Brianne Drouhard is an animator who has worked for production companies, such as, Warner Brothers, Disney, Nickelodeon, and Marvel. She has also created many short animated films. Drouhard is a graduate of Calarts, where she studied animation. She does freelance artwork in her free time. Billie the Unicorn is her first picture book.
Storyline of Billie the Unicorn
Billie has lived her whole life in a cornfield. She decides one day to visit her cousins, Rhubarb and Smudge, in the enchanted woods. While she is there, they teach her how to use her magic to grow flowers. Billie hears about the queen's garden and decides to see if it is beautiful as she has heard. She is taken prisoner to maintain the garden. Her cousins arrive and help her make the garden beautiful. The three little unicorns use their magic to eventually escape from the evil queen and her walled garden.
Illustrations in Billie the Unicorn
Drouhard is the illustrator of this book as well its author. The reader will find the vivid colors used in the illustrations quite enjoyable. The three unicorns are presented in different colors. This helps the reader determine quickly which unicorn is which. The illustrations could be used by pre-readers to tell the story. The illustrations add to the text by helping to convey the feelings of the text.
Uses of Billie the Unicorn
This book could be used to teach children about being a good friend. Rhubarb and Smudge don't have to help Billie, but their love for her brings them forward to help her. The story presents the idea of friendship being important in a gentle manner that would be understood by the youngest of readers.
This book is good for preschoolers as a read aloud. Some of the language used would be difficult for early readers - which the story would mainly appeal to. These early readers, however, could pick up the language by actively participating in the reading of the story. They could follow along by finger pointing and discussing the language with the reader.
Older elementary students who are ready for slightly more difficult reading would enjoy the book as well. There are picture clues to help them figure out some of the unfamiliar words. These readers would do best by sharing the book with an adult by reading it aloud to them.
Brianne Drouhard's first picture book will quickly become a favorite of many readers. She has tapped into an area, fantasy fiction, that is often overlooked for young readers.
Billie the Unicorn Written and Illustrated by Brianne Drouhard
Immedium Press, 2011
ISBN: 978-59702-024-4
Kelley Huston - A reader of all kinds of books, Kelley is an teacher who loves crafts and scrapbooking. She is a Disney fan who loves all things Disney.
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