The best books on unicorn in the uni-verse

Why am I passionate about this?

I have always loved unicorns because they are magical and mysterious. They also represent individuality and uniqueness that makes them different. I love the different takes we see now – the grumpy unicorn, the difficult unicorn, the stereotypical unicorn, and the kittycorn.


I wrote...

Book cover of Shine Like a Unicorn

What is my book about?

Shine Like a Unicorn is a hilarious picture book about a unicorn who teaches us all the secrets to embracing our unique and glorious selves! “Do you want to shine like a unicorn? 

Of course you do! My name is Glitter Poop and I’m here to show you in nine secret steps how to be a UNICORN. Warning: It’s not always easy being a unicorn. Unicorns are special and totally uni-que. We have crazy names, know how to stand out in a herd, love to ask questions, and always search for the bright side. Most importantly, we make our own magic!”

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of Itty-Bitty Kitty-Corn

Shelli R. Johannes Why did I love this book?

I love Itty Bitty Kitty-Corn because it celebrates the magic of friendship. The book is about Kitty who wants to be a unicorn but her friends try to prove she isn’t one. This book encourages kids to be exactly who they want to be—no matter what anyone says. The art is adorable to create the most heart-bursting, tail-twitching, fuzzy-feeling, perfectly unicorn-y story imaginable. You can’t help but fall in love with Kitty Corn.

By Shannon Hale, LeUyen Pham,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Itty-Bitty Kitty-Corn as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 4, 5, 6, and 7.

What is this book about?

From bestselling superstar duo Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham comes a delightful kitty and unicorn story that celebrates the magic of friendship-and being exactly who you want to be!

Kitty thinks she might be a unicorn.

She feels so perfectly unicorn-y! "Neigh!" says Kitty.

But when Unicorn clop clop clops over, sweeping his magnificent tail and neighing a mighty neigh, Kitty feels no bigger than a ball of lint.

Can this unlikely pair embrace who they are, and truly see one another?

In their first picture book together, the magical, bestselling team of Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham put their…


Book cover of Unicorns Are the Worst!

Shelli R. Johannes Why did I love this book?

I love this book because it is a different take on a unicorn. In this book, a goblin explains why magic is a serious business. He also complains that “all unicorns do is frolic around, have tea parties, and leave glitter all over the place!” He doesn’t think unicorns are helpful until he gets into a pickle himself. This book shows kids that stereotypes and judgments we may have about others are not always correct. Never judge a book by its uni-horn.

By Alex Willan,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Unicorns Are the Worst! as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 4, 5, 6, and 7.

What is this book about?

Perfect for fans of Dragons Love Tacos and Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great, this wildly funny and imaginative picture book celebrates the value of differences as a grumpy goblin gets to know his new unicorn neighbors.

It’s an undeniable fact that unicorns are the worst!

Magic is serious business, but all unicorns do is frolic around, have tea parties, and leave glitter all over the place! They’re nothing like goblins—practical and hard-working, who can put magic to good use! Unicorns aren’t helpful at all.

Or are they?


Book cover of How to Catch a Unicorn

Shelli R. Johannes Why did I love this book?

I love this book because it's about kids who want to try and catch a unicorn. They set up all kinds of traps to trap the magical creature. Of course, the unicorn is way too clever and is determined not to be caught. The kids use everything imaginable to lure the unicorn: ice cream, glitter, and lemonade. It’s also a very sweet rhyming book, which is hard to do. Better luck next time!

By Adam Wallace,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked How to Catch a Unicorn as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 4, 5, 6, and 7.

What is this book about?

The #1 New York Times bestseller! Try to catch one of the world's most elusive mythical creatures-the unicorn-in this enchanting picture book for kids!

From the New York Times and USA Today bestselling How to Catch series comes a dazzling new adventure! Filled with zany traps, STEAM concepts, silly rhymes, and lots of rainbow unicorn fun, parents, educators, and young readers alike will delight in this colorful story as the Catch Club Kids are off in the zoo to catch this fantastical beast. Perfect for children ages 4-10, this is the ultimate unicorn gift of the year, great for birthdays,…


Book cover of Nerdycorn

Shelli R. Johannes Why did I love this book?

This is a different take on a unicorn. Fern loves chemistry and math more than glitter and flowers. She prefers building robots and coding software to jumping through shimmering rainbows. Her friends make fun of her until they need her to fix the confetti machine. I love that Fern refuses to change for anyone. This book teaches kids about always about being themselves—and that sometimes you have to stand up for yourself too.

By Andrew Root, Erin Kraan (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Nerdycorn as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 3, 4, 5, and 6.

What is this book about?

Fern isn't your usual unicorn...she loves chemistry and math more than glitter or flowers-and she refuses to change who she is in this sweet and empowering picture book about being yourself-and standing up for yourself, too!

Meet Fern! She's a smart, creative unicorn who prefers building robots and coding software to jumping through shimmering rainbows and splashing in majestic waterfalls. Even though Fern is a good friend and always willing to help others, the other unicorns tease her and call her a nerdycorn.

One day, Fern has had enough and decides to stop fixing her friends' broken things. But then…


Book cover of Kevin the Unicorn: It's Not All Rainbows

Shelli R. Johannes Why did I love this book?

This book is a different take on unicorns. What do you mean all unicorns aren’t happy? Kevin wakes up on the floor and has a bad hair day. He tries to be positive but everything seems to go wrong. I love this book because sometimes we have bad days and that it's okay to have a bad day.

By Jessika Von Innerebner,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Kevin the Unicorn as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 3, 4, 5, and 6.

What is this book about?

Everyone knows that unicorns are perfect. They are glamorous and glittery, and their smiles make rainbows appear! But Kevin is having a less-than-perfect day. First, he wakes up on the wrong side of the bed . . . on the floor. Then he discovers that his mane is so wild that even his Super-Perfect-Hair-Day-Spray can't tame it. And the day just gets worse from there. Kevin does his best to keep his outlook sunny, but it's hard to keep smiling when everything goes horribly wrong!


You might also like...

Brigitta of the White Forest

By Danika Dinsmore,

Book cover of Brigitta of the White Forest

Danika Dinsmore Author Of Brigitta of the White Forest

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Teacher Poet Tree whisperer Bird lover World builder

Danika's 3 favorite reads in 2023

What is my book about?

For those who enjoy fantasy adventure, the Faerie Tales from the White Forest series offers a new twist on the traditional faerie tales so loved by young readers.

From devastating curses to death-defying quests, Brigitta and her growing collective of misfit friends face greater and greater challenges when destiny calls upon them to “make the balance right again” after the Great World Cry has left their world in elemental chaos.

Brigitta of the White Forest

By Danika Dinsmore,

What is this book about?

Briggy, what happens when the Hourglass runs out?

Brigitta wished she had paid more attention to her Auntie Ferna's lessons. Being able to string a thunder-bug symphony wasn't going to help them now. She didn't know exactly what would happen when the Hourglass ran out, since no living faerie knew a time when the Hourglass didn't protect the forest . . . But even though she couldn't remember the details, she did know that without the Hourglass there would be no White Forest . . . A charming middle-grade fantasy series, "Faerie Tales from the White Forest" watches the journey…


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