Louie Lets Loose!

Gr 2–4—Louie the unicorn travels to New York City from his home in Story Land to become the first unicorn superstar. He rooms with a mixed mythical group: Miranda the mermaid, Frank the troll, and Danny the faun. They all attend the same Fame school and become fast friends who work and play together while not so quietly owning their underdog status. Louie is disappointed to learn there is already a handsome unicorn superstar, Arnie. Through trials and tribulations, Louie maintains his charming naïveté and innocent optimism. He manages to lead his own show, display his friends' talents, and save the Sunshine Sparkle Dust Café in the process. Armelles's clever grayscale and red illustrations layer against photographs and cartoons and complement Hamilton's quirky story. Though on the whole this beginning chapter book is entertaining, young American readers may be bemused by the British humor and the title's length, while older readers may find the subject matter too young for their tastes.