- Graphic Novels
- Ages 5–8
- Comedy
Bumble and Snug and the Excited Unicorn
Book 2 in Bumble and SnugView the full series
A superhero-unicorn sequel about overexcitement, magic and learning when enthusiasm needs steering. Very strong for funny, visual early readers who like unicorns, chaos and big feelings made safe.
- Best for5–8
- FormatGraphic
- Length144 pp
- Read aloud~1 hr10 min
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The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Conversational
- Comedic
- Onomatopoeic
Tone
- Funny
- Silly
- Warm
- Exciting
- Absurdist
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
Bumble and Snug are in a magical unicorn forest when they are rescued by Sparklehoof, a very excited unicorn. Together they decide to become superheroes, helping with runaway ice-cream vans, lost teddy bears and other dramatic emergencies. But Sparklehoof's excitement soon becomes overwhelming, especially when his magic creates a giant kitten and a jelly city. Bumble and Snug must work out how to help their new friend without shaming him for being enthusiastic. The book uses a wonderfully silly adventure to explore emotional regulation: excitement is joyful and powerful, but it can also spill over and affect other people. Full-colour panels, expressive faces and ridiculous set pieces make the message easy to absorb. It is a particularly good match for children who are high-energy themselves and enjoy stories where exuberance is understood rather than simply corrected.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
- 1
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 9
- 11
- 13
- Best fit · 5–8
- Read aloud · 4–8
- Independent · 5–8
Prose load
Light
Visual support
Very high
Reluctant-reader friendly
Very
Read-aloud quality
Strong
Works well for
- Reading aloud
- Reluctant readers
Nothing in the book is likely to concern most parents. Safe to recommend without preview.
Bedtime suitability
2 / 5 · Better outside bedtime
Sensitive-child
4 / 5 · Good fit
Graphic intensity
1 / 5 · None
Best for
- First graphic novel
- Big feelings
- Unicorns
- Reluctant readers
- High energy children
Avoid if
- Wants calm bedtime reading
- Prefers realistic stories
Particularly good for children who are…
- Reluctant reader
- Struggling with reading
- Making friends
- Neurodiversity or learning differences
In the classroom
How it works in school.
A funny early graphic-novel series where each adventure unpacks a big feeling — a reluctant-reader pleaser that also opens talk about emotions.
A book children love that happens to support school — never a stand-in for the texts a class is taught with. Reviewed for the classroom · June 2026.
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
The specific recognition is the friend whose excitement gets too big — Sparklehoof the unicorn so over-the-moon that his magic accidentally creates a giant kitten and a city made of jelly. Bumble and Snug have to help him steer the feeling. The graphic novel for a high-energy child who's noticed their excitement can be too much.
- Magic powers
- Friendship and belonging
- Adventure and freedom
Why parents love it
The Bumble and Snug on overwhelm — exuberance gently steered without being shamed. Useful before-event book (birthday parties, sleepovers, anywhere a child is at risk of being too excited to enjoy themselves). The series' specific brand of feelings-as-adventure.
- Shared humour
- Conversation starter
- Quick to read
In the series
Bumble and Snug.
5 books · open the series →
About the author & illustrator
Mark Bradley.
If you liked this
Three ways out of this book.
If you liked this, try…
Lateral matches. Same shelf, different texture.
Come into this from…
Easier or preparing reads — perfect lead-ins.
Where to go next…
Escalation reads — a step up in scale, silliness, or stakes.
