A frolicsome tale about being true to oneself.
“From dragons with sore throats to fairies with broken wings”—Ava’s dads heal all types of magical creatures in their small town, and Ava loves helping them do so.
One day, Ava brings in Glitterbug, a white unicorn with pink mane and tail who is complaining of a tummy ache. Her dads can’t figure out what’s causing the creature’s ills, however. Ava then spends a day observing Glitterbug and the other pastel-hued unicorns, most of whom are busy baking pink cakes and putting up pink decorations for their upcoming party.
Glitterbug tries to have fun at the party, but Ava can tell she’s faking it. When a thunderstorm sends the other unicorns running for cover, however, Glitterbug frolics in the mud, emerging with a dark mane and tail and lightning-bolt patches on her hide.
Ava explains to her dads that Glitterbug prefers “moody skies and storms” to the pink that the other unicorns favor.. She likes to read, draw, and think on her own rather than go to parties like they do. Trying to fit in was giving Glitterbug a tummy ache, Ava opines. She’ll feel better “if she just tries to be herself.”
There’s more than one way to be a unicorn, her Papa observes, and Daddy agrees, noting that they themselves are not like other doctors.
The lesson here is clear, but engagingly told. The fact that Ava has two dads is incidental to the story; Glitterbug’s search for self isn’t about an LGBTQ identity per se, but about being different in terms of interests and personality type. Nevertheless, LGBTQ young people are among the many who may find resonance with this tale, although its appeal is far broader.
Listen to author Jodie Lancet-Grant read the story:
