Award-winning author and illustrator Ashley Spires has created a charming picture book about an unnamed girl and her very best friend, who happens to be a dog. The girl has a wonderful idea. "She is going to make the most MAGNIFICENT thing! She knows just how it will look. She knows just how it will work. All she has to do is make it, and she makes things all the time. Easy-peasy!"
But making her magnificent thing is anything but easy, and the girl tries and fails, repeatedly. Eventually, the girl gets really, really mad. She is so mad, in fact, that she quits. But after her dog convinces her to take a walk, she comes back to her project with renewed enthusiasm and manages to get it just right.
For the early grades' exploration of character education, this funny book offers a perfect example of the rewards of perseverance and creativity. The girl's frustration and anger are vividly depicted in the detailed art, and the story offers good options for dealing honestly with these feelings, while at the same time reassuring children that it's okay to make mistakes.
"From her efforts, children see the importance of planning, gathering supplies, building, and not giving up when a good idea doesn't initially work out....Clever use of artwork conveys the youngster's spectrum of emotions as she 'saws and glues and adjusts,' 'smashes,' 'pummels,' and 'explodes' ('It is not her finest moment.'). Then, finally, the girl finishes, and her scooter really is "the most magnificent thing." This is a solid choice with a great message that encourages kids not to quit in the face of disappointment but rather to change their perspective and start over." -- Melissa Smith, School Library Journal
Recommended Age | 4 - 8 |
---|---|
Author | Ashley Spires |
Illustrator | Ashley Spires |
ISBN | 1554537045 |
Publication Date | Apr 1, 2014 |
Publisher | Kids Can Press |
Language | English |