Your kid has fallen in love with unicorns - great! Capitalize on this lucky turn of events to introduce your young unicorn lover to the major eras of European history all through the lens of what people knew about unicorns in ancient times, in the Dark Ages, Middle Ages, Renaissance, and the Age of Reason. Yes, it's all real history, with dates, origins of every unicorn legend, pictures from dusty medieval manuscripts, pages from old science books, historical unicorn paintings, and more. This book is not for unicorn skeptics. It is written from the standpoint of truths about unicorns that every kid knows and every grownup forgets. As kids we are well aware what unicorns look like. We know that they are gentle, noble in spirit and always ready to offer you their support and friendship. But when we grow up, short of becoming outright unicorn deniers, we behave like we've never seen a unicorn! And that's the problem with many historical anecdotes and legends about unicorns, as well as supposedly factual sources, such as medieval bestiaries or reports by Ctesias, Pliny the Elder, Albertus Magnus and others, where a unicorn is mixed up with a donkey, or a goat, or a rhinoceros, or portrayed as a ferocious forest bully constantly chasing elephants and lions. So, as we present all these historical sources to our young reader, we don't hesitate to point out blatant mistakes and glaring omissions in their narratives. We practice our critical thinking! Along with history materials, the book features comic-book-style pages reasserting our firm belief in unicorns and making fun of grownups so lost in their unicorn denial. Of course, along with misconceptions and fictional reports, European history offers inspiring material for unicorn lovers. Many great men - from Julius Caesar to Leibniz - believed in unicorns. There are some striking legends about them. Did you know that it was a unicorn who saved India from Genghis Khan's invasion? In Christian writings of the Dark and Middle Ages the unicorn became a symbol of Christ, and as Christian influence elevated the ethical code and the status of women through charity, chivalry, and courtly love, the unicorn also became a symbol of loyalty in marriage and selfless love. It's not hard at all to narrate this cultural history of unicorns in a language accessible to 2nd graders and up. Our kids' love for unicorns opens a unique door for learning history, and discussing our heritage and values - with respect and a healthy dose of humor.
