A lonely girl and a narcissistic unicorn form an unlikely bond after a chance encounter involving a skipped stone.
Meet Phoebe Howell, Dana Simpson’s nine-year-old protagonist who accidentally strikes a unicorn named Marigold Heavenly Nostrils with a rock. In exchange for being “rescued” from her own reflection, Marigold grants Phoebe one wish: for them to be best friends. This first collection follows their daily adventures as they deal with school bullies, parents, and magical creatures like goblins and lake monsters. There are currently 22 volumes in the series, providing a massive amount of material for students to explore once they get hooked on the duo’s witty dynamic.
This series is a natural pick for students who are still building their reading stamina or learning English. Because the books are made up of short comic strips, the story is broken into small, manageable segments that don’t feel overwhelming. The art style is clean and consistent, using expressive faces to help readers understand the characters’ emotions even if they don’t know every word in the speech balloons. For a reluctant reader, the predictable humor and recurring cast mean they don’t have to relearn the “rules” of the world every time they pick up a new volume. In a classroom, you can use these strips to talk about social skills and self-esteem, as many plots focus on Phoebe navigating friendship drama or feeling like an outsider.
Total Books in Series: At least 22 Best Starting Point: Phoebe and Her Unicorn
