Academy Award winner Whoopi Goldberg takes on the role of “Narrator” in Nelvana’s upcoming short-film adaption of The Most Magnificent Thing (Kids Can Press), the 2014 bestselling picture book by Delta, B.C.–author/illustrator Ashley Spires. The book, about a girl and her dog and their quest to make something truly spectacular, has been published in 14 languages and was featured on several best books of 2014 lists.

Rounding out the voice cast is Canadian stage and screen star Alison Pill (The Newsroom), who will play the “Mom” character, Lilly Bartlam (The Handmaid’s Tale) as “the determined girl,” and Tony Daniels (Atomic Puppet) in the role of her canine best friend.

“Bursting with talent on screen and off, from an award-winning cast to our acclaimed animation director Arna Selznick, we produced this film much like the story’s lead character, determined to create a magnificent masterpiece that will delight audiences around the world,” says Scott Dyer, president of Nelvana (the animation studio behind the award-winning series Babar and Franklin).

The CGI-film is currently wrapping production and is set to debut at various film festivals in early 2019. From there it will roll out on Corus Entertainment’s kids networks in Canada.