The Unicorn Treasury: Stories, Poems, and Unicorn Lore

Prolific children's author and fantasist Bruce Coville presents eighteen poems, short stories and novel excerpts in this unicorn-themed anthology from 1988, enhanced by the beautiful artwork of illustrator Tim Hildebrandt. Wondrous, exciting, poignant, humorous—these selections explore the enchantment of this magical creature. Selections include:

The Unicorn in the Maze by Megan Lindholm (AKA Robin Hobb), in which a street urchin named Willem must steal the unicorn kept by the royal family of Grand from its maze, in the hopes of finding a cure for the old woman who is the only person in all the world to care for him.

Unicorn, a brief poem by William Jay Smith, praising the beauty and mystery of this wonderful equine, who in the end show more rests his head in a lady's lap.

A Net to Catch the Wind, by Margaret Greaves, in which the Princess Mirabelle befriends a beautiful young unicorn, only to see it hunted and captured by her father, the king. Deaf to her pleas, the king ends up losing both daughter and unicorn, when they escape together for a time, before returning to teach him a lesson about freedom and love.

Riddle, a poem by Myra Cohn Livingston, which presents a riddle (easily solvable) about a creature with a single horn.

The Valley of the Unicorns by Madeleine L'Engle, excerpted from her novel A Swiftly Tilting Planet, in which Charles Wallace meets the unicorn Gaudior and has an adventure with him, traveling through time and space, and eventually visiting the home planet of the unicorns.

Ragged John, a poem by Beatrice Farrington (a pseudonym of Bruce Coville) in which a tattered old man is forever seeking the unicorn he once encountered, but was too frightened to follow.

Homeward Bound by Bruce Coville, in which twelve-year-old Jamie, come to live with his stern uncle after the death of his father, is drawn irresistibly to the unicorn horn this relative possesses. His discovery that he and his father were actually unicorns captured by the magician who is masquerading as his uncle, is followed by other revelations, and by a bittersweet ending.

The Paint Box, a poem by E.V. Rieu, in which the writer longs for a painting of "a country where nobody goes," where he can watch a unicorn drinking.

The Transfigured Hart, an excerpt from the novella of the same name by Jane Yolen, in which Richard and Heather must save the wonderful white hart they have encountered, and which they believe to be a unicorn, from the hunters in both their families.

The Unicorn, a poem by Ella Young, about the passing of the unicorn, and the tokens he left in his wake.

The Snow White Pony by Ardath Mayhar, in which a young unicorn is sent out from his home in the Forest Subliminal to the human world where, disguised as a white pony, he helps a young girl regain the will to live.

What News the Eagle Brought by C.S. Lewis, excerpted from his novel, The Last Battle, the final installment of The Chronicles of Narnia. Here we follow King Tirian, Jewel the Unicorn, Puzzle the Ass, and the two human children Eustace and Jill as they encounter the evil god Tash and search for the centaur Roonwit.

Unicorn, a poem by Nicholas Stuart Gray which describes the hunting and slaying of the unicorn, but also its eternal life.

The Princess, The Cat, and The Unicorn by Patricia C. Wrede, which follows the story of Princess Elyssa of Oslett, a middle daughter who sets out to seek her fortune. Soon accompanied by a cat, she finds herself in The Enchanted Forest, and trapped at the pool of a very vain unicorn. Fortunately for her, the cat is more than he seems, and is able to help. This story also appears in Wrede's subsequent collection, Book of Enchantments.

Starhorn, a poem by Shirley Rousseau Murphy, about a unicorn who pierces worlds and clefts suns, but also lays his head in a maiden's lap.

The Court of the Summer King by Jennifer Roberson, in which twin siblings Asta and Gar seeks the eponymous Court of the Summer King after visiting local witch Rahela. Hoping the find a cure to the fever plaguing their camp and threatening their baby sister, they encounter the great Mother in a vale of unicorns, and must make a terrible choice.

The Strangers, a poem by Audrey Alexandra Brown, in which a herd of four unicorns comes through a town square early one morning, observed only by the narrator.

The Boy Who Drew Unicorns by Jane Yolen, about a traumatized young boy named Philadelphia, who has withdrawn into himself and become mute, in the face of his father's abuse. Always drawings unicorns, he eventually encounters one on a field trip, and is unexpected cured by its horn.

I enjoyed all of the selections in The Unicorn Treasury: Stories, Poems, and Unicorn Lore, although some, such as The Unicorn in the Maze, The Transfigured Hart and The Court of the Summer King particularly stood out to me. I finished the book with a desire to seek out more work from each of the authors, almost all of whom were already known to me. The only unfamiliar names were that of Beatrice Farrington (which turned out to be a pseudonym of Coville himself) and Audrey Alexandra Brown. In any case, this is one I would recommend to middle grade readers who love unicorns and/or enjoy fantasy fictions. show less

This is a book from the days of my childhood when I was obsessed with unicorns. This is a collection of tales by different authors, which, as is to be expected, vary in quality, but some are quite good. It also includes poems interspersed throughout, and some very nice illustrations.

When my daughter was younger and we owned a ceramic business, she painted a unicorn that she still has today. As she got older and more adept at painting it was repainted a lavender with sparkles all over itl The mane and tail were glittery pink and it had a golden horn. It came as no surprise when she handed me a book full of unicorn stories, poems and unicorn lore. The stories were very crisp and refreshing. This collection of stories and poems were told by some of my favorite authors like C.S. Lewis, Jane Yolen and Madeleine L'Engle. That is not to say the other contributors were not good. I was not familiar with many and that made the book even more charming. The cover art was gorgeous. It takes anyone who has ever loved fairy tales show more and transports them back into that world. It was snatched up the minute I put it on my shelves. This is a must read for all who love unicorns. show less