All Hoof the Unicorn wants to do is be part of a football team but his club never appreciated his talents and kicked him out. Then he spots an advert for BAD UNITED and he feels a tingling in his hooves. A chance to be part of a team again! A chance to play the game he loves! And a chance to show off his skills…

Hoof is thrilled to find his new teammates are more than up for the challenge. Led by enthusiastic mermaid coach Serena Winmer, the team consists of: Bones, their skeleton captain who sometimes struggles to keep her head; Rex, the ROARsome dinosaur defender; cheetah striker Bolt brings the thunder; Tinkerball dazzles with her magic fairy moves and Annette guards the goal with her life (and eight spider legs). All deemed “not good enough” to play for their teams (who decides what’s “good” anyway?!), BAD UNITED combine strength, skill, speed and stench to show everyone what they’ve got…

Bad United: Just for Kicks is a comic-book-style book about a unicorn who wants to play football but his football team doesn’t think he is good enough so they kick him out. He is upset until he sees there is a team that he can join – ‘Bad United’. They take everyone and anyone who wants to play and don’t judge them by their skills.

The story is good fun and reluctant readers will enjoy that there are not many words within the pages. The illustrations do most of the talking though I was a little disappointed that they were all black and white and not colourful like the cover.

The plot is delightful and will teach children about acceptance and understanding. Plus, it will give them a giggle and some good entertainment too.

Overall, Bad United: Just for Kicks is an adorable children’s book that I can see being a big hit with its readers. It is also the first book in a new series, so there are more enjoyable reads on the way.

Louise Forshaw is an illustrator (and sometimes author) living in a small town in the North East, UK. She graduated with a BA (Hons) in Illustration and Animation from Newcastle College. Louise works from home in a small studio, supervised by her three noisy and very mischievous Jack Russell Terriers.