The Most Magnificent Team

The fourth most magnificent book in Ashley Spires’ series, The Most Magnificent Team examines what it’s like working together when everyone has magnificent ideas.

The girl has an idea and is ready to execute so she goes to her workspace only to find that someone else is already there making something of her own. When the girl and the neighbour decide to work together, things don't go so magnificently until they find some common ground and learn to work together as a team.

Any story that reflects the realities of working as a team is A+ in my books. Working in a group is such a difficult skill to acquire and teams can be difficult to navigate, especially for the young readers accessing picture books. Learning how to share ideas and collaborate is a skill that readers in this age group are learning everyday. 

I love how Ashley Spires inspires readers to be creative and let their ideas take them on a journey while also connecting with readers on the realities of trying to make something with someone else. Big ideas often lead to big emotions and I love how the two girls in this story have a big argument and go their separate ways only to realize that sometimes having someone else working with you can create something that is the most magnificent. Also I appreciated the small little lessons and tips to readers who may be experiencing their own disagreements when working or playing together.

Ashley Spires illustrations are bold and colourful. I love the spreads where the characters pop behind a background of black line drawings. She always incorporates some sweet little furry friends onto all of her stories and this one is no exception. If you follow her on Instagram, you may recognize the inspiration behind many of the “assistants” in this story.