Meet the author
The real little girl behind Ali the Shiny Sparkly Unicorn.
Australian author · Ali Villani
A story close to my heart.
I’m Ali Villani, the Australian author of Ali the Shiny Sparkly Unicorn. The little girl behind the story is me.
Inspired by my own childhood, I wrote Ali’s story to share the things that matter to me: kindness, friendship, inclusion and the confidence to be yourself.
Inspiring little people to shine.
It all began with a little girl called Ali.
Long before there was Ali the Shiny Sparkly Unicorn, there was a little girl called Ali.
The original story was inspired by my own experiences growing up and the lessons I learnt about being myself, making friends and celebrating the things that make us different.
Years later, I turned those experiences into a children's book because I wanted little people to grow up knowing that they do not need to change who they are to be accepted.
At its heart, Ali the Shiny Sparkly Unicorn is about kindness, friendship, inclusion and having the confidence to be yourself.
A little story that travelled the world.
In 2017, I self-published Ali the Shiny Sparkly Unicorn, but the journey began with a Kickstarter campaign.
More than 500 people backed my dream, helping me fund the first 500 copies of the book.
What started as a personal story grew into something much bigger. Since publication, more than 5,000 copies have been sold, reaching readers across Australia, New Zealand, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Africa, Nepal and many other parts of the world.
Knowing that a story inspired by my childhood has found its way into homes and hearts around the world is something I will always treasure.
- 2017
- First published
- 500+
- Kickstarter supporters
- 5,000+
- Books sold
The story continues.
After all these years, Ali the Shiny Sparkly Unicorn is beginning a new chapter.
Through animated stories, songs and creative activities, I am bringing Ali to life in new ways so more children and families can enjoy her stories and the important messages behind them.
My hope is to continue creating little stories with big messages, encouraging children to be themselves, spread kindness and make a positive difference in the lives of others.