Uni and the Magic Paintbrush

by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Brigette Barrager (Illustrator)

Overview

Uni the Unicorn's best friend is painting a mural and she needs help! This Step 2 about believing in yourself and the power of friendship will resonate will young readers. Perfect for children who recognize familiar words and can sound out new ones with help.

The little girl and her friends are painting a mural next to the new public garden! It is going to be beautiful but little girl is not happy with any of her paintings. Can Uni's magic help or will the little girl be able to paint on her own? The kids from Uni Bakes a Cake are back and involved in another activity that readers will love! Uni fans new and old will be excited to join this big-hearted unicorn and the little girl on a new adventure with a sprinkle of magic!

Step 2 Readers use basic vocabulary and short sentences to tell simple stories. They are perfect for children who recognize familiar words and can sound out new words with help.

Look for these Uni Step into Reading stories, including:
Uni and the Dolphin
Uni's Wish for Wings
Uni's First Sleepover
and more!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593901960
Publisher:	Random House Children's Books
Publication date:	02/17/2026
Series:	Step into Reading
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.09(d)
Age Range:	4 - 6 Years

About the Author

AMY KROUSE ROSENTHAL was born in 1965 and graduated from Tufts University. A prolific writer, speaker, filmmaker, and radio show host, she also contributed to TED Talks and wrote numerous adult and children's books, including picture books about Uni the unicorn. She announced on March 3, 2017, that she was terminally ill with cancer. She lived in Chicago with her husband and children. Her essay for the Modern Love column in the New York Times, entitled "You May Want to Marry My Husband," went viral online. She died on March 13, 2017.

BRIGETTE BARRAGER graduated from CalArts with a BFA in character animation in 2007. She likes tea and books and general old lady-ish stuff, and hates when people's toes hang over the edge of their sandals.