Unicorn Academy #3: Ava and Star

Unicorn Academy: Ava and Star is the third installment in the popular children's fantasy series authored by Julie Sykes. First published as part of a multi-book launch by Penguin Random House, the series was designed to bridge the gap between early chapter books and middle-grade fiction, targeting young readers drawn to themes of magic, friendship, and animal bonding. The narrative framework centers on the students of Unicorn Academy, a boarding school where children are paired with their destined unicorn companions to hone their elemental powers.

The visual identity of the series, including the cover illustration for Ava and Star, was crafted to evoke a sense of whimsy and enchantment that appeals to the core demographic. Julie Sykes collaborated with an editorial team to ensure the aesthetic matched the lighthearted, fast-paced tone of the stories. Upon its release, the series received a positive reception from educators and parents for promoting social-emotional learning alongside fantasy tropes, eventually gaining enough recognition to be adapted into a globally distributed animated series by Netflix.