Stella, Princess of the Sky by Marie-Louise Gay

From the Publisher

In this sweetly humorous book, Stella and her brother, Sam, 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's whimsical prose and enchanting illustrations capture the joys of young children making their first discoveries of the world around them.

Laura Ruttig - Children's Literature

Sam wonders about everything—from the color of the sky to whether or not the moon swims or fireflies burn. Fortunately, his big sister Stella is there to give him all the answers. In this whimsical and gently illustrated story, Sam and Stella explore the night sky, with Sam asking all the questions so his big sister can answer. Visited by bats, raccoons, owls, and fireflies, the tale inspires a sense of wonder in the beauty of the stars and in the nocturnal creatures around us. Gay's watercolor illustrations are charming, filled with soft colors and unexpected details, such as several adorable little bunnies that lurk on many of the pages. The pictures' details flow out of the frames, drawing the reader into the story. This book seems ideally suited for bedtime reading given its night-time theme, but it could also be great for classroom use, particularly as a way of addressing childish fears such as burning fireflies and scary bats. Either way, this amusing story's poetic language is clearly designed to be read-aloud. 2004, Groundwood Books/Douglas & McIntyre, Ages 3 to 7.

School Library Journal

K-Gr 2-With charm and whimsy, Stella and Sam are back, this time spending an evening outside watching daylight fade into dusk, then night. Sam is the quintessential preschooler-full of wondrous questions. Big sister Stella is the authority on their domain, effectively answering him and calming his fears. "`Why is [the sky] so red?' asked Sam. `Can't you see? It's wearing red pajamas.'" She points out a family of raccoons. "`Why are they wearing masks?' asked Sam. `Are they robbers?' `No, they're going to a costume party,' said Stella." The detailed illustrations effectively capture the deep blues, blacks, and grays of night, while also illuminating the siblings with pale azures, sage greens, and soft lavenders. This is a quiet star of a story that works well either as a group read-aloud or as a bedtime treasure to share one-on-one.-Lisa Gangemi Kropp, Middle Country Public Library, Centereach, NY Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

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