The Most Magnificent Thing

Title:  The Most Magnificent Thing

Author:  Ashely Spires
Illustrator:  Ashley Spires
Publisher: Kids Can Press © 2014
ISBN: 978-1-55453-704-4
Grade Level: PreK-3
Book Review:  One day this regular girl and her canine assistant decide to make "the most magnificent thing."  Despite  a perfectly clear vision of what it is and how it should work, this regular girl encounters some serious frustration as she seeks to actualize her vision. Perseverance pays off, but as important as her final product, is what she learns about herself along the way.
Systems Thinking Connections:
Habits: This book could be subtitled, checks results and changes actions if needed:  "successive approximation."  In a crystal clear, yet understated way, Spires shares with her readers the process of creating something magnificent.  In the true spirit of "successive approximation" Spires writes, "There are some parts of the WRONG things that are really quite RIGHT." In a way that is very accessible to young children this book shows the importance of failing fast, learning from your mistakes and moving forward to create something even better than what you may have imagined.
Tools:  Graphing this regular girl's frustration would be an awesome way to introduce  behavior-over-time graphs or to reinforce the tool for students who are already familiar with it. To follow up on their BOTGs around the story students could identify their own experience of frustration and use a BOTG to tell the story of their level of frustration and what steps they took to manage it.  This book also lends itself to use with a goal gap loop.  The protagonist in the story has a clear vision of what she wants to create, but there is a gap.  She applies different strategies to bring her closer to her goal.  Her story could be retold using a goal gap loop, increasing comprehension of the text while at the same time helping students be more mindful of using the goal gap to create their own "most magnificent thing" whatever it may be.

Princesses Wear Pants

Title:  Princesses Wear Pants

Author:  Savannah Guthrie and Allison Oppenheim
Illustrator:  Eva Byrne
Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers © 2017

ISBN: 978-1-4197-2603-3
Grade Level: PreK-2
Book Review:  In the Pineapple Kingdom Princess Penelope Pineapple plays a very important role.  While she can dazzle in her gowns and crowns, some of her most important work is done when she dons her pants.  From exercise, to gardening, to hosting the science fair, there are just some times when even a princess needs to wear pants. Guthrie and Oppenheim tell an engaging tale of a modern princess who sets an example for what a competent, confident girl can do.
Systems Thinking Connections:
Habits:  The title of the book, Princesses Wear Pants, suggests that the text offers a classic story for challenging mental models and it doesn't disappoint.  It creates a believable context for exploring these important issues. It would also be a good text for looking at the Habit, surface and test assumptions.  While Penelope is comfortable in her pants, not all her subjects share her perspective, but in the end her level-headed competence changes the point of view of some of her naysayers.

Tools:  Can you tell a reinforcing story about what contributes to competence? Keeping in mind that you must be able to talk through a loop more than one time, so you can't just say that the right outfit leads to  princess success, but Princess Penelope definitely portrays some attitudes that contribute to her sense of confidence and accomplishment.