Not Quite Narwhal

I don't usually go for cute, but I've hit a couple of books that just are so adorable they can't be resisted. One is the unicorn/narwhal book you didn't know you were missing, but once you've seen it you must have it.

Kelp, an adorable little unicorn with a pink nose and a diving helmet (there's a hole for his horn of course) lives deep under the ocean. He knows he's not quite like the other narwhals, but they all accept and love him so he decides he doesn't care. But one day, he's swept away by a current and ends up on land, where he discovers...land narwhals! He learns all about unicorns and the special things he never knew he could do. Does Kelp belong on the land with the unicorns or in the sea with the narwhals? It turns out...he show more belongs in both places!

The message of acceptance and family is woven into the story with a light touch. Both the narwhals and unicorns accept Kelp's unique attributes (and his diver's helmet). The story is humorous, touching, and best of all has lots and lots of gorgeous narwhals and unicorns! Kids who want pretty unicorns (not the humorous ones that have been popping up recently) will adore the snowy white creatures with their colored legs and rainbow-shooting horns.

Verdict: Sima's debut picture book sparkles with love and delight and will charm both children and parents in storytimes and on their own. Highly recommended.

ISBN: 9781481469098; Published 2017 by Simon and Schuster; Borrowed from another library in my consortium; Received a free signed copy at ALA which I donated to the library show less

Born deep under the sea, Kelp believed that he was a narwhal, like all of his companions. Although aware that he was somehow different, it wasn't until he washed up close to land and saw a creature just like himself, that Kelp learned that he was in fact a unicorn. This raised a thorny question about where he really belonged: did he want to be a land narwhal or a sea unicorn?

This debut picture-book from author/artist Jessie Sima is simply adorable, with an endearing hero, an engaging story about being different and finding one's place in the world, and cute-as-a-button illustrations. There's plenty of appeal here for those who like a little sparkle, and unicorn fans will take Kelp to heart, but there is wider appeal as well, with Not show more Quite Narwhal offering a new and magical take on the old tale of finding a sense of belonging and of home. show less

Kelp doesn't look like all the narwhals, can't swim as well as them either, and just generally feels out of place among them. Then one day he sees a being in the far distance that he thinks looks like him. In fact, he discovers a whole group of these "land narwhals" as he calls them. But where does Kelp really belong? With his narwhal family or these newfound unicorns?

This book is really sweet and a bit funny as well. The illustrations are so adorable and will appeal to those of us who grew up on Lisa Frank stickers, notebooks, binders, and everything else. (Although these aren't quite the same style, the squee factor is similar). The sense of longing and desire to fit in are easily resolved happily here. I like that the story is show more essentially a twist on the ugly duckling tale but with kinder characters all around. show less

Jessie Sima shines the light on childhood friendship and differences in social situations in "Not Quite Narwhal". Kelp, the unicorn/narwhal, finds out that he is truly a unicorn after leaving his narwhal friends in the ocean and exploring life on land. Although he is different, he returns and they welcome him home in open arms because he is family regardless of his species. This book is colorful and attractive but also humorous. Classrooms of all ages should read this book because of it's underlying message and entertainment.

Lovely children's book about being a little different and learning that's OK. Kelp was born under the ocean, and as the title tells us, he realizes he's not quite like the narwhals he lives with. For one thing....legs. Early readers ought to love the colorful illustrations and the real life situations (ickyfood); grown-ups who don't close the book too quickly at the end of the story are likely to laugh out loud at the lagniappe on the end-paper.

This particular story is one of my favorites to read to younger children. I love to see their interested faces when the book discusses different identities, fitting in, and standing out. When a child is younger, they often go through a lot of the same scenarios in the book (in different ways of course). Therefore, children are able to really relate to this book which keeps them interested.

This was super adorable and I love the concept of Land Narwhals and Sea Unicorns, but I feel like there were some major plot holes. How did Kelp come to be born under the sea? Where did he get his diving helmet from? How could the narwhals know he was a unicorn the whole time and never tell him? 3 stars.