The Most Magnificent Thing
by Ashley Spires
Format: Hardback / paperback / ebook
Nr of Pages: 38
Expected publication: April 1st 2014
by Kids Can Press
Synopsis:
A little girl and her canine assistant set out to make the most magnificent thing. But after much hard work, the end result is not what the girl had in mind. Frustrated, she quits. Her assistant suggests a long walk, and as they walk, it slowly becomes clear what the girl needs to do to succeed. A charming story that will give kids the most magnificent thing: perspective!
Rating: 4/5
Review:
This little girl's journey with her faithful assistant is one of the
most relatable children's books I have ever read. The whole preparation
process and the creation and even the point when she gets frustrated are
so real and tangible that you are automatically transported to your own
childhood and can remember a time or two when you completely lost your
temper because you couldn't create something.
As a writer I know what is like to have something magnificent in your mind and not being able write it on paper. So when this little girl who has the most magnificent thing ever in her mind isn't able to create it I could relate to her frustration. It is so easy to lose perspective when you see something clearly but aren't able to give it form.
Thankfully her canine assistant has the perfect cure for frustration: a long walk. As the girl calms herself down and starts enjoying herself she realizes that maybe she wasn't that far of from succeeding and tries once again to create that most magnificent thing. This is a fantastic advice and so useful because it's a great way to deal with frustration. Maybe we can't always go for a walk but we can do something different or we can leave the problem alone for a day or two while we relax and than we can go back to it.
I particularly enjoyed the part in the story where the girls neighbours are admiring her "fail attempts" and think they are splendid while the girl just sees them as failure. When we focus on what we have on our mind and don't enjoy the ride until we get there everything can became a failure and I think it was good to show that sometimes even if we think that our art isn't at the level we wanted it to be other people will think that it is good.
A very cute book that I recommend!
As a writer I know what is like to have something magnificent in your mind and not being able write it on paper. So when this little girl who has the most magnificent thing ever in her mind isn't able to create it I could relate to her frustration. It is so easy to lose perspective when you see something clearly but aren't able to give it form.
Thankfully her canine assistant has the perfect cure for frustration: a long walk. As the girl calms herself down and starts enjoying herself she realizes that maybe she wasn't that far of from succeeding and tries once again to create that most magnificent thing. This is a fantastic advice and so useful because it's a great way to deal with frustration. Maybe we can't always go for a walk but we can do something different or we can leave the problem alone for a day or two while we relax and than we can go back to it.
I particularly enjoyed the part in the story where the girls neighbours are admiring her "fail attempts" and think they are splendid while the girl just sees them as failure. When we focus on what we have on our mind and don't enjoy the ride until we get there everything can became a failure and I think it was good to show that sometimes even if we think that our art isn't at the level we wanted it to be other people will think that it is good.
A very cute book that I recommend!
