Grimm Kiadó- Stella, the star of the sea Marie-Louise Gay is one of Canada’s most celebrated authors and illustrators of several books children ranging from pre-K to twelve. Her most valuable contributions are the Stella and Sam books, of which she has so far published seven.
The versatility of this series shows in the age-range in which they are popular: preschool to Grade 2. Sam, the preschooler, will make the youngest readers feel at home, while they can look up to Stella, the big sister, who is the hero of the older readers.
 Children as well as parents will adore the illustrations. The lovely pencil and watercolor and pencil works of art are neither loud nor insipid - the extremes that many children's book illustrators are falling into these days. Gay’s soft pastels are boldly enlivened by flaming colors, such as Stella’s red hair and an object here and there.
Testimony to her talent are her many awards, and her sought-after collaboration as an illustrator (with James Howe on the Houndslay and Catina series, and with Louise Leblanc and Sara Cummins on the Maddie First Novel series).
Sam, the younger brother, is a charming and inquisitive, somewhat timid three-or four-year-old. Stella, his big sister, is his teacher and guide. Their exchange is funny and sweet without being clichéd or syrupy.
Stella is the star of the series. Her sense of adventure and spirit are physically expressed by her flaming red hair. She is imaginative and creative, and knowledgeable in a not-far-from-the-truth kind of way. She is remarkable especially for her love of nature and beauty (her mantra is: “Isn’t it beautiful, Sam?”). She is the wise one, and certainly wise beyond her age, but she retains enough naivety to be believable as a child. And is never preachy or pedantic.
Part of the charm of the series is that each book is set in its own season. Stella, Queen of the Snow is obviously a winter tale. Stella, Star of the Sea plunges the reader into a summer’s day at the seaside. In Good Morning, Sam several objects in the house (like twigs and leaves) reveal that it is Spring. In What Are You Doing, Sam? Stella’s art activities and a peak through the window disclose that it is Fall outside.
That the weather is rainy and blustery in that last book accounts for why the children are uncharacteristically spending the day inside. Indeed, most of the stories are set outside, in nature.
Nature as seen through Sam’s eyes is big and rather intimidating, and much of his incessant questioning is to allay his anxiety about swimming in the ocean, or about Stella’s plan to camp in the forest at night. Stella’s advise and guidance ease Sam’s fears and gently push him to go beyond his limit. Her factual answers to Sam’s questions are imaginative, funny, and sometimes right on the money, and she delivers them with authority.
“Stella, can dogs read?” asked Sam.
“Yes,” said Stella. “But they need glasses.”
On the next page, Fred, Sam’s dog, has procured those glasses, and Sam is teaching him to read. They turn out to be Grandma’s glasses.
Grandma is the elusive and exclusive other person in the series. Though parents are obviously around (who, after all, stocked the house with books, paints, furniture and food?), they make no appearance. When Sam is up to no good (by adult standards), messing up the kitchen or painting on the walls, the child to whom this book is being read is spared all the usual worries about rules and reprimands.
The lovely outcome is two children (Stella and Sam) and many more (the little readers of these books), living lives (either really or vicariously) imagining, playing and creating as freely as just the laws of physics will let them. Stella seems to be the only one looking after Sam, and though more mature, she is also sympathetic because she is, after all, herself a child. No parent points a finger at the painted wall, the mess in the kitchen. No adult sets Stella straight on some of her more inventive explanations.
This is the ultimate strength of Gay’s writing: it is up to you, the reading parent, to adapt these books to your individual child’s sensibilities. It won’t hurt to add a caution, here and there, but it is not necessary. Indeed an unreserved immersion in these stories will bring a smile to both you and your child.
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