The Midnight Unicorn by Neil Reed (2006) Ex Libris

A little girl who loves unicorns. A beloved statue that comes to life. An unforgettable and exhilarating journey. With its combination of magical story, stunningly realistic art, and shimmering spot-lamination throughout, this lovely picture book will enchant children again and again.   

Children will feel their imagination take flight along with the title character as they enjoy Neil Reed’s captivating tale of a very special midnight ride.
 More than anything, Millie loves the statue of the unicorn at her park. Its closed eyes, gentle mouth, and kind smile always make her happy. Then, one day, as she presses her hands against the statue’s neck, she feels a shiver run through the stone: marble has become flesh and the unicorn has come alive. And riding on his back, Millie soars up, up, up, into the sky, over forest and lakes, through storms and lighting, to the land where unicorns still play….
 With images so realistic they almost seem photographed, and spot-lamination that makes the stars-and lots more on the page-shine, this beautiful story will become a perennial favorite.

 

Neil Reed has been illustrating books for nineteen years. His illustrations for Unicorn Dreams, by Dyan Sheldon, were praised by School Library Journal as “captivating….Reed’s unicorn…will win the hearts of romantics of all ages.” Of his illustrations for Shirley Isherwood’s Something for James, Publishers Weekly raved, “Reed’s radiant watercolors set off the tale like a Tiffany setting displays a gem…the cozy world that the warmly lit artwork portrays is one that readers will eagerly enter time and again.” When Neil Reed is not illustrating books for young readers, he can be found surfing with his children at beaches near their home in Cornwall, England.