The Picture Book Buzz - Interview w/Ashley Spires and Review of The Most Magnificent Team
- Maria Marshall
- 6 days ago
- 9 min read
Ashley Spires is an author/illustrator of many books including the bestselling The Most Magnificent Thing and the Binky The Space Cat series, which is now an animated series on Treehouse, Netflix Canada and Peacock in the US.
She is a drinker of tea, eater of candy and lover of cats. 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.
Ashley is the author/illustrator of 21 books, including Small Saul (May 6, 2025), The Most Magnificent Maker's A to Z (2023), Burt the Beetle Lives Here! (2023), Burt the Beetle Doesn't Bite! (2021), The Most Magnificent Idea (2022), Fairy Science: Solid, Liquid, Gassy! (2020), Fairy Science (2019), The Thing Lou Couldn't Do (2017), The Most Magnificent Thing (2014), and Binky The Space Cat series.
Her newest picture book, The Most Magnificent Team, releases on May 6th.
Welcome Ashley, thank you so much for stopping by to talk about your newest book and your writing and illustration.
Tell us a little about yourself. (Where/when do you write and illustrate? How long have you been writing and illustrating? What is your favorite type of book to write or illustrate?)
I’ve been writing and illustrating full time for 16 years now. I work from home which is lovely but also wildly distracting at times since I live with five cats and one young energetic dog! I tend to work a lot later in the day after everyone is fed, walked, and finally tired. My favourite type of book to create varies. I love being able to switch between picture books, junior graphic novels and, in the case of the project I am currently working on, middle grade long format graphic novels. It means I never get bored!
That must be a very interesting and rewarding household. Who was your favorite author, illustrator, and/or your favorite book as a child?
He may be a problematic choice now, but Roald Dahl’s books showed me how humour can elevate a story and engage readers. The Twits and Revolting Rhymes were particularly inspiring. The dark humour and the goofy illustrations showed me just how incredible children’s books could truly be.
I believe that while Roald Dahl had numerous issues, children need the dark and macabre in literature (as well as the humor and light) to grow up empowered. What was your inspiration or spark of interest for The Most Magnificent Team?
The first book in the series dealt with the individual struggles that one has when trying to create something. But the creative process takes so many different forms and has many different challenges. After writing the second book in the series, which dealt with having a creative block, it just made sense to finish the trilogy with the other hurdle so many of us face: how to make something with someone else. As with the other books in the series, this story is something all ages can identify with, whether you are a seven-year-old assigned to a class project with a partner, or a working professional receiving edits from your co-worker. Learning the give and take of collaboration is a life skill we all need to master.
Collaboration can be the toughest skill to learn and master. Which comes first for you, the text or the illustrations?
Usually, I work through the text first. I like to know the arc of the story before I start to work on the illustrations. That said, I often work on character designs while I write the story so I can get a clearer sense of what my characters will look like while they experience the emotions of the story.
That sounds like a fun way to meld the writing and illustrating! What was the toughest or most challenging part of writing The Most Magnificent Team? What was the most fun?
I have always been careful not to name the main character in the Magnificent series in the hopes that all readers can see themselves in her, but by bringing another character into her orbit, it was tough to find a way to speak about two unnamed characters. Thankfully we landed on calling the Girl’s new creative partner the Neighbour so it all worked out. I always have the most fun writing illustration notes to my editor when I’m working on a draft. I’m lucky to have a job that allows me to note when the dog will urinate on things.
HA! That's funny. And an editor with a sense of humor, I imagine. Is there a spread of which you are especially proud? Or perhaps is your favorite spread?
Text and Image © Ashley Spires, 2025.
I love the spread when they’ve drawn the line between their work zones and they are grumpily dismissing each other with a “fine.” I delight in drawing irritated or grouchy characters so this was heaven.
Oh my goodness, you do a great job capturing the nasty glares. I especially love the accompanying glaring cat with flattened ears! And what was the hardest part of illustrating The Most Magnificent Team? What was the most fun?
The hardest part was perfecting the character design for the Neighbour. The colours in these books are bold, but used minimally, so I needed to land on a colour palette for the new character’s clothing that would complement the Girl but also stand out. The most fun was getting to add little easter eggs. My soulmate dog passed way just before I started work on this book, so I added him in one image then on the next page I added the puppy that I have now. It’s my way of keeping Gordon and Bruce together forever.
Thank you for sharing that special Easter egg. How long did it take from the first draft to publication for the text and illustrations of The Most Magnificent Team?
Book makers have to finish a book a good year before it is published and it takes 6-10 months to complete a picture book, so it was close to two years!
Having created multiple picture books, what was the most rewarding part of the publishing process for The Most Magnificent Team?
It’s fun to complete the picture book trilogy portion of the Magnificent universe. There is an A-Z out and we have more plans in the works, but I see this as the last of the stories that work through the trials and tribulations of the creative process. It’s great fun to see all three sitting together on my bookshelf!
Oh I imagine! Congratulations on creating this trilogy. What's something you want your readers to know about or take away from The Most Magnificent Team?
Often creative people think that making things should be a solo endeavour. But working with someone else and adjusting your ideas can so often improve your creation. It’s hard to hear when someone wants you to change something you’ve created, but I suggest, if you can, think about what they’ve said and take a big deep breath before you respond. Believe it or not, other people do have good ideas too!
Something all ages need to be reminded of. Want to give a shout-out to your other book releasing on May 6th too, Small Saul? How did the books end up being released on the same day?
Small Saul is an older book of mine that is having its soft cover release May 6th as well. Both books are being published by the marvelous Kids Can Press, so I suspect it was about ease of shipping! Saul is one of those books that I’m very proud of and I’m so glad that it’s continuing out in a new format.
That's fun. Are there any new projects you are working on now that you can share a tidbit with us?
I’m currently in the final stages of my first middle grade long format graphic novel. This 200-page comic is roughly autobiographical but set in a world of mythological creatures. Goth Unicorn will release in Fall of 2026. I am also in the early stages of writing the third book in the Burt The Beetle series, which is a goofy but factual junior graphic novel about the marvels of the bug world.
These sound intriguing. Can't wait to see them when they are done. Last question, what is your favorite National Park or Forest, regional park, or city park (anywhere in the world)? Or the one you’re longing to visit. Why?
I live thirty minutes south of Vancouver BC, so I am privileged to live in one of the most beautiful natural environments in the world. Boundary Bay Provincial Park is home to my heart. My parents live on that beach (and I did in my late teens as well when I was still living at home) and I would walk/bike ride/jog through there daily. It’s the place that made me fall in love with the outdoors. It has beaches, trees, frogs, every bird you can imagine, bunnies and a view of Mt. Baker in Washington that will take your breath away.
Thank you, Ashley, for stopping by to share with us your newest picture book.
To find out more about Ashley Spires, or to contact her:
Website: https://www.ashleyspires.com/
Instagram: http://instagram.com/ashleyspires/?hl=en
Review of The Most Magnificent Team
Combining STEM elements of girls doing engineering with SEL facets of learning to control your own emotions and understanding others' work styles and needs, Ashley Spires creates a magnificent foray into teamwork and collaboration.
The Most Magnificent Team
Author/illustrator: Ashley Spires
Publisher: Kids Can Press (May 6, 2025)
Ages: 4-8
Fiction
Themes:
Creativity, cooperation, collaboration, and friendship.
Synopsis:
New for fans of the runaway bestseller The Most Magnificent Thing, a story about the ups and downs of working with others.
A girl and her dog are ready to make something. She gathers her supplies, and they head to her favorite workspace – only to discover that her neighbor, along with her cat, got there first! Hmm, well, maybe they could make something together? Magnificent idea! So the girl starts cutting, hammering and gluing, while her neighbor considers, measures and calculates. Her neighbor believes in always measuring twice and cutting once, but the girl thinks that takes way too long. Tensions start to rise as it becomes clear they have very different styles of working. And even different ideas about exactly what they’re making! Can they ever work things out as a team?
Blending humor with empathy to strike just the right note, Ashley Spires perfectly captures the emotional ups and downs of working with others in this celebration of collaboration in the creative process. As the girl perseveres through technical and emotional challenges, she learns that mistakes don’t mean failure and setbacks are just part of the route to success. This amusing and inspiring picture book is part of the Most Magnificent franchise that includes books, a TV series, and an award-winning short film. The series is a favorite among educators because of its growth mindset focus, and this title highlights another important theme in the classroom: teamwork.
Opening Lines:
This is a girl and her best friend in the whole
world. They do all kinds of things together. They stroll.
They help.
The snack.
And they dream of things to build.
What I loved about this book:
The third book in the Most Magnificent series tackles teamwork. Ashley Spires' digital illustrations are such a fun combination of colorful characters against black and white backgrounds - making the image almost feel collaged - and full page or spot illustrations against yellow squares.
Text and Image © Ashley Spires, 2025.
In this book, after a brief reminder of the girl and her best friend, we follow her as she totes building supplies to her "out-of-the-way workspace," to bring her crafty idea to life.
Text and Image © Ashley Spires, 2025.
Except that "SOMEONE ELSE got there FIRST." After a tentative greeting on the front walk between their houses, the two girls excitedly discover they are both makers and agree to collaborate on the girl's idea. However, as the neighbor started changing the plan, the girl pondered that "She didn't know that working with someone else would involve changes." But the neighbor's ideas are - interesting and dog approved - so, they divide the work and get started.
Immediately, their personalities come into play. The girl jumps right into action, while the neighbor "considers, measures, and calculates." I love the expressions on the girl's dog and the neighbor's cat, as the girls try to jointly build a project. At times mimicking their owners, while at others looking bemused and curious. While the neighbor recites the mantra "measure twice and cut once," the girl dives back into action. Things go from frustration. . . to bad . . . to explosive, as each is sure they know the best way to make the project, resulting in a standoff on the only page with a different background color (an angry reddish-orange) and a blue chalk "boundary" line.
Text and Image © Ashley Spires, 2025.
So, they each set to work on their own best ideas. But when individual frustrations lead to an inadvertant discovery, they take a stab at truly collaborating. The book does a great job of highlighting ways to cooperate and collaborate. As well as modeling methods to work through conflicts, emotions, and hurt feelings, while preserving a friendship or partnership. It's a great combination of STEM and SEL. A perfect third book in this makers series with a truly magnificent creation at the end.
Resources:
Using cardboard boxes and other recyclable items, make your own magnificent creation for your pet (of special stuffed friend).
why did the girl and the neighbor have such a hard time working together? what did they learn about each other? When did you have a hard time cooperating? How did you solve it?
pair this with Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty, Be a Maker by Katey Howes, illustrated by Elizabet Vuković, and Boxitects by Kim Smith.
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