Unicorn Knight and Dandy Lion
Volcano Adventure
The engaging activity book Unicorn Knight and Dandy Lion: Volcano Adventure encourages creativity, scientific curiosity, and interest in the fantasy tales it draws from.
T. K. Riggins’s dynamic activity book Unicorn Knight and Dandy Lion: Volcano Adventure is set in the context of a unique fantasy universe.
Centering Unicorn Knight, a figure who represents steadfast courage and discipline, and Dandy Lion, a contrasting character embodying curiosity and whimsical invention, the included activities roil around the duo’s questing travels toward a volatile, mysterious peak. The inherent danger and grand scale of this backdrop are natural sources of tension; they translate well into the puzzles’ designs, which involve crossing a magma flow and climbing a steep path, among other conceits. Some landmarks, as with the volcano, are also used to introduce edifying information related to geology, exploration, and nature.
However, sans direct commentary related to the central adventure, too much is implied, rather than stated, about the quest. All must be inferred from the book’s backgrounds, puzzles, and activities. Further, the activities are uneven in terms of their difficulty levels, with challenging activities sharing close space with simple ones and coloring pages. Further, the book ends in an abrupt manner, without a clear indication of whether the duo’s adventure was successful or not. An answer key, recipes, and a plug for the series are shared in lieu of a natural conclusion.
Still, at an individual level, each challenge is made to weave into the book’s larger narrative arc well. Indeed, each activity is treated as a necessary step in the heroes’ progress toward their goals. As a collective, the activities mix cognitive and motor skill challenges together: There are mazes that require spatial reasoning to navigate enchanted pathways; visual puzzles, like “spot-the-difference” and matching sequences, that sharpen observational skills; and word searches designed to reinforce early literacy. As such, children with different learning styles will find cause for engagement throughout.
The illustrations feature bold, clean lines and imaginative details. They depict fantastical settings, mythical creatures, and grand landscapes with aplomb. They also represent visual continuity with the background series and invite the addition of the audience’s own inventive touches. Further, the high-quality paper stock is designed to withstand crayons and markers, and the binding is durable for heavy use.
Encouraging creativity, scientific curiosity, and interest in the fantasy tales it draws from, the series-complementing activity book Unicorn Knight and Dandy Lion: Volcano Adventure weaves puzzles and activities of varying difficulty into a loose hero’s quest.
Reviewed by
John M. Murray
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book and paid a small fee to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. Foreword Reviews and Clarion Reviews make no guarantee that the publisher will receive a positive review. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
