About the Author

Mariano Epelbaum is a character designer, illustrator and traditional 2D animator. He has been working professionally since 1996 in various disciplines of animation and illustration, where character designs tend to be very expressive and original. Currently, Mariano works as an art director on several projects. He is always trying different styles and techniques.

Reviews

An aspirational unicorn finds community. Milly is overjoyed when she receives her acceptance letter for Unicorn School, which teaches "only the best and the brightest unicorns." She's actually "a donkey in a party hat," but Milly can't be blamed for sending "a misleading picture" with her application--the school is a cotton-candy-colored fever dream of rainbows and fountains. On her first day she bumps into a black-and-white bovine with a traffic cone on his head, a goat with a plunger on her forehead, and a camel balancing a glass bottle on its noggin, and all the animals seem equally anxious. Finally every other student admits that none of them are unicorns, either, and in the last jubilant illustration, they've all shed their costumes and are proudly posed under a sign announcing "The Awesome Animal School." This story raises pressing questions: Are there real unicorns at the school? What did the administration do when they discovered that their entire incoming class was made up of nonunicorn quadrupeds? Did the curriculum change? But this is an excellent choice for any kid worried about fitting in in a new environment or for a reader looking for a humorous take on unicorns. Entertaining and cheerful despite many unanswered questions. (Picture book. 4-7)-- "Kirkus Reviews"

Funny and affirming, Milly's mis-adventures in Unicorn School will inspire young readers to make room for everyone and to always believe in their own unique selves. Jess Hernandez and Mariano Epelbaum have created a magical story for the first day of school or any time of year!-- "Megan and Jorge Lacera, author and illustrator of Zombies Don't Eat Veggies!"

The First Day of Unicorn School is a bright and funny read-aloud delight.-- "Julie Falatko"