Q&A with Shawn Harris, author-illustrator of The Teeny-Weeny Unicorn’s Great Big Wish

In conversation with Shawn Harris, author-illustrator of The Teeny-Weeny Unicorn’s Great Big Wish

Once upon a time, there was a Teeny-Weeny Unicorn that wished to be big. What do you wish for?
Maybe I’ve read too many fairy tales, but I’m a bit wary about making wishes for myself for fear I’ll get what I want, but not how I want it. So I make wishes for other people. But I don’t tell them about the wishes I’ve made for them. That way, the wish-granting powers-that-be don’t have an opportunity to impose their trademark dramatic irony.

This is the second book featuring the adventures of the Teeny-Weeny Unicorn. Where did the idea come from?
When I was a kid, my dad worked at the horse races. His colleagues would often offer to let me ride their horses. But truth be told, I was scared of horses. They’re huge! My dad had a weird toenail because years earlier, a horse had stepped on his foot. I did not want a weird toenail. Still, I liked horses. But I would like a teeny-weeny horse more. Put a horn on it, and I would like it most of all.

What medium did you use to create the illustrations for The Teeny-Weeny Unicorn’s Great Big Wish?
Chalk pastels. It’s like finger painting with dust. I made a giant dusty mess.

The Teeny-Weeny Unicorn reaffirms he is the perfect size as he learns what it means to be big. What do you think it means to be big?
If there’s always something bigger than you, and there’s always something smaller than you, is there such a thing as being big at all? And if there’s no big, then the question becomes: What do you think it means to be? That’s the answer I’m looking for.

Click the image below to download the pdf!

The Teeny-Weeny Unicorn's Great Big Wish By Shawn Harris

The fan-favorite pint-sized unicorn makes a wish to be big in this modern fairy tale from the Caldecott-Honor winning creator of Have You Ever Seen a Flower?.

Once upon a time, there was a teeny-weeny unicorn that wished to be big. But he never saw a shooting star, and a ladybug never landed on his arm. So when he comes across a dandelion poof, he decides to give his wish one last try. With a little help from a gust of lucky wind and a clever princess, the Teeny-Weeny Unicorn sets off on a quest to find something littler than he is.

Little does he know, he is in for a BIG surprise...as he becomes a BIG brother! With characters that will crack you up and illustrations to brighten any day, here is a perfect picture book to share at storytime, again and again.

Shawn Harris

Shawn Harris is an award-winning creator of books for kids. His authorial debut, Have You Ever Seen A Flower, was called a “stunning tour de force…” by The New York Times, and was the recipient of a Caldecott Honor. The National Museum of Wildlife Art awarded Shawn’s cut-paper art in A Polar Bear in the Snow (by Mac Barnett) the Bull-Bransom Award for excellence in the field of children’s book illustration with a focus on nature and wildlife. Harris has illustrated a number of other books, including Her Right Foot by Dave Eggers, and Everyone’s Awake by Colin Meloy. Shawn lives in Northern California, where he also likes to write songs, surf, and play racquetball.

More Books From Shawn Harris

Book Spotlight: The Dragon’s Apprentice

The Dragon's Apprentice By James Riley

“An uproariously funny third-person narrative….chronicling high-spirited hijinks while unspooling an inventive mythology.” —Publishers Weekly

“Alternately humorous and heartrending, this lively fantasy will have wide appeal.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Undeniably entertaining.” —Booklist

In this hilarious fantasy adventure from the New York Times bestselling author of the Story Thieves series, a girl strikes a deal with the ancient, cranky dragon she accidentally summoned to teach her the forbidden magic she needs to save her mother.

STOP. Don’t read any further. There are magic spells in this book, and the Emperor has forbidden anyone from learning magic, because it’s way too dangerous! If you try one of the spells, any number of terrible things might happen (or so the Emperor says).

Don’t be like Ciara, a twelve-year-old girl living in the tiny village of Skael. When she used a spell from within this book, she ended up summoning a dragon. A DRAGON! Those things breathe fire! From their mouths! She’s obviously doomed.

And don’t listen if Ciara tells you that dragons won’t hurt humans, and that they even once taught us magic, a thousand years ago. Definitely don’t pay any attention to the fact that the dragon she summoned, Scorch, might be willing to help rescue Ciara’s mother and free her village from the Emperor and his Warden, because it’s all obviously a big lie. So put this book down, and forget about it. Magic is just way too dangerous. After all, you wouldn’t want to summon your own dragon, would you?

Don’t miss the free educators’ guide for The Dragon’s Apprentice featuring pre-reading, discussion questions, and extension activities perfect for getting the conversation flowing.

Download the Free Educators' Guide for THE DRAGON'S APPRENTICE

James Riley

James Riley is the New York Times bestselling author of the HALF UPON A TIME series, the STORY THIEVES series, the REVENGE OF MAGIC series, and the ONCE UPON ANOTHER TIME series and the new DRAGON'S APPRENTICE series. He was born in Connecticut, where he lived for only a short time before moving to … well, quite a few states. He currently lives in Boston, Massachusetts, because that’s where his cats are. He has three of them. Other people think that’s a bit much.