Lucy and Her Unicorn Get a Sparkle Puppy
Lucy and Her Unicorn Get a Sparkle Puppy
Written by Ashley Wall
Illustrated by Alana McCarthy
Published by Mama Bear Books
The book follows the main character, Lucy, on her journey to adopt a puppy. First, Lucy must show she is responsible enough to have a dog. She does this by completing her chores—making her bed and washing dishes—and minding her manners.
As her mother drives her to the shelter to get a puppy, Lucy imagines the types of dogs that may be a good fit for her. Once they arrive at the shelter, they see so many adorable puppies. But as often happens, one dog, a Sparkly Spaniel, stands out. However, they decide to look at all of the dogs. Lucy soon notices that the Sparkly Spaniel has begun to follow her, and she knows the dog has chosen her. Despite being told Sparkly Spaniels are hard to train, she is willing to meet the challenge since she and the puppy seem to be the perfect fit.
The book provides a good model for adopting a puppy. The family purchases all the supplies they need before they go home—bed, food, bowls, toys, etc. At home, they set up a gated area for the dog to stay in until it is potty trained. From the first walk, Lucy realizes the puppy will need much training, including learning to walk on a leash and not jump up on people. Lucy learns quickly that “…puppies need a lot of training, patience, and love”.
The main character, Lucy, has a sidekick, Twinkle the Unicorn, and they do everything together. For kids, this validates that it is okay to have an imaginary friend. Using a unicorn as a make-believe friend is clever since unicorns are considered imaginary creatures. But in the end, the puppy becomes Lucy’s real-life friend.
The illustrations are cozy, playful, and kid-friendly. The color palette consists of a lot of pinks and purples. The illustrator has created diverse characters by using different skin tones and giving the leading character glasses.
Overall, for parents considering adopting a dog, this book is a fun way to introduce the responsibilities of owning a dog. With so many dogs without homes, it is preferable to adopt a dog from a shelter or rescue organization, as the family in this story does. If you plan to adopt a Spaniel, apparently, they are not difficult to train. And just in case you are wondering, Sparkle Spaniels are not an actual breed. 😊
