Not Quite Narwhal

Jessie Sima

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2017

Agent: Thao Le

*DreamWorks Not Quite Narwhal series premieres on Netflix June 19!* Watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSijisL_Y_A

In the tradition of Uni the Unicorn and Gaston, this heartwarming and adorable debut picture book tells the story of a young unicorn who was born under the sea to a family of narwhals.

Growing up in the ocean, Kelp has always assumed that he was a narwhal like the rest of his family. Sure, he's always been a little bit different: his tusk isn't as long, he's not as good of a swimmer, and he really doesn't enjoy the cuisine. Then one night, an extra strong current sweeps Kelp to the surface, where he spots a mysterious creature that looks just like him! Kelp discovers that he and the creature are actually unicorns. The revelation leaves him torn: is he a land narwhal or a sea unicorn? But perhaps, if Kelp is clever, he may find a way to have the best of both worlds.

Told with heartwarming illustrations and spare, sweet text, Jessie Sima's debut picture book is about fitting in, standing out, and the all-encompassing love of family.

Accolades:

•#11 on the National Indie Bestseller list (Children's Illustrated) for the week of February 23rd, 2017. 
•#6 on the National Indie Bestseller list (Children's Illustrated) for the week of March 2, 2017
•Indie Next Pick for the Spring 2017 Kids' Indie Next List.
•An Amazon.com Best Children's Book of 2017 

Reviews:
“A slim, feel-good story, as light and airy as the rainbows that grace its pages.”
Kirkus Reviews


"Newcomer Sima's...adorable characters trigger smiles  throughout, whether it's the newborn Kelp tucked snugly into a sea scallop or unicorns using their horns to toast marshmallows. Vignettes show Kelp unsuccessfully imitating crabs ('Oof') and frogs ('Ow') as he tries learning to walk, reassuring readers that they're not the only ones who struggle to master new skills."
Publisher's Weekly


"Sima...has created charming undersea and overland settings on full-bleed spreads. Her narrative is short, with a storyteller’s pacing and winning characters, resulting in an appealing book. Read it for a whimsical storytime or provide some text-to-text connections for older students with Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s Uni the Unicorn and Bob Shea’s Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great. Verdict: Useful for ELA curricula and sure to circulate, this title is highly recommended."
School Library Journal