Books in Stella and Sol series

Stella and her little brother are spending the day at the sea. Stella has been to the sea before and knows all its secrets, but Sam has many questions. "Where do starfish come from? Does a catfish purr? Does a sea horse gallop?" Stella has an answer for them all. The only thing she isn’t sure of is whether Sam will ever come into the water. Evocative watercolors bring a diaphanous day at the beach alive in this perfect summer story. Gently humorous, the book also captures the relationship between an older sister and her baby brother — a responsibility that can be both lots of fun and very trying.

Stella’s little brother, Sam, wonders whether fairies are invisible. Stella assures him that she has seen hundreds of them and says that if she and Sam venture across the meadow and into the forest, they are likely to find some. So begins another adventure of Stella, the irrepressible redhead, and her slightly apprehensive little brother. But Sam surprises Stella and himself by having a few ideas of his own — ideas that ensure a wonderful end to a perfect day in the woods.

When Stella was small she thought she was a turtle, that trees could talk, and that words were like ants running off the pages of her books. She couldn’t tie her shoes, but she could survive a wild sandstorm. Marie-Louise Gay has gone back in time to answer the questions often asked by the children who read and love her Stella books. Although she didn’t know what she would find when she started to explore Stella’s childhood, she soon realized that when Stella was very small, she saw the world in her own unique way — with wonder, curiosity and the sense that everything is possible. And when Sam came along, what could be more natural than to try to pass this sense of wonder on to him? A story of a lovely, tiny Stella, whose world is full of small adventures and slivers of magic.

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.

When Stella’s brother, Sam, cries "Stella! Stella! Look! The sky is on fire!" the pair begin a new adventure exploring the wonders of the natural world. A vast, luminous sky, the sun, the stars, and the rising moon form the backdrop for their nocturnal expedition. As they encounter raccoons, fireflies, tree frogs, and bats, Sam wonders if the moon can swim, if the sun wears pajamas, or if he can catch shooting stars with his butterfly net. Stella, as always, has an answer for every question. Marie-Louise Gay delights readers once again with this whimsical, tender, and humorous book that captures perfectly the freshness of young children discovering the world.

In this lovely addition to Marie-Louise Gay’s renowned Stella series, 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.

In their third adventure, Stella and her little brother cross a field and a creek before spending the day in the forest. Butterflies, snakes, rocks, and sheep provide fuel for Sam’s curious-little-brother questions and Stella’s big-sister answers as they explore the outdoor world. Gay’s watercolors bring the forest alive as the two journey toward their very own fort where Sam resolves to stay forever. Marie-Louise Gay is a multiple-time winner of Canada’s Governor General’s Literary Award, Canada's Mr. Christie's Book Award, and others. “Gay’s illustrations, done primarily in watercolors with a touch of paper collage, are bright and have a whimsical touch.” — School Library Journal

Another adventure begins for Stella and her brother, Sam, as they explore the wonders of the natural world. A vast luminous sky, the sun, the stars and the rising moon form the backdrop for their nocturnal expedition. As they encounter raccoons, fireflies, tree frogs and bats, Sam wonders if the moon can swim, if the sun wears pajamas or if he can catch shooting stars with his butterfly net. Stella, as always, has an answer for every question.Marie-Louise Gay delights readers once again with this whimsical, tender and humorous book that captures perfectly the freshness of young children discovering the world.

Marie-Louise Gay’s beloved books about Stella’s little brother, Sam, are all here in this vibrant and humorous collection. Children all around the world have read about Stella and Sam, and their gently funny, nurturing relationship. Stella has a creative and whimsical answer for all of Sam’s many questions, and their explorations of the world are sweet, silly, and often poignant. This book brings together all three books about Stella’s little brother — Good Morning, Sam; Good Night, Sam; and What Are You Doing, Sam? — for the first time. It also features an introduction from Stella herself and fun extras for young readers.

Stella and her little brother are spending the day at the beach. Stella has been to the seashore before and knows all its secrets, but Sam still has a lot of questions. Does a moonsnail come from the moon? What can you buy with a sand dollar? Stella has answers for them all. The only thing she's not sure about is whether Sam will ever come into the water. Through exquisite watercolors, this book brings to life a perfect summer day and the sweet and funny relationship between an older sister and her baby brother.