{"id":24850,"date":"2014-09-09T21:40:35","date_gmt":"2014-09-10T01:40:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=24850"},"modified":"2014-09-09T21:40:35","modified_gmt":"2014-09-10T01:40:35","slug":"review-of-the-most-magnificent-thing-by-ashley-spires","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=24850","title":{"rendered":"Review of The Most Magnificent Thing, by Ashley Spires"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"most_magnificent_thing_large\"<\/a>The Most Magnificent Thing<\/em><\/p>\n

by Ashley Spires<\/p>\n

Kids Can Press, 2014. 32 pages.
\nStarred Review<\/p>\n

I love this book. A tribute to the power of failure.<\/p>\n

A girl has a wonderful idea. She\u2019s going to make the most MAGNIFICENT thing! She enlists the help of her dog best friend and assistant. She takes a big pile of what looks like junk and sets to work.<\/p>\n

But when it\u2019s finished:<\/p>\n

They are shocked to discover that the thing isn\u2019t magnificent.
\nOr good. It isn\u2019t even kind-of-sort-of okay. It is all WRONG.
\nThe girl tosses it aside and gives it another go.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This happens over and over. The thing isn\u2019t right. She keeps trying again, adapting her design. It never turns out magnificent.<\/p>\n

Finally, getting angrier and angrier, she crunches her finger.<\/p>\n

The pain starts in her finger.
\nIt rushes up to her brain\u2026
\n\u2026and she EXPLODES!
\nIt is not her finest moment.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

However, her friend the dog convinces her to take a walk and cool down. And when she returns, she sees her failures in a whole new light. She sees parts of different contraptions that are actually quite right. (And in the background, we see bystanders appreciating her efforts as well.)<\/p>\n

The new perspective gives her the energy and excitement to try once more. The final result is not perfect, but it\u2019s truly magnificent.<\/p>\n

I love the fine print on the page opposite the title: \u201cThe artwork in this book was rendered digitally with lots of practice, two hissy fits and one all-out tantrum.\u201d<\/p>\n

This book is a beautiful tribute to persistence, hard work \u2013 and failure.<\/p>\n

kidscanpress.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Picture_Books\/most_magnificent_thing.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Source: This review is based on a library book from Fairfax County Public Library.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but I maintain my website and blogs on my own time. The views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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