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The Most Magnificent Thing

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*List Price:

$16.95

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Is this book about a real woman in STEAM?

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. The clever use of verbs in groups of threes is both fun and functional, offering opportunities for wonderful vocabulary enrichment. The girl doesn't just "make" her magnificent thing -- she "tinkers and hammers and measures," she "smoothes and wrenches and fiddles," she "twists and tweaks and fastens." These precise action words are likely to fire up the imaginations of youngsters eager to create their own inventions and is a great tie-in to learning about Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

Screen Shot 2021-01-22 at 12.09.52 PM.jp
Screen Shot 2021-01-22 at 12.09.52 PM.jp
Screen Shot 2021-01-22 at 12.09.52 PM.jp

Author:

Ashley Spires

Illustrator:

Ashley Spires

Publisher:

Kids Can Press

Recommended Ages:

4 - 8 years

No

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Girls Love STEAM Review:

Additional Reader & Professional Reviews:

"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

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For ages 12 and under

Parent Permission Required

For ages 13-17

For ages 18 & Above

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