Phoebe and Her Unicorn

Phoebe accidentally strikes a unicorn with a skipped stone, receives a wish, and asks Marigold Heavenly Nostrils to become her best friend. The result pairs an awkward nine-year-old with a vain magical creature whose self-regard contrasts sharply with Phoebe’s uncertainty.

The friendship develops beyond the wish because both characters recognize that they had been lonely. That gives the comic-strip episodes an emotional through-line and makes this a good choice for readers who like wit, fantasy, and relationships built between mismatched personalities. Dory Fantasmagory relies on private invention; Phoebe’s magical friend exists outside her imagination and can challenge her through dialogue.