The Most Magnificent Idea - by Ashley Spires (Hardcover)

About the Book

"A girl and her dog are back in this follow-up to the bestselling The Most Magnificent Thing. Usually, the girl is an idea machine -- sometimes her brain is so full of ideas that her hands can't keep up. But today feels different. She seems to have everything she needs to get to work ... but she doesn't know what to make! She searches high and low for an idea. She and her dog go for a walk, they brainstorm, they research, they dig through the entire house, but the girl can't find a single idea anywhere. What if she NEVER has another idea EVER AGAIN?"--

Book Synopsis

The long-awaited sequel to the runaway bestseller The Most Magnificent Thing that readers have been clamoring for!

The girl in this story, with her dog at her side, loves to make things. Her brain, she says, is an "idea machine," so full of ideas that she can hardly keep up. But then one day ... it isn't. All of a sudden, the girl can't come up with a single idea for what to make. She tries everything: brainstorming, gathering new supplies, even jumping up and down on one foot to shake an idea loose. But, nothing. The girl realizes, with no ideas taking up space in her brain, it's filling with sad instead. What if she never has another idea again?

Award-winning and bestselling author-illustrator Ashley Spires ingeniously captures the ups and downs of the creative process in this delightful picture book starring the beloved characters from The Most Magnificent Thing. With her signature wit and dry humor, Spires keeps the entertainment level high for readers, who will be rooting for their heroine to get her mojo back. The detailed and expressive artwork humorously captures the emotional arc of the girl's process. This book offers a terrific character education lesson in patience and perseverance. It will provide inspiration to makers and visionary creators everywhere, encouraging them to believe that an idea is sure to come if they just give it the opportunity -- and if it comes from the heart. The Most Magnificent Thing inspired an award-winning animated short film in 2019.

Review Quotes

... readers will empathize with the young builder when her confidence is shaken, and admire her perseverance, skill and renewed enthusiasm... Magnificent ideas can arise, sometimes when they're least expected.--Canadian Children's Booknews

Reassuring banter for any young maker hitting their first rough patch.--Kirkus Reviews

It's a useful description of the creative process, an affirmation of making rather than buying, and a model for girl engineers.--Publishers Weekly (Praise for The Most Magnificent Thing)

Spires' understanding of the fragility and power of the artistic impulse mixes with expert pacing and subtle characterization for maximum delight.--Kirkus Reviews - Starred Review (Praise for 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.--School Library Journal (Praise for The Most Magnificent Thing)

About the Author

Ashley Spires is the author and illustrator of many books, including the bestselling The Most Magnificent Thing, The Thing Lou Couldn't Do and the Binky the Space Cat series. She is a drinker of tea, eater of candy and lover of animals. When she is not making books, she enjoys yoga, jogging and fostering orphan kittens for her local shelter. Ashley lives just outside Vancouver, British Columbia, with her dog and far too many felines.