while intending to teach the reader about the writing process, are boring and provide little enlightenment. If anything, they prove Yolen to be a great recycler of old material — not all of it her own. She would do better to let the works speak for themselves, as they occasionally say something worth hearing. Wilgus's illustrations, on the other hand, are magnificent. The unicorn deserves better. (Stories/Poetry. 10+)