Izzy the Inventor and the Unexpected Unicorn
By Author / Illustrator
Zanna Davidson, Elissa Elwick
Genre
Magical Realism
Age range(s)
7+
Publisher
Usborne Publishing Ltd
ISBN
9781474969918
Format
Paperback / softback
Published
11-05-2023
Synopsis
Meet Izzy the Inventor in the first of a laugh-out-loud series that brings together science, magic and a very lovable unicorn. Packed full of illustrations and easy-to-read text, this series is perfect for beginner readers and fans of Isadora Moon and Rainbow Magic.
Izzy the Inventor LOVES science and does NOT believe in magic. That is until the day her Fairy Godmother appears and sends her to Fairytale Land to rescue Prince Charming from the Mountain of Doom, with an enthusiastic unicorn as her guide. To succeed, Izzy must use her science skills to outwit trolls, goblins and a bottomless lake of despair. But her quest will also teach her about the power of friendship and that we all need a little magic in our lives...
Every book contains ideas for science experiments and a QR code with links for more to try at home.
See also: Izzy the Inventor and the Curse of Doom. Coming soon: Izzy the Inventor and the Time Travelling Gnome
Reviews
Amanda
Zanna Davidson's wonderful story, Izzy the Inventor and the Unexpected Unicorn, is an enchanting tale filled with wonder, friendship, and the power of believing in yourself.
Izzy believes in science not magic! She wants to be the greatest inventor of all time but then along came a fairy and a goofy unicorn in need of help. Fairytale land is in trouble and only Izzy and her amazing science skills can save the day.
Zanna has managed to effortlessly blend elements of fantasy and science throughout the story. As Izzy and Sparkle venture through the whimsical world, readers are introduced to imaginative inventions and clever contraptions that are sure to spark their curiosity and encourage them to explore their own creative potential.
The underlying themes of problem-solving, perseverance, and the importance of following your passion make this book not only entertaining but also educational. It encourages children to think outside the box, embrace their unique talents, and face challenges with determination and creativity.
This is will be a wonderful addition to any school library or class reading corner and would be a wonderful book to inspire children to read for pleasure. I can imagine many young readers curled up in warm comfy spaces engrossed in this book.
128 pages / Reviewed by Amanda Shipton, school librarian
Suggested Reading Age 5+
Jacqueline
Izzy is a girl who likes science and doesn't believe in magic. She feels like the odd one out in her family. Then one day a fairy appears and insists that Izzy accompany her to a magical land. There, Izzy has a quest to complete to save to save a prince, accompanied by a unicorn called Henry. Using science, rather than magic, Izzy completes the quest, meeting some strange and slightly scary creatures along the way.
Izzy the Inventor and the Unexpected Unicorn blends real science experiments with a fantasy story and could probably be read and enjoyed by younger children if they had help with the science experiments. It is brought to life by Elissa Elwick's lively drawings. The story is humorous and fast paced, with just the right ratio of words and pictures on each page for younger readers.
It did make me want to try some of the experiments - most of them are ordinary ingredients you might have at home. I can see this becoming a popular choice for some children in KS1 and it is the first of a series featuring Izzy.
128 pages / Reviewed by Jacqueline Harris, teacher
Suggested Reading Age 7+