The other day David and I went to visit Charlie and Mikalyia in Hobart, Oklahoma. I had meant to take My First Paint by Sticker: Unicorn Friends — A Screen-Free Spark of Magical Creativity with me to do with them but I forgot the book at home.

That is fine with me because I wouldn’t mind putting the stickers on the animals myself or seeing if my Niece Lily would like to come over and do the stickers with me. Or we have kids her in the Apartment/ Townhomes who are out for the Summer that would enjoy doing these stickers.

For the kids and I here there is something quietly comforting about a book that doesn’t ask for noise, batteries, or a glowing screen—just a table, or the floor and a little focus, and the simple joy of creating something piece by piece. That’s exactly the space this installment from Workman Publishing brings with its “My First Paint-by-Sticker Unicorn Friends,” the fifth title in a seven-book collection designed for early creative exploration.

If you know my you know anything with the word Unicorn in it I will be all over and that is what happened with this sticker book. The pictures bring us into that gentle, imaginative world where unicorns aren’t just unicorns—they’re stitched together with playful surprises, soft humor, and unexpected pairings that feel like they wandered out of a child’s daydream.

For me one of the most charming moments comes from a Penguin wearing a birthday hat, a tiny detail that somehow feels like it carries its own celebration. It’s the kind of image that makes you pause longer than you expect, not because it demands attention, but because it invites it. Also, the Penguin reminded me of Suzzane because she loved Penguins.

What makes this series of sticker books especially appealing is how it turns creativity into something approachable. The “paint-by-sticker” concept doesn’t overwhelm small children or moms with mess or complicated steps. Instead, the sticker books build images gradually, letting each sticker become part of a larger reveal. For younger kids—or even for adults who enjoy low-pressure, tactile activities— My First Paint by Sticker: Unicorn Friends becomes less about perfection and more about watching a scene slowly come alive.

There’s also something thoughtful in the way the series is structured. Being part of a seven-book set gives it a sense of continuity, almost like each book is a different stop in a growing imaginative journey. This particular unicorn-themed entry feels especially lighthearted, leaning into whimsical mashups that don’t try too hard to be profound, but still manage to spark a bit of wonder in the process.

By the end, what stands out isn’t just the finished pages, but the rhythm of the experience itself: peel, place, reveal, smile, repeat. It’s simple, calming, and quietly satisfying in a way that lingers after the book is closed.

About the book: Part of: My First Paint by Sticker (7 books) by Workman Publishing (Author) Paperback

My First Paint by Sticker delivers the same screen-free, mess-free fun that makes the original series so irresistible. The fifth book in the series features the cutest mystical mashups for the littlest stickers!

You’ve heard of a “unicorn” but how about a “puppicorn”? Or, a “kittycorn?” Kids will adore “painting” scenes featuring these magical creatures and imagining what other types of unicorn friends are out there.

The Paint by Sticker Kids® series (for ages 5 and up) has sold more than 10 million copies to date. In My First Paint by Sticker, readers ages 3 and up can confidently paint by sticker, too! At a smaller trim size (8 x 8 inches, versus the original kids brand at 9 x 9), this brand extension features larger stickers for smaller hands—perfect for kids practicing their fine motor skills and learning to recognize their numbers. In the older kids series, the number of stickers per image ranges from 60-100; in My First, the number of stickers ranges from 17-25—an age-appropriate number to build patience and confidence while fostering independent play.

Painting by sticker is easy, mess-free, and portable (plus, all the pages are perforated so multiple kids can create at the same time!). Created with smaller hands in mind, My First Paint by Sticker combines a lower sticker count with larger stickers for easy maneuvering, and no actual paint means no splatter, drips, or messy clean-up. All you have to do is 1) find the sticker, 2) peel the sticker, and 3) place the sticker on the corresponding numbered space.

Workman Publishing

About the author

Workman Publishing publishes books for all of life’s big and small moments, created with passion, joy, hard work, and a fiercely independent spirit. They’re the kinds of books you’ll wonder how you lived without, and calendars that make the days count. We publish Brain Quest®, the #1 bestselling educational series in the country, What to Expect® When You’re Expecting, the world’s bestselling pregnancy and parenting guides, award-winning cookbooks, kids books, unique travel books, plus books on self-help, craft, gardening—and cats! By the way, we also invented the Page-A-Day Calendar.