From the Publisher
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.
Publishers Weekly
The younger brother of the heroine in Stella, Star of the Sea, and other titles by Marie-Louise Gay, gets his own moment in the sun in Good Morning, Sam. Comical pictures of Sam attempting to get dressed by himself or to find his own underwear escalate until big sister Stella comes to the rescue.
Marya Jansen-Gruber
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Children's Literature
Sam is getting up and has decided that he is old enough to get dressed by himself. Luckily for him he has the most understanding of sisters because he encounters some unforeseen problems. First his head seems to have grown in the night when he tries to take off his pajama top. Stella helps him pull it off. Then someone turns off the lights when he tries to put on his sweater. Stella helps him pull his sweater over his eyes so he can see again. Back and forth the two children carry on a conversation as Sam attempts this mammoth task. "Did you look in the closet?" asked Stella. /"Help!" cried Sam. "I can't get out." Who would have thought getting dressed could be so complicated. There are so many things to remember, so many items of clothing to put on. With great sensitivity and gentle humor Marie-Louise Gay portrays the loving relationship between a brother and sister, the elder helping the younger and yet, at the end of it all, the younger having the last laugh. With detailed and soft, multimedia, watercolor illustrations and great understanding of childhood, Marie-Louise Gay has created yet another charming Stella and Sam book, which will delight devotees of her previous three books. Readers may want to look for her other Sam and Stella books: Stella Fairy of the Forest," "Stella: Queen of the Snow" and "Stella: Star of the Sea." 2003, Groundwood Books,
School Library Journal
PreS-This book perfectly balances a preschooler's desire to get dressed all by himself with his need for help. Big sister Stella, with her flaming orange hair and skinny limbs, is the ever-patient helper. She hurries young Sam along while still giving him the space he needs to progress from underwear and shirt to socks and shoes. They play hide-and-seek games, "Sam, are you in there?" and find the lost sock and shoes, with their sidekick dog, all pudgy and round, the thieving culprit every time. Finally, when Sam proudly declares, "I'm ready! And I did it all by myself!" readers will delight both in his exaggerated claim and the fact that he has forgotten his pants. When the two siblings finally exit the house, this punch line is extended as Stella, who has been distracted by her responsibilities, has neglected to get dressed altogether. Gay excels at creating a true-to-life glimpse at one small segment of a young child's day. The whole presentation is understated from the minimal text full of subtle repetition and mundane poignancy to the diminished size of the book itself with square pages and lots of white space. Soft washed watercolors, which are expertly defined by a flowing touch of pencil, extend the playful action. They create sweet, enduring characters who are bound to strike a familiar chord with readers.-Martha Topol, Traverse Area District Library, Traverse City, MI Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
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