Over Scheduled Andrew

Description

A hilarious look at a common issue many kids growing up in the smartphone-using, FOMO-riddled generation face: over-scheduling. Andrew loves putting on plays so he decides to join the drama club. Determined to make his performance the best it can be, he joins the debate club too to practice his public speaking. To help with coordination, he starts Dance and Karate. Then he's asked to play for the tennis team and edit the school newspaper. Suddenly Andrew doesn't have time for anything or anyone else, not even his best friend Edie.

Reviews

PRAISE FOR" Edie's Ensembles" "A heartwarming tale of self-discovery and friendship." - "Kirkus Reviews" ""Edie's Ensembles" is stunning, Spires' dynamic illustrations highlighting just the right details and featuring splendid bursts of colour. Edie and her classmates are all visually appealing, and her relationship with her best friend, Andrew, subverts gender expectations." - "Quill and Quire" ..". a vibrant tale of friendship and self-esteem, brimming with outrageous outfits and earnest characters. Kids will love the detail in Spires's digitally-rendered illustrations... "Edie's Ensembles" is a tale that will resonate with kids who like to dress up, and those who - like Edie - seek true connections." - "Readerly" PRAISE FOR "The Most Magnificent Thing" "Spires' understanding of the fragility and power of the artistic impulse mixes with expert pacing and subtle characterization for maximum delight."-- Starred Review, "Kirkus Reviews" "It's a useful description of the creative process, an affirmation of making rather than buying, and a model for girl engineers." -- "Publishers Weekly" "This is a solid choice with a great message that encourages kids not to quit in the face of disappointment but rather to change their perspective and start over." -- "School Library Journal" ..". Spires's buddy tale of overcoming obstacles and learning to manage expectations will likely find an appreciative audience, especially in a classroom setting." -- "Quill Quire" "In the end, it's precisely the kind of book we need for kids these days. Perfection is a myth. Banged up, beat up, good enough can sometimes be the best possible solution to a problem. A lesson for the 21st century children everywhere." -- Elizabeth Bird, SLJ.com

Author description

Ashley Spires, author and illustrator of numerous funny books for children including "The Most Magnificent Thing" and the Binky the Space Cat series, was born and raised in BC with eight cats and a dog. After spending some time living in Toronto and Saskatoon, she has returned to the BC life, living in Ladner with three cats, one dog and a man. When she is not running or bike riding or over-scheduling herself, she makes children's books, many of which have won numerous awards, including Ontario's Silver Birch Express, the Atlantic Province's Hackmatack, Saskatchewan's Shining Willow and BC's Chocolate Lily Award. Visit Ashley at her website www.ashleyspires.com or follow her on twitter: @ashleyspires The author lives in Delta, BC.