From the Publisher
Stella’s little brother Sam is back in this charming picture book. Sam asks his big sister whether or not she is sleeping. "Yes," answers Stella. "Aren’t you?" But Sam can’t sleep: he misses his beloved and faithful dog, Fred. Where could he be? Sam knows that Fred is afraid of many things: the dark, the monster that lives in the closet, and the giant toad that lurks downstairs. Luckily, Stella is there to reassure Sam as they search everywhere. Gay’s delicate watercolors, full of whimsy and humor, bring Stella and Sam’s world to life.
Publishers Weekly
Stella's little brother, in a second book of his own, can't sleep without his dog, Fred, in Good Night, Sam by Marie-Louise Gay. Sam says that Fred is afraid of the dark, and of the monster in the closet, so sleepy Stella reassures him and helps him find his pooch. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
Marya Jansen-Gruber
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Children's Literature
It is night-time and a soft bluish light suffuses the room. Sam is having trouble going to sleep and he asks his sister "are you sleeping?" In her typical big sister sort of way Stella answers "Yes," and then "aren't you?" Thus begins another of Marie-Louise Gay's wonderful books, filled with delightful tongue-in-cheek humor. Sam cannot sleep because Fred is not there to sleep with him. He and the reluctant Stella discuss all the possible places where Fred could be and where Sam could find him. There is a problem, however. Sam informs Stella that Fred would never go to any of the places she suggests because they would scare him. It is quite obvious that these are places that make Sam afraid and not in fact, the illusive Fred. In the beautiful soft colors of a moonlit night, Gay's watercolor and pencil illustrations create the perfect backdrop for Sam and Stella's search for Fred. There is no doubt that this wonderful author and illustrator understands how children think, sympathizing with their fears and at the same time seeing the humor in their ways. If one looks carefully at the pictures, one soon realizes that Fred may not be that far away after all. 2003, Groundwood Books, Ages 4 up.
School Library Journal
PreS-Gr 1-In this cozy companion to Good Morning Sam (Groundwood, 2003), the wide-awake preschooler recruits his older sister, Stella, to help him find their missing dog so he can go to sleep. As Stella patiently accompanies him throughout the house, suggesting places the pet might be, alert readers will see the little hound hidden in each picture. The story touches on many fears young children have about the dark-monsters in the closet, menacing-looking furniture, noises from unknown sources-but it reassures with gentle humor and a steadfast sister. The wonderfully sketchy watercolor-and-pen drawings, neatly bordered in white, are drenched in blues with moonlit highlights. Gay's art strongly combines with the text to enhance the story line of loving siblings tackling a typical bedtime problem. A selection that's perfect for early readers as well as for one-on-one sharing with toddlers.-Marge Loch-Wouters, Menasha's Public Library, WI Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
Kirkus Reviews
Readers who love the Stella series will be glad to see that her brother Sam has his own second story. With covers tangled at the foot of his bed, Sam can’t sleep because Fred is missing. Stella is reluctant to leave the warm comfort of her bed and suggests that maybe Fred is hidden under the bed or outside, or even in the closet. Sam is ready for these possibilities, telling her that his puppy sneezes under the bed, is afraid of the dark, and won’t go into the closet with the monsters. Stella changes her tactic and offers techniques for getting to sleep, but finally realizes that sleep won’t be a possibility for either of them until Fred is found. Together they creep through the house, not noticing that Fred is actually everywhere that they look, just hidden. Perfecting the interaction of siblings as they try to go to sleep, Gay offers a rich text to accompany her swirling watercolor illustrations. Charming. (Picture book. 2-3)
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