Title La licorne Series --- Author Martine Bourre Illustrator --- Publisher lutin poche de l'école des loisirs - 2009 First Printing l'école des loisirs - 2006 Category Children Warnings None Main Characters --- Main Elements Unicorns

Un matin qu'elle s'ennuyait, la petite reine alla se promener dans la grande forêt. Au bord d'un lac gelé, elle vit un animal merveilleux. Elle s'approcha très doucement pour ne pas l'effrayer et lui demanda: "Es-tu l'animal blanc comme la neige et rapide comme le vent?"

"Je suis la licorne", répondit l'animal.

A little king from a little kingdom sees a wonderous creature in the woods one day. He tells his knight to go find it, since he wants to show it to his queen but only tells him that it is white and is as fast as the wind. After he brings back a few animals that weren't quite right, the queen herself goes looking. But unicorn, even if willing, cannot live long in captivity so the legends say.

It's a cute tale (especially the poor knight who got fed up after bringing back a rhinoceros!), and I like the choice of using pastels on a brown base, it makes for really warm images. Also the plump forms of the horses makes one thing of Chinese art, not that there is anything Asian about this tale.