Not another unicorn story

When is a unicorn storynot a unicorn story? Though the illustrations clearly depict a "magical horse with a horn in the middle of her forehead," Roussey insists she is "not going to tell you a unicorn story!" Nevertheless, readers are introduced to Fiddlesticks, a wondrous creature who "poops rainbows as fluffy as whipped cream" and brings comfort and sweetness to people everywhere as the guardian of the Fountain of Joy. Of course, it takes only one stone-hearted child to ruin everything; young Nestor plunges the world into darkness after pooping in the fountain. Luckily, Fiddlesticks saves the day with a fuchsia-hued blast of flatulence; bewitched, Nestor hastily cleans up his mess. Roussey brings the story to a sweet conclusion--and then another ("What do you mean you want a real ending?"). Her tongue-in-cheek narration sets an archly funny tone echoed by her ink and paint illustrations, inspired by millefleurs tapestries but with a frenetic, doodlelike charm. Grossout gags range from the whimsical (the aforementioned rainbow poop) to the off-putting: a pig fountain that spews water from both ends, the bits of feces Nestor fishes out of the fountain. Most children have skin the white of the page. Goofy fare for those who like their unicorns more than a little quirky--and who don't mind a bit of potty humor.(Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.