Best Selling Books by Ashley Spires

The latest addition to The Most Magnificent series. In this vocabulary book, the characters from The Most Magnificent Thing walk readers from A to Z, through all the words little makers need to know. It captures the ups (“I is for IDEA. A gift from the imagination that wants to be made.”) and downs (“P is for PATIENCE. Most things don’t work the first time … or the third time …. or even the twelfth time.”) of creating and includes explanations of key concepts (“B is for BRAINSTORM. When ideas of all shapes and sizes rain onto the page.”) Witty, clever and encouraging, it’s sure to inspire endless magnificent making!

The long-awaited sequel to the runaway bestseller The Most Magnificent Thing! This is the story of a girl who, with her dog at her side, loves to make things. Her brain is an “idea machine,” always so full of ideas, she can hardly keep up! But then, one day … it isn’t. All of a sudden, the girl can’t think of anything to make. She tries brainstorming, gathering new supplies, even jumping up and down on one foot to shake an idea loose. Nothing. What if she never has another idea again? Readers everywhere will be rooting for their favorite thing-maker to get her mojo back!

New for fans of the runaway bestseller The Most Magnificent Thing, a story about the ups and downs of working with others. When a girl and her dog arrive at the girl’s favorite workspace to make something, they find that a neighbor has gotten there first! Hmm, well, maybe they could make something together? Magnificent idea! So the girl starts cutting, hammering and gluing, while the neighbor considers, measures and calculates. The neighbor believes in always measuring twice and cutting once, but the girl thinks that takes way too long. Clearly, they have very different approaches to making. Will they ever be able to work things out as a team? This fresh take on the joys and pressures of working with others will inspire kids to imagine, try and persevere – together!

The funny tale of a seven-foot-tall, scarf-sporting sasquatch who discovers he may not be alone in the world. Illustrations.

More Binky means more fun! At last, a box set for fans who can’t get enough of lovable Binky, the certified space cat and fearless leader of epic missions (if only in his imagination!). Whether he’s single-handedly battling alien invaders (bugs) or painstakingly training a new space cadet (family dog), Binky’s hilarious cat’s-eye view of the world — and his crucial role in keeping it safe — are unlike any other. And now kids can have all the books in the series in one collection! It’s nonstop entertainment, perfect for beginning readers — or anyone who appreciates witty humor (or witty cats!).

An endearing story about a little girl who doesnÍt think she can. ñUp there! The tree can be our ship!î one of LouÍs friends exclaims when they decide to play pirates. ñUmmm ƒî responds Lou. Usually she loves adventures. But this is new. Lou has never climbed a tree before. And she knows she canÍt do it. She doesnÍt even want to try. But this adventure does look fun, and when all her excuses run out, Lou realizes the bravest adventurers are those who TRY. An inspiring lesson for anyone whoÍs ever avoided something hard.

A high-seas adventure about an unconventional little pirate who charms the rough pirate crew of the Rusty Squid. With treasure chests of laughs, Small Saul is a lighthearted celebration of individuality, and proof that good things come in small packages.

Sergeant Fluffy Vandermere''s number-one job is protecting the world from alien domination (aka bugs), and he takes his responsibility very seriously. So when the unthinkable happens and aliens invade headquarters --- bzzzzzz --- Fluffy sets out on a daring solo mission to defeat the intruders, rescue the hostages and --- POW! THWAP! KRUNK! --- save the world! This easy-to-read graphic novel is perfect for emergent readers. Sound effects, secret-agent elements and litter box humor add to the fun. The hilarious premise offers keen insight into the secret lives of cats, and touches on the very real themes of leadership, teamwork and bravery. Holy Hairballs! What a cat! What a leader! What an adventure!

Debate. French film club. Bagpipes. Can Andrew do it all? From the award-winning creator of The Most Magnificent Thing comes a book about an charming chickadee who learns – with the help of a “deer” friend - that busy isn’t always better. Andrew loves putting on plays so he decides to join the drama club at school. Determined to make his performance the best it can be, he joins the debate club to practice his public speaking. He signs up for dance and karate to help with his coordination. Then he''s asked to play for the tennis team and edit the school newspaper. Before long he''s learning to play the bagpipes, attending Spanish classes and joining the French film club. Suddenly Andrew doesn''t have time for anything or anyone else, not even his best friend Edie. And he definitely doesn''t have time to sleep. Will Andrew figure out how to balance all his favorite activities and his best friend at the same time? A hilarious look at over-scheduling, a common issue many kids today face.

When aliens emerge from the walls and neutralize everyone on the space station but Gordon, he travels back in time in an experimental time machine to stop the alien invasion, but accidentally ends up five years in the past.

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!

Binky the space cat and his team of space pets are left at the vet''s office while their humans are away. Binky plans an escape, only to stumble on a secret experiment that could give vicious aliens the upper hand! It''s up to Binky and his friends to save the humans ... and themselves! Binky: License to Scratch is the final book in the Binky Adventure series, where dry humour and sci-fi slapstick are mixed with lots of heart.

Holy fuzzbutt! A new Ashley Spires picture book series, based on the animated TV show Agent Binky: Pets of the Universe. When Agent Binky (the space cat) accidentally falls through a screen while he’s chasing an alien (fruit fly) that got inside his space station (house), he and Ted, his beloved stuffed mouse, are catapulted into outer space (outside), and Ted lands right near an alien spaceship (wasp nest)! Though Binky is brought back inside, Ted is left behind – in enemy territory! Binky must act quickly, so he turns to P.U.R.S.T. (Pets of the Universe Ready for Space Travel) for assistance. But can Ted be rescued in time? Kids will laugh out loud at Binky’s overactive imagination – and cheer when he wins the day!

Fairy scientist Esther is experimenting with the water cycle in this enchanting STEM-and-magic-filled follow-up to Fairy Science, a picture book from the award-winning author-illustrator of The Most Magnificent Thing! When a pond dries up, fairy scientist Esther doesn''t freeze under the pressure. She and her friends go full steam ahead for to make a scientific discovery! Bestselling author Ashley Spires (The Most Magnificent Thing) creates a charming primer to the water cycle. Includes an at-home water experiment for the budding scientist in your house!

Edie is known for her great outfits and stylish flair. She and her best friend Andrew spend a lot of time playing dress-up. The school hall is their runway. Edie loves the compliments and whispers of admiration, so much so that she begins dressing in increasingly outrageous outfits to get even more attention. No outfit is too bizarre, no costume too flamboyant for Edie. She''s so busy coming up with her newest eye-catching ensemble that she doesn''t even have time for Andrew anymore ... until one day Edie creates an outfit so weird and so big and bulky that she gets stuck in the doorway. Will anyone notice that this budding fashionista is in trouble?

Holy fuzzbutt! A new Ashley Spires picture book series, based on the animated TV show Agent Binky: Pets of the Universe. Binky the space cat is on duty, keeping watch for any aliens (bugs) attempting to breach his space station (house). Wait, there’s one (caterpillar) on the windowsill! Hmm, false alarm. It’s moving too slowly to be a threat. Except, over the next few days, it gets bigger. And bigger. Then, it builds itself a spaceship (cocoon) and emerges as a colorful flitting alien (butterfly) that – oh, no! – flies directly into the space station! It’s time for Binky and his crew to contact headquarters. A perfectly silly picture book for younger fans who can’t get enough Binky!

Binky is back, and in his new adventure, he finds himself in outer space for the first time.

Everyone’s favorite june beetle learns about the many different places insects call home. Burt the Beetle wants to find the perfect home to settle down in. But what might that look like? Burt’s impressed as he checks out the homes of his insect friends — a monarch’s chrysalis, the ants’ underground tunnels, the bees’ hive. They’re amazing, they just don’t quite suit Burt’s size, his building skills — or his sticky legs! He’s starting to get discouraged. But when a rainstorm sends him scurrying for cover under a leaf, Burt begins to understand what home feels like for him! Bugs rule! Fact and fiction wrapped in hilarity will keep kids laughing while learning about insects!

A hilarious story about one bug’s quest for greatness (with some cool insect facts mixed in!). Meet Burt, a ten-lined june beetle. He’s sure he has a superpower like other insects. No, he can’t carry 50 times his weight, like ants, or spray paralyzing venom, like some termites. What june beetles seem to do best is chase porch lights and lie on their backs flailing their legs in the air ... hmm. Maybe Burt doesn’t have any special skills after all ... But when some other bugs get into perilous trouble that even their superpowers can’t get them out of, Burt realizes there is one helpful thing only he can do ... Why shouldn’t every bug have its day (even the wannabe superhero kind)? Kids will be rooting for this one!

Join Binky in all of his imaginary adventures.

"¡Binky ha vuelto! Ya tiene el título de agente espacial, pero ahora le espera una peligrosa misión. Y esta vez es algo personal... Persiguiendo a un extraterrestre (un bicho), Binky cae por la escotilla (ventana del baño) de la estación espacial y acaba en el espacio exterior (fuera de casa) por primera vez. Pero justo cuando empieza a explorar, Binky descubre que su copiloto Ted (ratón de peluche) está atrapado bajo una nave enemiga (avispero). Binky DEBE rescatar a Ted de las garras de esos malvados extraterrestres. ¿Logrará salvar a su mejor amigo? ¿Podrá Ted salir con vida? ¿Seguirá Binky sufriendo de gases espaciales? " --

Nato dalla penna di Ashley Spires, pluripremiata autriceillustratrice, questo albo illustrato racconta la storia di un''ingegnosa bambina, che, con l''aiuto del suo inseparabile cane, decide di costruire "la cosa più grandiosa". Ma l''impresa non è semplice come sembra, e la piccola sta per mollare. Per fortuna, il suo amico le darà la carica giusta per riprendere in mano martello e cacciavite e portare brillantemente a termine il suo progetto. Attraverso le attività proposte all''interno della guida per l''adulto, sarà possibile stimolare nei bambini la consapevolezza delle loro possibilità e dare loro il sostegno necessario per crescere senza stereotipi di genere.

Una pequeña niña y su asistente perruno se disponen a crear la cosa más magnífica. Pero después de mucho esfuerzo, el resultado final no es lo que la niña tenía en mente. Frustrada, decide rendirse. Su asistente le sugiere dar un largo paseo, y mientras caminan, poco a poco queda claro qué debe hacer la niña para tener éxito. Una encantadora historia que dará a los niños la cosa más magnífica: ¡perspectiva!

La idea más maravillosa es un cuento infantil que trata sobre la creatividad y los pasos del proceso creativo. Una historia que motivará a niños y niñas a no desanimarse, a cambiar su perspectiva y a probar de nuevo. Un día, una niña amanece con una magnífica idea en su cabeza. Con la ayuda de su perro y asistente decide dedicarse a construirla. Sabe cómo será. Sabe cómo funcionará. Y piensa que será muy fácil crearla. Pero cuando se pone manos a la obra, se da cuenta de que es una tarea más difícil de lo que ella pensaba... Trabaja, trabaja y trabaja, ¡pero no consigue que funcione! Pero entonces su ayudante logra convencerla de que se tome un descanso, para regresar a su proyecto más tarde con entusiasmo renovado, y volverlo a intentar. ¿Será suficiente para conseguir construir el invento más maravilloso jamás visto? ENGLISH DESCRIPTION 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.

Inspired by the felt animal finger puppets Spires creates, this illustrator''s (The Red Shoes) quirky authorial debut tells of an Antarctic resident who wearies of his fish diet. Tempted by news that creatures in the northern hemisphere lead the good life eating cupcakes, Penguin sets out to sample this treat. But when he flies off under his own power, Walrus and Polar Bear pop out from behind the page (Stop right there!) and inform the bird that penguins can''t fly. The story resumes, with an airplane transporting Penguin to the Arctic; there he again encounters Walrus and Polar Bearbut no cupcakes (he finally gets some on the flight home). If not especially memorable, Spires''s slightly wooden cartoon characters have personality. Adults and kids alike should be amused by the meta-narratives, as well as sidebar notes that correct the characters'' occasional misinformation (after Walrus claims to be on a strict kelp diet: Walruses don''t eat kelp.... Unfortunately this walrus has self-esteem issues. She was trying to meet an unrealistic physical ideal). A humorous story, but like the confection Penguin craves, light in substance. Ages 37. (May) Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Petit Paul a toujours rêvé de passer sa vie en mer. Aussi, lorsque les rangs de la Marine lui sont refusés en raison de sa petite taille, le jeune homme se tourne vers la piraterie et se fait engager à bord du Calmar rouillé. Ne manifestant aucune prédisposition pour le pillage, le maniement de l''épée ou l''interprétation des cartes au trésor, Petit Paul fait cependant montre d''un talent indéniable pour le nettoyage et les chants de matelot. C''est donc en fredonnant qu''il entreprend de gagner l''estime de ses confrères en rendant le bateau plus accueillant. Or, les fleurs, les cadres et les hamacs dont il égaie les ponts ne lui attirent que les moqueries. Au même titre que le tatouage de lapin mauve qu''il se fait graver sur le bras dans l''espoir de se donner un air de dur à cuire! Convaincus qu''il n''y a rien à tirer de lui, les pirates le jettent à la mer. Ils ne tardent toutefois pas à réviser leur jugement et à admettre que Petit Paul est un véritable trésor dont ils ont bien besoin à bord ... [SDM].

Il est intrpide et casse-cou. Il va l o aucun autre chat n''est jamais all! (Mme s''il n''a, en ralit, jamais mis le nez dehors.) Basile est un chat de l''espace; du moins, c''est ce qu''il croit. En vrit, il n''a jamais quitt la station spatiale familiale. Sa mission consiste s''envoler un jour dans l''espace (aller dehors), explorer des lieux inconnus (la cour arrire) et combattre les extraterrestres (les insectes). Tout en protgeant les humains contre les envahisseurs venus de l''espace, Basile apprend construire un vaisseau spatial et s''entrane voyager dans l''espace pour explorer les galaxies. Mais l''entranement est diffi cile et provoque souvent... des boules de poils.

See below for English description. La suite des aventures incroyablement drôles de Basile, le chat de l''espace! Lorsque ses humains ramènent à la maison une petite chatte abandonnée, Mimi, Basile est complètement déboussolé. Il compte bien observer de près cette intruse, et découvrir ses points faibles pour ensuite l''éjecter très loin de sa station spatiale. Seulement voilà, quelle n''est pas sa surprise lorsqu''il découvre qu''il s''agit de Capitaine Mimi, un officier supérieur chargé de l''évaluer! A continuation of the hilarious and exciting antics of Binky, the Space Cat! When his humans bring home a foster cat by the name of Mimi, Binky is distraught. He is determined to learn more about this new intruder in the hopes of discovering her weaknesses and turfing her from his space station. However, Binky is shocked when he discovers that, gasp, she''s actually capitaine Mimi, a superior space cat officer sent to evaluate him! Binky must prove that he is still a Space Cat extraordinaire. Will he get his chance when the aliens launch an attack on the space station? Original title: A Binky Adventure #3: Binky Under Pressure

C''est l''histoire d''une jeune fille inventive et de son meilleur ami au monde, son chien! Un jour, la jeune fille décide de faire quelque chose de grandiose. Elle bricole et donne des coups de marteau et crée chose après chose. Mais aucune de ses créations n''est grandiose... Elle devient de plus en plus en colère, jusqu''à ce qu''elle explose! Son chien lui propose alors d''aller se promener. Lorsqu''elle revient, calmée, elle se rend compte que certaines parties de certaines de ses créations ne sont pas mal du tout! Cette histoire créative et drôle rappelle subtilement qu''il faut toujours persévérer pour atteindre son objectif. This is a story about an inventive girl and her best friend in the whole wild world -- her dog. One day, the girl decides that she is going to make the most magnificent thing. She tinkers and hammers and creates thing after thing after thing. But none of the things are magnificent... She gets angrier and angrier until she explodes! Her dog suggests a walk and as she cools off, she notices that some parts of some of the things are actually quite good! This creative and funny story is a subtle reminder to try, try, and try again until you are satisfied that you achieved your goal. Original Title:The Most Magnificent Thing

Lulù è una bambina coraggiosa, così coraggiosa che può fare qualsiasi cosa! O meglio, lo era finchè i suoi amici non decidono di arrampicarsi su un albero. Lulù non si è mai arrampicata su di un albero fino ad ora e pensa di non esserne capace. Ma quando resta a corto di scuse, deve affrontare la realtà: Lulù avrà il coraggio di PROVARE? Un albo illustrato dedicato ai bambini che vogliono essere coraggiosi. Essere coraggiosi significa essere in grado di affrontare nuove esperienze, situazioni difficili o pericolose, e perseverare nella sfida anche quando si è frustrati o si ha paura. Quando i bambini hanno la possibilità di fare scelte coraggiose, riescono a sviluppare e potenziare sicurezza e autonomia.