
Member Reviews

Thank you to Kids Can Press and Netgalley for an e-ARC. All thoughts an opinions are my own.
Ashley Spires is back at it again with her beloved "Girl" from the Most Magnificent series. Spires always has a knack for illustrating the maker process in a relatable and humorous way and The Most Magnificent Team is no different. Teamwork is hard for kids (and adults). This book craftily showcases the struggles of wanting to collaborate, but also wanting to hold onto one's own ideas. I particularly liked the arc the characters go through as they attempt to team up and create a most magnificent thing together. Naturally adding in cool down steps ("breathe" and "seek support from assistants") was a huge bonus.
I thought it was an interesting choice to name the new character "The Neighbor"---who just happens to be THE cutest drawn character maybe ever---but I suppose that is on par with the main character being named "The Girl".
Ashley Spires is onto something great with this series and they should find a way into every classroom and every maker space.

Oh my, the best in the series yet. The perfect lesson on teamwork for our creative, intelligent, (and maybe a little bossy) littles who have lots of good ideas and like to do things their way. Also a great opportunity for conversations on different working styles, the balance of form and function, the value of aesthetics, planning versus jumping in, and the merits of all of the above. Superb.

I have not read any other book in the Most Magnificent Thing series, but I really enjoyed this one. It makes me think I need to go and read the previous books in the series! As a second grade teacher, I think this would be a great book to read at the beginning of the year when we talk about working with a partner. At first it might seem difficult and overwhelming, but in the end we can learn from each other. I really love the message this book sends and how the two girls find a way to use their ideas but create one project. Working together as a team is HARD for young children, but being able to see that there is a benefit is the start of wonderful teamwork and collaboration! I thought the illustrations were great. They were colorful, detailed, and really draw in the reader. Overall, I think this books sends a wonderful message about teamwork. Even though you think your idea is the best, there is always something we can learn from each other. It's about compromise, and ultimately we can create amazing things when we work together!
Thank you Ashley Spires and Kids an Press for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book via NetGalley! This review was written voluntarily and all opinions are my own.

A follow-up to The Most Magnificent Thing, this story is about the girl and her neighbor learning how to work together even though they don’t always agree. A cute story, including some cute pets, this book would be a great way to discuss group work in the classroom.

I love these books and the newest book in the series is another example of why. The girls in the neighborhood each like to do things but like to do them in different ways. And at first, they don’t get along and it’s only by talking things out and working together that they realize they can be better as a team. These are written in such a way that it’s understandable. You can feel each character’s, frustration, and their hope when they realize that they’re not as different as they think they are. I love these books and I think they are an essential set for any Library to have.

I have loved Ashley Spires book series and this one goes right at the top with the rest. It shows how kids can work together as a team. I loved the feelings the characters had as they worked together.

This is an awesome book for young readers to learn how to work effectively with others, even when they disagree with their teammates. I genuinely think that this book has the potential to be a highly important book in schools and at home. Spires gets to the point quickly, but also allows the story's plot to fully develop and play out. This definitely helped the message have a better impact on readers because it made more sense and maintained the attention of this book's audience. Another great thing about this book was that the author seamlessly included various skills that anyone can use in order to be a good team player (i.e. taking a break to breathe, kindly adding on to others' ideas). Lastly, the creative tone of the book showed not only in the writing but also in the illustrations. I loved seeing the progression of the kids' inventions, and it's clear that the illustrator had vivid ideas going into this project, which were executed flawlessly. Bravo!

This continues the "magnificent" series by Ashley Spires and carries a message of inventing things as a team. I think this book would be good for a lesson about cooperation, or would work well to teach more about using the makerspace. It was a bit preachy and seemed to be written more for adults, but I think kids would benefit from the ideas.

I have loved every book in this series and this one is no different. How the characters work through their differences is something wonderful to read to our children, as we all know kids are not always the best at conflict resolution. The illustrations as always are inviting and contribute to the story in a positive way.

Sometimes it can be hard to compromise and work together. In this picture book two children are trying to build a project and they both have ideas and opinions for how it should be done. Unfortunately, they don't agree with each other and this leads to complications in their project. Readers will see how to work through differences and make compromises to end up with something great in the end.

Ashley Spires never misses. Great for encouraging girls into STEM as well as how to collaborate as a team.

A magnificent new addition to the series, touching on the tricky-to-navigate scenario of group work. This will be an essential library and classroom read, perfect for the start of the school year or any time teamwork is required. I so appreciate the multiple acknowledgements that there WILL be disagreements that need to be worked through - I would've liked to have seen maybe a few examples of ways to do this, but that would've taken away too much from the story. This is didactic, sure, but ultimately enjoyable.

A magnificent sequel that absolutely builds on the previous book by exploring how tricky it is for children to create something together in a team. The two characters are fun and vibrant and the setting of being outside with all the materials is fantastic. Then we get so much key moments for discussion. Planning our item, the steps to building, what we do when we are frustrated and the need to listen to others. The facial expressions and reactions such as the characters turning their backs due to them being annoyed or stubborn is something that teachers and pupils will have lessons discussing as are the moments of compromise that are shown after the conflict. The relationship between the text and images are fantastic, the characters are lovable and more importantly, relatable. This story absolutely shines with so much teaching material and potential. The themes are powerful but shown in humorous and engaging ways. A copy is needed for each class let alone each school.

This is an excellent addition to this wonderful series! Learning to work together is such an important part of early childhood, school- and adulthood and most careers! The art tells its own little side stories. I plan to adopt this into my ECE classroom library.

This is the first book of the series I’ve read. It’s a great way to talk about and encourage team work, and I love how realistic it is. Not everyone works well together, and even if they do, they don’t always think the same. In the end, everyone can contribute something. The result may not be expected, but it can be similar, and--hopefully--better.

4.25 Stars
A follow-up to the beloved book, THE MOST MAGNIFICENT THING, but adding another lovable duo!
I loved that THE MOST MAGNIFICENT TEAM illustrates (literally) not just the design and redesign process, but doing so with feedback and other opinions. An important topic for adults and children, alike.
The pet assistants are once again a delight and the chaos of the girl’s creative process is a joyful inspiration.
I do wish the word team was repeated more throughout the story to reinforce the concept. Perhaps even demonstrate a brainstorming process with various words like “co-creator”, “collaborator”, and “teammate”.
But all-in-all, an enjoyable read and wonderful depiction of the beauty of teamwork!
I was honored to be able to enjoy an ARC of this book through NetGalley. Thank you to author/illustrator, Ashley Spires, and Kids Can Press.

This is my second Ashley Spires picture book and it doesn’t disappoint. There is so much humor and expectation in her stories. You see these colorful panels of hard work and wonder what will result from the elaborate construction. Just when you’re sure there’s nothing remarkable to be made, you’re always surprised by the results. And working as a team makes the end product even more spectacular. I love the reality of working with another creative. It’s hard to give up ownership of an idea when working with others, but when you both bend and sway to the other person’s ideas and talent, you could make the most wonderful things.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

We own the first book, The Most Magnificent Thing, and adore it! I need to keep tabs on Picture books because I didn’t know this was a series now. I saw this on Netgalley and had to request it!
I love that this is about learning how to navigate teamwork. It’s hard, even as an adult, to do things as a team. They both had their strengths and weaknesses. They were able to learn how they could work together and create something amazing. My son really caught on to their emotions with the illustrations, which was a bonus! Speaking of the illustrations, I adore them.
Overall, we loved this one and I will be adding it to our library!! I think all kids need to read about how teamwork can be difficult, but you can work through it!
Many thanks to Kids Can Press and Netgalley for an e-ARC. All thoughts an opinions are my own.

We love this author. This is another wonderful book about common childhood challenges. My children loved this.

I received an electronic ARC from Kids Can Press through NetGalley.
Spires brings us a fourth book in this series. This time the girl discovers someone else in her creating space. She isn't sure but decides to work with the other inventor to create her design. However, she discovers that the other young girl has her own opinions and ideas. Readers may agree that it is difficult to work together until everyone learns to compromise and listen. By the end, the two have created an incredible invention that is already being used. They agree to meet again to invent more. I love the character expression on both the two inventors and their assistants. We can clearly tell what all of them are feeling as the story unfolds. Looking forward to sharing this with our students.