Young readers who like some magic in their stories will find much to enjoy in The Eyes of the Unicorn.  At heart this is a story about the triumph of goodness with the prerequisite fairy tale happy ending.

 Many years ago a powerful duke ruled.  He was a cruel, greedy man who heard that a unicorn was nearby.  A dirty stream had been made clean, a wounded man had been healed, so what other explanation could there be?

 However, rather than being grateful for the presence of the magical animal the duke and his hunters set out to kill him, eager for the unicorn's powerful horn and valuable hide.

 A young servant girl, Tunisia, was saddened to see her childhood friend, the duke's son, join in the hunt.  She remembered him as a kind, thoughtful person, but now he was becoming like his father.  To make her even more downhearted she is ordered to accompany the hunters with their lunch.

 What will happen when Tunisia is the one who finds the unicorn?

 Accompanying Ms. Bateman's text are beautiful illustrations by Greg Spalenka.  An artist and concept designer he makes his picture book debut with this title, and it is a remarkable one.

     - Gail Cooke