Books with author Marie Louise Elias

Charlie can't wait for school to be over. But he's wondering what particular vacation ordeal his parents have lined up for the family this summer. Canoeing with alligators in Okefenokee? Getting caught in the middle of a revolutionary shootout in Mexico? Or perhaps another trip abroad? Turns out, this summer the family is staying put, in their hometown - Montreal, Canada. A ''staycation,'' his parents call it. Charlie is doubtful at first but, ever resourceful, decides that there may be adventures and profit to be had in his own neighborhood. And there are. A campout in the backyard brings him in contact with more than one kind of wildlife, a sudden summer storm floods the expressway, various pet - sitting gigs turn almost - disastrous, and a baseball game goes awry when various intruders storm the infield - from would - be medieval knights and an over - eager ice - cream vendor to a fly - ball - catching Doberman. Then of course there's looking after his little brother, Max, who is always a catastrophe - in - the - making.

In their third adventure, Stella and her little brother, Sam, explore the magic of the forest. Butterflies, snakes, rocks and sheep provide fuel for Sam's curious little-brother questions and Stella's confident big-sister answers. "Stella, Fairy of the Forest is gently humorous and perfectly captures the playful yet trusting relationship between Stella and Sam. Marie-Louise Gay's exquisite, joy-filled watercolor illustrations bring the wonder of the forest alive as the duo journey towards their very own fort where Sam resolves to stay forever.

Winter was never so magical as in this marvelous book about Stella and Sam discovering a familiar landscape transformed by a heavy snowfall. Sam makes his very first snowstorm, and, as usual, he has lots of questions: Where do snowmen sleep? Can you eat a snowflake? Do snow angels sing? Older and bolder, Stella knows all the answers, and she delights in showing Sam the many pleasures of a beautiful winter’s day. Young readers are enchanted as Stella and Sam build a gigantic snowman, then they go skating and sledding and make beautiful snow angels in a fluffy, white, magical, and wondrous world.

Stella's little brother Sam stars in this delightful new picture book by Marie-Louise Gay. When Stella offers to help Sam get dressed, he protests that he can do it by himself. Naturally, Sam takes a roundabout route to donning his duds and, as usual, Stella thinks she knows best. But this time, Sam has the last laugh. Vibrant and humorous, the author's stories and pictures explore the endearing, intimate scenes of early childhood.

In the first new Stella book in four years — in a series that has sold two million copies in ten languages — Stella introduces little brother Sam to the pleasures of reading. Sam is as busy and worried as ever, and Stella almost always has her nose in a book these days, but she finds time to help him out, while sharing her new pastime with contagious enthusiasm.Sam has gathered a wagonload of branches to build a doghouse for Fred, and he wonders if the book Stella is reading tells you how to make one. It doesn't (although it is very funny), but Stella is more than willing to give Sam a hand. As soon as the doghouse is built though, Sam worries that a wolf might come along and blow it down. Stella breezily banishes his fears, suggesting a picnic at Lily Pond. Stella cools her feet in the water, reading a story, while Sam tries to catch a frog. Are there frogs in Stella's book, he wonders. No, Stella tells him, but there is a toad wearing a velvet jacket…With her characteristically light touch, Marie-Louise Gay imparts the pleasures and importance of reading to her young audience, whether it be humor, fiction, nonfiction or poetry. Her detailed, beautifully rendered and often-amusing watercolor illustrations (spot the tiny bunny reading a book!) show yet again that Marie-Louise Gay is one of the very best artists creating picture books today.