I am excited to share two new children’s books I received in exchange for this review. The Unicorn Who Hated the Shower: A Quest for the Gentle Mist – A Book That Teaches Kindness, Patience, and Understanding and also Leo and the Dragon of Sound by Stephanie Thomas. Inside this post is my affiliate links. If you click on the children’s books and make a purchase I will make a small percentage from the items you purchase.
Some children’s books are beautiful because of their illustrations and others become special because of the conversations they inspire. And every once in a while, a book comes along that makes you stop, think about your own family, and wish you had discovered it years ago.
All I can say about The Unicorn Who Hated the Shower: A Quest for the Gentle Mist by Stephanie Thomas is one of those books is it did all these things and so much more for my family. This is why I hope you take the time to check out this amazing children’s book.
When I first saw the cover, I fell in love with it. The beautiful unicorn with the rainbow-colored mane and tail, golden horn, and the little girl standing beside him in her lovely purple fairy-like dress immediately caught my attention. The clouds, flowers, bubbles, and magical surroundings make the illustrations absolutely beautiful.
Honestly, I could imagine turning some of those illustrations into artwork for my home! But once I started learning about Liz the Unicorn and her adventure, I realized this book offers families something much more important than pretty pictures. It offers understanding which we all need.
I would like to introduce you to Liz the Unicorn who loves being clean. She loves her shiny hooves, silky mane, and tail that goes swish-swish-sparkle. There is just one problem. Liz does not like the shower! Now, I have a question do you know someone like that?
The Great Waterfall is too splashy, too scratchy, and much too overwhelming for her sensitive body. The water, soap, bubbles, sounds, and towels can make something as ordinary as getting clean feel like a very big challenge. Which I can understand. How about you?
Then Maya the fairy arrives with an idea. Together, they set off on a quest to find the magical Gentle Mist Grotto. Along the way, Liz discovers that getting clean does not have to happen all at once. With sparkle breath, gentle encouragement, soft towels, and help from someone who understands, she learns that bravery doesn’t always mean doing something the way everyone else does. Sometimes bravery means taking a little step, asking for help, and trying again.
As I read about Liz and her struggles with the shower, I couldn’t help thinking about my own son, Charlie. When Charlie was still a baby, I went in for a sonogram. I remember the doctor coming out and telling me they needed to do another test. Then came the words no expectant mother is prepared to hear.
“Your son may have Down syndrome.” My heart dropped to my toes. But there was never any question about whether I would love my son. There was no way I wasn’t going to love him, no matter what. As Charlie grew, I learned that every child has their own personality, needs, challenges, and ways of experiencing the world.
And while Charlie’s experience with showers is quite the opposite of Liz’s, it helps me understand why this story is important. Charlie would practically live in the shower if we let him! I’m not exaggerating when I say six showers a day, sometimes spending two or three hours at a time in there because he says it calms him and makes him feel better.
Other children may find the sound, pressure, temperature, or sensation of water overwhelming. And that’s something we need to remember. Just because something feels comfortable to one person doesn’t mean it will feel comfortable to someone else and it isn’t just kids who experience this.
I’ve watched parents of autistic children go to extraordinary lengths to understand their children, protect them, help them feel safe, and navigate everyday situations that others might take for granted. That’s why I’m grateful Stephanie Thomas is creating books that help families have these conversations.
One of my favorite parts of this book is that Stephanie doesn’t simply tell children to be brave. She gives them something they can practice. Liz’s Sparkle Breath encourages children to:
- Smell the moonflower (or any flower you have available).
- Breathe in slowly through the nose.
- Blow the dandelion fluff (or imagine blowing a little flower puff).
- Breathe out slowly through the mouth.
- Repeat three times.
In went calm, out went sparkle! I love activities like this because parents can practice them with their children. You don’t need special equipment or an elaborate lesson. Just a few quiet moments together. The book also reminds grown-ups that children may respond differently to water, soap, towels, temperatures, unexpected sounds, and changes in routine.
Some children might prefer a washcloth, a cup of water, a handheld sprayer, a bath instead of a shower, a soft towel, a timer, or extra breaks. Small adjustments can make a tremendous difference. And sometimes adults need those same reminders, too! Charlie also said pets might as well and that is very true.
I also appreciate that this book doesn’t end when you turn the last page. There are discussion questions at the back that encourage children to think about Liz’s adventure. Which could be used when #Homeschooling our children if we sit down and discuss the questions like the ones below with our children.
- Why did Liz want to be clean?
- What helped Liz try again at the end?
These questions give parents, teachers, and homeschool families an opportunity to continue the conversation. You can talk about feelings, sensory experiences, patience, asking for help, and how we can show kindness to someone whose needs are different from our own.
This is exactly the kind of book I love including in our 10-Minute Reading Challenge. Read together, ask questions, practice Sparkle Breath, and talk about what makes each of us feel safe and comfortable. Learning doesn’t have to stop when the story ends.
After learning more about Stephanie Thomas and her inspiration for writing, I find myself wishing I had discovered these books when Charlie was little. I believe books like these belong in school libraries, counselors’ offices, teachers’ classrooms, and the homes of new parents.
You never know when you might encounter a child who experiences the world differently. You may not immediately recognize what is making a particular sound, texture, activity, or situation uncomfortable for them. But you can choose to be patient. You can choose to listen. You can take the time to learn what bothers them and what helps them feel safe. And most importantly, you can treat them with kindness. That’s a lesson every child and grown-up could benefit from learning.
The Author Stephanie Thomas is a writer and mother whose work often explores empathy, imagination, and the many different ways children experience the world. As the parent of an autistic child, she is especially passionate about creating stories that help young readers feel seen, understood, and celebrated.
Through gentle fantasy and heartfelt storytelling, she hopes to encourage kindness, acceptance, and bravery in children and the grown-ups who love them. I’m grateful for authors like Stephanie who use their experiences to create stories that can help other families feel understood.
I’m grateful that Stephanie Thomas thought enough of our family to share her books with us. Not only The Unicorn Who Hated the Shower: A Quest for the Gentle Mist, but also Leo and the Dragon of Sound, which I’ll be sharing more about soon. One I get the book away from David. I just wish I had these stories when Charlie was little.
In the meantime, you can bet your bottom dollar that as Santa and I begin loading the sleigh, I’ll be making sure he has plenty of copies of these books on his Christmas list to deliver to new parents and families. Because sometimes the best Christmas gifts aren’t simply toys or things that will be played with for a few days.
Sometimes they’re books that teach us how to understand one another, how to be patient, and how to love people exactly as they are. And those are lessons worth sharing all year long. Add it to your Christmas gift list, your family reading time, or your homeschooling bookshelf. And don’t forget to make room for a little sparkle! You will find this book inside our Christmas Gift Guide/ Wish List.
About the book:
Liz the Unicorn loves being clean. She loves shiny hooves, a silky mane, and a tail that goes swish-swish-sparkle. But there is one thing Liz does not love at all: the shower.
The Great Waterfall is too splashy, too scratchy, and too much for her sensitive body. When Liz tries to be brave, the spray, drips, bubbles, and tickly towels quickly become overwhelming. Then Maya the fairy arrives with a gentle idea: a quest to find the magical Gentle Mist Grotto.
Together, Liz and Maya travel past the Bubble Marsh, through the Towel Trees, and toward a softer, slower way to get clean. Along the way, Liz learns how to use her “sparkle breath,” listen to what her body needs, and try again in a way that feels safe.
The Unicorn Who Hated the Shower: A Quest for the Gentle Mist is a whimsical picture book about sensory sensitivity, self-advocacy, patience, and gentle bravery. With sparkling unicorn magic, fairy-tale adventure, and a reassuring message, this story is especially meaningful for children who feel overwhelmed by bath time, shower time, loud sounds, unexpected textures, or big feelings.
Perfect for families, classrooms, therapists, and caregivers, this book reminds young readers that bravery does not always mean pushing through something hard. Sometimes bravery means listening to your body, asking for help, taking a break, and trying again gently.
Meet the Author: Stephanie Thomas
Stephanie Thomas is a writer and mother whose work often explores empathy, imagination, and the many different ways children experience the world. As the parent of an autistic child, she is especially passionate about creating stories that help young readers feel seen, understood, and celebrated. Through gentle fantasy and heartfelt storytelling, she hopes to encourage kindness, acceptance, and bravery in children and the grown-ups who love them.
Grateful. Thankful. Blessed.
GreatfulMoments.com
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
