Billie the Unicorn by Brianne Drouhard
Published: Immedium, 2011
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Billie the Unicorn has a magical talent for growing corn. She’s happy in the forest with her friends, but when she gets the urge to learn more, she journeys to the Queen’s castle and finds out that not all places are as welcoming as home.
Bille the Unicorn is by Brianne Drouhard, an animation artist, director, and character designer known for her popular webcomic Harpy Ghee. A frequent guest at comic conventions, her booth is a great stop for prints, sketchbooks, original art, and possibly, copies of this hardcover she first published in 2011. It’s a beautiful book; not only are the illustrations stunning, but the layout is perfectly executed.
It feels like a personal story, and it’s hard not to read it as a metaphor for providing creative output to executives who don’t quite see your vision. Billie is initially honored by the chance to work her magic in the Queen’s garden but soon finds herself chained to an unhappy environment where she’s just another cog in an established machine.
There’s even a moment when an old worker gets replaced:
“You can leave now,” yawned the Queen, as she removed the old unicorn’s chain. “I’ve found someone to take your place. She is young and will do a better job.”
I can relate. Other reviewers have pointed out that the book is wordy for the age group the story seems targeted at, and there is plenty of text. It’s not a book to read to your preschooler. The audience who will enjoy it most loves Brianna’s artwork, which is gorgeous throughout, and readers who can appreciate the subtext. At the end of the story, Billie is happiest when creating for herself. Aren’t we all?