CANR
WORK TITLE: Walking Trees
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://www.marielouisegay.com/
CITY: Montreal
STATE:
COUNTRY: Canada
NATIONALITY: Canadian
LAST VOLUME: SATA 407
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born June 17, 1952, in Québec City, Québec, Canada; daughter of Bernard Roland Gay (a sales representative) and Colette Fontaine (a homemaker); married, c. 1972 (husband died, c. 1975); married David Toby Homel (an author and translator); children: (with Homel) Gabriel Reubens, Jacob Paul.
EDUCATION:Attended Institute of Graphic Arts of Montréal, 1970-71; Montréal Museum of Fine Arts School, graduated, 1973; attended Academy of Art College (San Francisco, CA), 1977-79.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Author, illustrator, graphic artist, cartoonist, animator, sculptor, and set, costume, and clothing designer. Actress on Canadian television and in local theater, c. 1961-62. Editorial illustrator for Canadian and American periodicals, 1972-87; graphic designer for magazines Perspectives and Decormag, 1974-76; La Courte Echelle (publishing company), Montréal, Québec, Canada, art director, 1980; University of Québec, Montréal, lecturer in illustration, beginning 1981.
Visiting lecturer in illustration, Ahuntsic College, 1984-85. Speaker at workshops and conferences at schools and libraries. Designer of children’s clothing, beginning 1985; set designer for animated film La Boite, 1989. Exhibitions: Work exhibited in group and solo shows throughout Canada as well as internationally, including at Humor Pavillion, Montréal, Québec, Canada, 1974; Montréal Museum of Contemporary Art, 1979; Galerie 858, Montréal, 1980; Communication-Jeunnesse, Montréal, 1981-86; Toronto Art Directors’ Club Show, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 1982-83; Galerie Articule and Centre Culturel NDG, Montréal, 1984-86; Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 1988-90; Mable’s Fable’s, Toronto, 1990; and Ceperley House Gallery, Burnaby, British Columbia, 2000.
MEMBER:Canadian Children’s Book Center, IBBY Canada.
AWARDS:Claude Neon National Billboard Award, 1972; Western Art Directors Club Award, San Francisco, 1978; Society of Illustrators Award, 1979; Toronto Art Directors Club Award, 1983, 1985; Alvine-Belisle Prize for best French-Canadian children’s book of the year, 1984, for La soeur de Robert; Canada Council Children’s Literature Prize for illustration, 1984, for “Drôle d’école” series (French-Canadian prize) and for Lizzy’s Lion (English-Canadian prize); Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator’s Award, Canadian Association of Children’s Librarians, 1986, for Moonbeam on a Cat’s Ear; Governor General’s Literary Award for Children’s Literature—Illustration, 1987, and Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator’s Award, 1988, both for Rainy Day Magic; White Ravens Award selection, International Youth Library (Munich), 1993, for Mademoiselle Moon; Ehrenliste zum Osterreichiscchen Kinder-und Jugenbuchpreis, 1995, for Fat Charlie’s Circus (German edition); Mr. Christie’s Book Award, and Storytelling World Awards Honor designation, both 1997, both for The Fabulous Song; second prize, Alcuin Citations, Design Citations for Canadian Publishers, 1999, for Dreams Are More Real than Bathtubs; Governor General’s Literary Award (Children’s Literature—Illustration), 2000, for Yuck: A Love Story; Ruth Schwartz Children’s Book Award, Ontario Arts Council, Mr. Christie’s Book Award, and IBBY Honours List designation, all 2000, all for Stella, Star of the Sea; Governor General’s Literary Award Children’s Literature—Illustration, 2000, for Yuck: A Love Story; Elizabeth Mazrik-Cleaver Award, and Talking Book of the Year Award, both 2001, both for Stella, Queen of the Snow; named Children’s Illustrator of the Year, Canadian Booksellers Association, 2000; Vicky Metcalf Award, 2005.
WRITINGS
Graphic designer of Crapauds et autres animaux by Francine Tougas and others, 1981. Author and designer of puppet plays Bonne fête Willy, 1989; Qui a peur de Loulou?, 1993; and Le jardin de Babel, 1999, all produced in Québec, Canada.
SIDELIGHTS
Well known in both French- and English-speaking Canada as an author and artist, Marie-Louise Gay is among her country’s most prominent contemporary creators of children’s literature. She directs her picture books—humorous, action-filled works as well as contemplative volumes—to youngsters ranging from preschool to the early primary grades. She has also provided the art for picture books and stories by writers as Dennis Lee, Tim Wynne-Jones, Don Gillmor, Susan Musgrave, James Howe, and Marilyn Singer, and has collaborated with writer Louise Leblanc on the popular “Sophie/Maddie” series. Introduced in books that highlight their author’s originality, imagination, and an understanding of children and their world, Gay’s young protagonists launch themselves into amazing adventures that transport them to such places as the sky or under the sea before they return home safely. While books such as Caramba! and her “Stella and Sam” picture books celebrate children’s natural joyfulness and love of exuberant, often chaotic, play, other works by Gay depict the less-sunny parts of life, such as embarrassment, terror, loneliness, and the need for emotional support. Through both imaginative play and exploration of the world around them, her characters ultimately confront their fears and experience personal growth in engaging stories relayed in simple but lively prose and verse.
In her art Gay uses watercolor, pen and ink, colored pencil, and collage, and she renders her characters in a cartoon-like style that stresses their large bodies, broad faces, tiny limbs, and spiked hair. In addition to the energy, freshness, and colorful, expressionistic quality of her art, she is also noted for her inventive page designs and distinctive use of perspective. Although sometimes faulted for creating books without morals or tales featuring questionable adult role models, Gay’s works captivate young readers. Dubbing the author/illustrator “the mistress of ‘what-if’” in a Canadian Children’s Literature review, Joan McGrath declared that Gay’s “perfect recall of a child’s free-ranging, fresh-eyed delight coupled with the adult artistry to bring joyful fantasy to life … makes her work a nursery treasure.” According to Quill & Quire contributor Janet McNaughton, “at her best, … Gay captures the whimsical side of childhood in a way that few author/ illustrators can,” and a St. James Guide to Children’s Writers essayist christened the author/illustrator “one of Canada’s foremost interpreters of young children’s perceptions of important real and imaginary elements of their lives.”
Born in French-speaking Québec City, Québec, Gay moved with her family to Oakville, Ontario, at age five and there taught herself to read in English. “That was the beginning of my addiction to reading,” she later admitted in a Something about the Author Autobiography Series (SAAS) essay. “With books, I could find friends wherever we went.” At age seven the family moved again, this time to a more rural home in West Vancouver, British Columbia. During trips to the public library, Gay stocked up on books, fueling a passion for reading she has retained as an adult. Gay admitted to Marie Davis in Canadian Children’s Literature: “I am an avid reader—I need a fix. I have to read all the time. And I have been like that since I was five years old.”
While living in Vancouver, Gay became involved in the amateur theatrical group where her parents both appeared. Starting with small stage roles, she eventually acted in the children’s television series Tidewater Tramp and Friday Morning Series. However, as she recalled in SAAS, “after a heady year of stardom, our family moved again, back to Montréal. A promising career bit the dust.”
In Montréal, Gay attended a French private school, but she was not happy there. During her teens, reading became a refuge, particularly science fiction by authors such as C.S. Lewis, Ursula K. Le Guin, and John Wyndham, as well as the novels of Colette, Lawrence Durrell, and Gabriel García Márquez. Gay also became interested in art, inspired “by a type of literature which came mainly from France and Belgium: la bande dessinée, illustrated albums, astonishing because of their innovative visual impact and highly humorous and intellectual content. I pored over these drawings and realize now that they had an enormous influence on my style of illustration.” In school, she began to cover her notebooks with “all manner of strange cartoon creatures flying in between math equations, weaving in and out of grammar rules, skiing down equilateral triangles, or squashing chemistry problems to death.” Sent to art school by her perceptive mother, Gay “stepped into another world. A world that suited me.”
After leaving high school, Gay attended the Institute of Graphic Arts of Montréal, where she studied typography, perspective, and art history. Transferring to the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts School, she discovered animation, drawing and painting a variety of creatures that starred in her animated films. A year later she successfully began marketing her art to magazines in order to finance her filmmaking and her school tuition. In the process, Gay explained, “I … learned two very important things: to be very critical about my own work and not to be afraid of throwing a drawing away and redoing it.” At age twenty she married a fellow artist, but he died three years later. Leaving Montréal, she moved to San Francisco and enrolled at the Academy of Arts College, where she studied anatomy, life drawing, portraits, and illustration techniques. During her three years there, Gay worked sporadically as an editorial illustrator, and she also illustrated textbooks.
Self-Illustrated Picture Books
Returning to Montréal after graduation, Gay learned the ins and outs of children’s-book publishing through her job as art director and production manager of La Courte Echelle. Her first illustration work came when she provided art for three French-language children’s books by Bernard Gauthier. In 1981 she produced her first original self-illustrated book, De zéro à minuit. Her second, the picture book La soeur de Robert, won the Alvine-Belisle Prize for best French-Canadian picture book, while her “Drôle d’école” board-book series won the Canada Council Children’s Literature Prize in illustration. Gay was propelled to national attention through her work for Lizzy’s Lion, a picture book in verse by well-known Canadian poet Dennis Lee. Because of the story, in which a hungry lion gobbles up a burglar, the work became one of the most censored books in Canada. Reviewing Lizzy’s Lion in Books in Canada, Mary Ainslie Smith called Gay’s illustrations “funny and eccentric,” while John Bemrose concluded in Maclean’s that her “mischievously exaggerated” interpretation of Lee’s story “prevent sober judgment from spoiling the fun.” Gay’s illustrations for Lizzy’s Lion earned the Canada Council Literature Prize in illustration for an English-language book in 1984, the same year she won for her “Drôle d’école” series. Her joint win of this coveted prize made her the first author to receive this award in both the French-language and English-language categories. Most of Gay’s books are now published in both English and French editions.
Among Gay’s other award-winning original picture books are Moonbeam on a Cat’s Ear, Rainy Day Magic, Caramba!, and On My Island. In the rhyming text of Moonbeam on a Cat’s Ear Rose and Toby Toby lasso and ride the moon before being driven back inside by a thunderstorm. A popular story, the book was reissued in 1986, winning Gay the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator’s Award. A reviewer in Children’s Book News called the original version “a lovely book” possessing “all the elements of a classic picturebook,” while Books in Canada reviewer Rhea Tregebov cited the interplay of layout, text, and illustrations in the revision as “not merely coherent, but brilliant,” and described Gay’s text as “marvelous poetry” in which the “use of rhyme and metre is so effective that the words have an inevitable feel to them, a hypnotic effect that only such poets as Dennis Lee and Gay seem able to create.”
In the award-winning Rainy Day Magic, friends Victor and Joey use their imaginations to transport themselves to the jungle and under the sea after being sent to the basement by their parents as punishment for being too loud. When the children are called back upstairs for dinner, Joey sports a mauve starfish in her hair, a souvenir of her aquatic adventure. Another story that brings to life the travails of childhood unfolds in Caramba!, as a small kitten learns to accept his limitations as well as his differences. While older cats can fly—at least their graceful leaps look that way to little Caramba—the young kitten’s efforts to mimic their actions only find him face down and embarrassed. Ultimately the support of his best friend, Portia the Pig, and an accidental dunking reveals Caramba’s special ability: unlike most kitties, he is unafraid of water. Calling Gay’s feline protagonist “a charmingly self-deprecating cutie,” a Publishers Weekly reviewer also praised the author/illustrator’s “dreamy, gossamer watercolors,” while Resource Links critic Lori Lavalle predicted that, with its “imaginative and unpredictable storyline,” Caramba! “is sure to become a classic.”
The title character in Fat Charlie’s Circus wants to be a famous circus performer when he grows up. The ambitious and resourceful lad is soon practicing stunts at home: lion-taming with his cat, walking the clothesline for a tightrope, training his goldfish to jump through a hoop, and juggling dinner plates. Unfortunately, the chaos resulting from the boy’s practice causes Fat Charlie’s parents to become upset. Hoping to assure them that his training is not in vain, Charlie decides to perform a diving act: he intends to jump from the tallest tree in his backyard into a tiny glass of water. Once he is in the tree, however, the boy realizes that he is too scared to dive. He is also too scared to come down from the tree. Crestfallen and in a predicament, the boy is rescued by his loving grandmother, who climbs the tree with the claim that she intends to jump with Charlie. When she becomes fearful of the same jump from the lofty height, Charlie retains his dignity by helping the older woman down. Reviewing Fat Charlie’s Circus in Canadian Children’s Literature, Marie Davis commented that the book has “an unusual depth—both in the carefully-shaded illustrations and the subtlety of the text,” while Canadian Review of Materials contributor Alison Mews called it a “wonderful story that begs to be shared with children.”
In the picture book On My Island, Gay transports readers to a small island where a young boy and his animal companions—three ants, two cats, a wolf, and a bat—live, surrounded by the sea. Although the boy complains that his life is boring, readers can see the fantastic events taking place all around him: a dragon swims past, colorful kites climb into the sky, giant elephants parachute, canonball-like, into the water, and a train circles the island. As readers are gleefully aware, the bored young boy and his friends are always looking the other way when such amazing activities take place. In her watercolor-and-collage illustrations, Gay incorporates flower petals, fabrics, and bits of newspaper, and her use of font size takes on different configurations depending on the level of activity—for example, when the narrator shouts over a stiff wind, the text is huge. As Booklist contributor Carolyn Phelan wrote of On My Island, “the short, direct text, the well-composed double-page spreads, and the abundance of action in the illustrations combine” in a “satisfying and enjoyable” picture book. In School Library Journal, Holly Belli noted that, while it may be parents who appreciate the irony of Gay’s tale, “children will pore over the pictures and imagine islands of their own.”
A bunny rabbit daughter and her bunny rabbit father star in Roslyn Rutabaga and the Biggest Hole on Earth! The eponymous heroine wants to dig the biggest hole possible in her backyard, but the project stalls when she must contend with a worm, a dog, and a mole. All three creatures are inconvenienced by Roslyn’s plans. The worm even tells her that she’s digging in his front yard. Roslyn is undeterred, and by the early afternoon, both she and her father can fit inside the hole. Roslyn thinks she can dig all the way to the South Pole, and she wants to bring some carrots to offer the penguins when she gets there. Her father tells her they can ask the penguins if they like carrots. The illustrations are comprised of torn paper edges and abundant white space, even though Roslyn and her father are white bunnies. Roslyn’s father is distinguished by striped pants and eyeglasses. Commending the tale in Publishers Weekly, a critic noted that it is an “understated story … and a touching portrait of a quietly supportive parent.” A Kirkus Reviews contributor was equally laudatory, noting that “readers will find much to relish.” The contributor went on to assert: “Roslyn Rutabaga is one darned determined—and adorable—bunny.”
In her next book, Caramba and Henry, Gay offers a sequel to Caramba!, and this time the cat is teaching his little brother, Henry, to fly. Caramba is not a fan of Henry. He can’t talk yet, and he is a noisy pest who smashes Caramba’s caterpillars. And once Henry can fly, Caramba can’t keep up with him. Henry decides to keep track of Henry by tying a string to him and using him like a kite. But then the string breaks and Caramba must scramble to find him. Portia the Pig joins Caramba on the search.
Reviewers lauded Caramba and Henry, calling it a delightful sequel that shows Gay at the height of her powers. For example, Elisabeth de Mariaffi in Quill & Quire advised that “Gay’s illustrations match the best of her previous work.” She also commented: “This is a basic story about childhood relationships that will play very well to the pre-school set.” Calling the book “heartfelt and touching” in the online Inspired by Savannah, a critic remarked: “It really shows the bond siblings have—even at times they don’t get along. In the end, the love they have for one another is stronger than silly disagreements.” Phelan, writing once more in Booklist, found that “the well-written text includes childlike dialogue and a satisfying ending.” Yet another positive critique was offered by a Kirkus Reviews correspondent, who posited: “Gay puts many delightful quirks into a highly recognizable tale of sibling rivalry, and her singular illustrations … are unique and captivating.” Sara Lissa Paulson in School Library Journal wrote: “In the gentle but cinematic, whimsical, and expressive watercolor and pastel paintings, children venture along a heroic rescue and a change of heart.”
Inspired by her childhood memories, Gay’s “Sam and Stella” picture-book series—which includes Stella, Star of the Sea, Stella, Queen of the Snow, Good Night, Sam, and What Are You Doing, Sam? —have brought her special recognition. In the award-winning series opener, Stella, Star of the Sea, red-headed Stella and her younger brother, Sam, spend a day at the seashore. Sam is afraid of the water but curious about it. Since Stella had been to the beach once before, she helpfully answers his many questions with replies that blend realism with imagination, and encourage Sam in entering the water. As with her other books, Gay incorporates watercolor and collage in her detailed illustrations, creating what a Publishers Weekly critic described as “an air of holiday abandon.” In Canadian Review of Materials, Helen Norrie predicted of the book that “children will identify with the reluctant Sam and enjoy both his questions and Stella’s answers.”
The adventures of the two siblings continue in Stella, Queen of the Snow, as Sam experiences his first snowstorm and asks question after question about it. Big sister Stella, the self-proclaim Queen of the Snow, answers Sam’s queries with her characteristically humorous mix of fantasy and fact. The children eat snowflakes, have a snowball fight, and make snow angels, among other activities, and by story’s end Sam assures Stella that he can hear the snow angels singing. Good Morning, Sam and Good Night, Sam find the toddler learning to get dressed and undressed and prepare for bed, all with the help of sister Stella as well as the family dog. Stella, Princess of the Sky finds the siblings outside contemplating the night sky, as Sam wonders out loud where the sun sleeps and how the moon rises up so high. A journey into a nearby woodland in search of the tiny fairies Stella assures her brother are under every leaf and twig is the focus of Stella, Fairy of the Forest, which School Library Journal contributor Mary Elam dubbed “a visual treasure for reading aloud.”
Also writing in School Library Journal, Grace Oliff called Stella, Queen of the Snow “a charming story of successful sibling mentoring, simply but effectively told” in which Gay’s line-and-watercolor illustrations “complement both the humor and the message of the tale.” In a review of Good Morning, Sam in School Library Journal, Martha Topol noted that in the “Stella and Sam” books Gay introduces “sweet, enduring characters who are bound to strike a familiar chord with readers,” and Booklist contributor Stephanie Zvirin maintained that the “freewheeling ink-and-watercolor illustrations are delightful.” According to School Library Journal writer Lisa Gangemi, a tale full of “charm and whimsy” is recounted in Stella, Princess of the Sky, and Zoe Johnstone wrote in her Resource Links review of the same book that Gay’s illustrations “express energy, movement, and wonder.” In Horn Book Jennifer Brabander noted of the “Stella and Sam” books that Gay’s “skillful interplay of text and art showcases [her] … agility in allowing both words and pictures to tell the story.”
(open new)In Any Questions?, Gay answers kids’ questions about her creative process, walking them through how she writes and illustrates a story. Maryann H. Owen, contributor to School Library Journal, described the book as a “delightful creation.” Similarly, a Kirkus Reviews writer called it “a delightful and interactive step into the world of creating engaging picture books for children.”
Princess Pistachio is the first volume in Gay’s series of the same name. It finds the series’s star, Pistachio Shoelace, coming to believe she is a real princess and imagining a story about her kingdom while showing annoyance at her little sister, Penny, who tries to play along. A Kirkus Reviews critic called the book “a playful and entertaining take on children’s perennial questions surrounding ideas of personhood, family and community.” The second book in the series is Princess Pistachio and the Pest. It finds Pistachio having an eventful day caring for Penny while her mom works. “Long live Princess Pistachio,” asserted a Kirkus Reviews critic. Writing in Resource Links, Moira Kirkpatrick stated that the book was “sure to be a big hit with young readers just graduating from picture books to their first chapter books.” Princess Pistachio and Maurice the Magnificent is the third installment in the series. In it, she learns to appreciate her lazy dog, Dog, renaming him Maurice the Magnificent. “The child appeal of this tale will keep independent readers chuckling and wanting more,” asserted Jennifer Gibson in School Library Journal. A Kirkus Reviews writer commented: “Gay’s easy, breezy syntax is wonderfully descriptive.”
Young animal friends have various arguments and then make up in Tiger and Badger. Carolyn Phelan, writer in Booklist, remarked: “This picture book portrays childhood friendships in a witty, perceptive fashion.” School Library Journal contributor, Mahnaz Dar, described the book as “a lighthearted yet spot-on look at friendship from a child’s point of view.”
Short Stories for Little Monsters is a collection of nineteen vignettes by Gay. Most are constructed in a panel style, reminiscent of comic books and graphic novels. “The creativity in this book is abundant,” asserted Tanya Boudreau in Resource Links. Horn Book writer, Martha V. Parravano, described the book as “original, inventive, pore-over-able, and child-pleasing.”
In Mustafa, the titular character is a refugee who is becoming familiar with his new home. After being ignored by others, he finally makes a friend at a park. In an interview with Ryan B. Patrick, contributor to the CBC website, Gay discussed her hopes for children reading the book, stating: “After reading the book, maybe if they meet a child in their class who can’t speak their language, they could possibly address that child in another way.” Lucinda Whitehurst, writer in Booklist, called the book “perfectly pitched to help young children explore empathy in a thoughtful, nonthreatening manner.” A Kirkus Reviews critic described it as “an invaluable resource for those working with children from resettled refugee families as well as host communities.”
Houndsley and Catina and Cousin Wagster finds Gay returning to her beloved characters, Houndsley and Catina. This book finds them interacting with the charismatic and seemingly-perfect Wagster, whom they discover is not as great as he seems. Jayna Ramsey, contributor to School Library Journal, described the volume as a “wonderful transitional book for newly independent readers.” In Houndsley and Catina at the Library, the animals’ librarian friend, Trixie, announces her retirement and the closing of the library. The friends offer her going-away gifts and wonder how they might keep the library open. Phelan, the reviewer in Booklist, described the volume as “satisfying.” A Kirkus Reviews critic noted that it offered “gentle existentialism for emergent readers.”
An artistic girl encourages the creativity of her brother in Fern and Horn. Booklist writer, Connie Fletcher, called the book “a dazzling romp celebrating childhood and imagination.” A contributor to Kirkus Reviews described it as “a real winner that’s as delightful as it is constructive.”
In Hopscotch, a girl named Ophelia moves with her family and misses her former neighbors’ dog. At her new home, she struggles with the new language but makes friends by drawing a hopscotch grid. In an interview with a contributor to the Open Book website, Gay noted: “The story is fictional, though based on some elements and memories that have stayed with me since childhood.” Phelan, the Booklist critic, called the volume “an endearing, reassuring picture book for kids facing their own first-day-of-school jitters.”
Walking Trees finds a girl named Lily taking her potted tree around her neighborhood in a big city. Brian E. Wilson, contributor to Horn Book, suggested: “Gay captures the joy of a diverse urban community bonding over nature.” “Gay’s cheerful story will help build appreciation for trees,” remarked Vivian Alvarez in Booklist. A Kirkus Reviews writer called the book “a lovely example of young people taking small steps toward sustainability.”(close new)
In addition to original stories, Gay has illustrated her retelling of several familiar stories. The Three Little Pigs incorporates several techniques used in oral storytelling, such as colloquial expressions and asides to the audience. Discussing Gay’s watercolor illustrations for the work, Joanne Findon wrote in Quill & Quire that the images “are filled with colour and energy,” and that “small details—leaves flying and raindrops blowing out of the illustrations and across the adjacent white spaces—create a satisfying sense of the oneness of words and pictures.” Findon concluded by calling The Three Little Pigs a “lovely book that breathes life into a well-known tale.”
Gay’s version of Rumpelstiltskin has received similar praise for the originality of its presentation. As Dave Jenkinson noted in Canadian Review of Materials, the author/illustrator’s “text and illustrations soften the story for the intended audience,” and School Library Journal contributor Jeanne Clancy Watkins concluded that, “in this age of the lavishly illustrated fairy tale, Gay gives readers a version of the well-worn Grimm tale that is surprisingly and refreshingly childlike.”
While working as a professional author and illustrator, Gay met her life partner, David Homel, an award-winning American writer and translator. The couple’s two sons, Gabriel and Jacob, have served as the inspiration for several of Gay’s original stories. In Travels with My Family she and Homel collaborate on one such a story, as their young narrator recounts a family road trip through North America and Mexico. While the boy and his younger brother vote for the proverbial trip to Disneyland, Mom and Dad decide to explore the region via alternate routes that result in a series of mishaps, adventures, and surprising discoveries. Noting that Travels with My Family is written in “simple language and adorned with amusing cartoon sketches,” School Library Journal contributor Corinda J. Humphrey cited the chapter book as “a good choice” for less-experienced readers, while Shelle Rosenfeld noted in Booklist that the “droll, first-person” perspective of the book’s young narrator is “often comical and sometimes suspenseful.”
Gay and Homel continue their family-themed travel adventures in On the Road Again! More Travels with My Family. Next, they take on a staycation in Summer in the City. Sixth grade is about to end, and Charlie is excited for the annual family summer trip. But then his parents tell him that they don’t have the money to travel. Charlie is very disappointed, but his parents promise that he and his brother, Max, will have loads of fun exploring their own city, Montréal. Charlie and his family take their adventures seriously, no matter where they are. Charlie starts his summer by walking dogs and rescuing cats and camping out in the backyard. But soon he is making friends with tattooed Santa bikers, attending a baseball game that is stopped by medieval knights, and braving a bad storm that ends with a harrowing rescue from it.
Reviewers applauded Summer in the City, noting that it is a delightful and whimsical tale. However, some critics complained that Charlie’s adventures have little bearing on the plot. For instance, Nathan Whitlock in Quill and Quire observed that “there is very little connection between these episodes, and each feels strangely weightless, with very little at stake.” Nevertheless, Whitlock admitted that the novel provides “an easy transition for kids making the step up from picture books.” Dean Schneider, writing in Horn Book, was far more impressed, commending the hero’s “energy and enthusiasm, spelled out with many an exclamation point.” Seconding this opinion in Kirkus Reviews, a critic called Summer in the City “an upbeat summer idyll likely to draw chuckles whether read alone or aloud.” According to Roxanne Burg in School Library Journal, “readers will be amused by his wiseacre remarks and wry view of the world.”
(open new)In The Traveling Circus, Charlie and Max travel to Croatia to visit Fred, a family friend. In addition to humorous adventures, they also learn about the region’s devastation during the Yugoslavian civil war. Katherine Koenig, contributor to School Library Journal, described the volume as a “fun romp, with a lovable narrator and enhanced by Gay’s charming pencil drawings.” “The prose is spry, literate, and lively, making this, and the whole series, a must for budding world travelers,” asserted Dean Schneider in Horn Book.
Travels in Cuba finds Charlie and his family exploring Cuba, learning of its unique history and culture. A Kirkus Reviews critic described the volume as “a meandering but agreeable introduction to modern Cuba.” Emily Beasley, reviewer in School Library Journal, suggested that readers “will find themselves absorbed and longing to see Cuba for themselves.”(close new)
In 2023 Gay’s picture book, Read Me a Story, Stella, was flagged by the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library in Madison, Alabama. It was initially suspected of having sexually explicit material. This was reportedly because the author’s last name was “gay.”
In addition to creating picture books, Gay has illustrated textbooks and posters, designed children’s clothing and sets for animated films, and written three puppet plays for Québec’s Theatre de l’Oeil that featured original puppets, costumes, and sets. In addition to teaching illustration to students at the university level, she is also a regular speaker at schools and conferences on children’s literature. She once told CA: “I feel that I’m concentrating on a particular medium because it’s for kids. I am geared towards kids in what I want to talk about to them and how to make them laugh, whether in clothing design, in the plays, or in the books. I’m happy about that. I finally got to where I don’t have to worry about the rush of the adult world and the quick throwaway feeling you have.”
Regarding her work as an author/illustrator, Gay wrote in an essay for SAAS: “When I write and illustrate for children, my primary concern is to tell a good story, a story that will capture their heart and minds. I want to create characters and emotional situations that children will recognize. I want children to identify with the joy, anger, frustration, laughter, fear, loneliness, doubt, and happiness of my characters. I accomplish this in two ways: the first, of course, is the story itself, which in most cases is inspired by an ordinary event, a domestic situation. … The other way to ensure emotional identification is through illustration. I want children to identify visually with my characters. That’s why I’ve created a series of rather funny-looking kids … not particularly pretty kids, but real kids!”
Gay added: “When I hear people (adults, of course) saying that children are more interested in videos, electronic games and so on, and that books will disappear altogether in a few decades, I do not believe it for one minute. What’s disappearing is the time to read books, the time to tell stories. Children are naturally curious, open to new ideas, ready to trade reality for fiction. They are still open to other ways of thinking, their prejudices yet to come. If children are exposed to a wide range of books, reading will eventually become an important aspect of their lives. I, for my part, will continue writing for them.”
BIOCRIT
BOOKS
St. James Guide to Children’s Writers, 5th edition, St. James Press (Detroit, MI), 1999.
Something about the Author Autobiography Series, Volume 21, Gale (Detroit, MI), 1996.
PERIODICALS
Booklist, March 15, 2001, Carolyn Phelan, review of On My Island, p. 1403; April 1, 2001, Shelle Rosenfeld, review of Didi and Daddy on the Promenade, p. 1480; March 15, 2002, Stephanie Zvirin, review of Stella, Fairy of the Forest, p. 1261; March 15, 2003, Todd Morning, review of Good Morning, Sam, p. 1331; October 1, 2005, John Peters, review of Caramba!, p. 62; May 15, 2006, Shelle Rosenfeld, review of Travels with My Family, p. 45; September 1, 2006, Ilene Cooper, review of What Are You Doing, Sam?, p. 135; July 1, 2009, Daniel Kraus, review of When Stella Was Very, Very Small, p. 70; October 15, 2011, Carolyn Phelan, review of Caramba and Henry, p. 54; December 15, 2015, Carolyn Phelan, review of Tiger and Badger, p. 60; June 1, 2018, Lucinda Whitehurst, review of Mustafa, p. 110; September 15, 2019, Connie Fletcher, review of Fern and Horn, p. 59; March, 1, 2020, Carolyn Phelan, review of Houndsley and Catina at the Library, p. 62; June 1, 2023, Carolyn Phelan, review of Hopscotch, p. 89; March 15, 2024, Vivian Alvarez, review of Walking Trees, p. 84.
Books in Canada, December, 1984, Mary Ainslie Smith, review of Lizzy’s Lion, p. 12; summer, 1992, Rhea Tregebov, review of Moonbeam on a Cat’s Ear, p. 37.
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, March, 2002, review of Stella, Fairy of the Forest, p. 240; September, 2003, Janice Del Negro, review of Good Night, Sam, p. 13; October, 2004, Hope Morrison, review of Stella, Princess of the Sky, p. 73; September, 2006, Maggie Hommel, review of Houndsley and Catina, p. 19.
Canadian Children’s Book News, summer, 2009, Naseem Hrab, review of When Stella Was Very, Very Small, p. 27; fall, 2010, Senta Ross, review of Roslyn Rutabaga and the Biggest Hole on Earth!, p. 28.
Canadian Children’s Literature, number 54, 1989, Joan McGrath, review of Moonbeam on a Cat’s Ear, pp. 67-69; number 59, 1990, Marie Davis, “The Fantastic and the Familiar in Fat Charlie’s Circus,” pp. 75-77.
Canadian Review of Materials, March, 1989, Leacy O’Brien, interview with Gay, pp. 54-55; March, 1990, Alison Mews, review of Fat Charlie’s Circus, p. 64; November 28, 1997, Dave Jenkinson, review of Rumpelstiltskin; November 28, 1999, Helen Norrie, review of Stella, Star of the Sea.
Children’s Book News, June, 1986, review of Moonbeam on a Cat’s Ear, p. 4.
Children’s Bookwatch, August, 2014, review of Any Questions?
Horn Book, July-August, 2003, Jennifer M. Brabander, review of Good Morning, Sam, p. 442; January-February, 2006, Jennifer M. Brabander, review of Caramba!, p. 68; spring, 2010, Nell Beram, review of When Stella Was Very, Very Small, p. 25; spring, 2011, Katrina Hedeen, review of Roslyn Rutabaga and the Biggest Hole on Earth!, p. 28; spring, 2012, Nell Beram, review of Caramba and Henry, p. 28; May-June, 2012, Dean Schneider, review of Summer in the City; July-August, 2015, Dean Schneider, review of The Traveling Circus, p. 132; March-April, 2017, Martha V. Parravano, review of Short Stories for Little Monsters, p. 68; September-October, 2018, Julie Hakim Azzam, review of Mustafa, p. 60; May-June, 2024, Brian E. Wilson, review of Walking Trees, p. 115.
Kirkus Reviews, September 1, 2003, review of Good Night, Sam, p. 1123; August 15, 2005, review of Caramba!, p. 914; March 15, 2006, review of Houndsley and Catina, p. 292; July 15, 2010, review of Roslyn Rutabaga and the Biggest Hole on Earth!; August 1, 2011, review of Caramba and Henry; March 15, 2012, review of Summer in the City; August 15, 2014, review of Any Questions?; December 1, 2014, review of Princess Pistachio.; February 15, 2015, review of The Traveling Circus; June 15, 2015, review of Princess Pistachio and the Pest; November 15, 2015, review of Tiger and Badger; January 15, 2017, review of Short Stories for Little Monsters; July 15, 2017, review of Princess Pistachio and Maurice the Magnificent; May 15, 2018, review of Mustafa; July 15, 2018, review of Houndsley and Catina and Cousin Wagster; June 15, 2019, review of Fern and Horn; December 15, 2019, review of Houndsley and Catina at the Library; September 1, 2020, review of The Three Brothers; May 15, 2021, review of Travels in Cuba; June 1, 2023, review of Hopscotch; January 15, 2024, review of Walking Trees.
Maclean’s, December 10, 1984, John Bemrose and others, review of Lizzy’s Lion, pp. 62-63.
Publishers Weekly, July 28, 1997, review of Rumpelstiltskin, p. 74; March 29, 1999, review of Stella, Star of the Sea, p. 102; November 20, 2000, review of Yuck: A Love Story, p. 67; February 12, 2001, review of Didi and Daddy on the Promenade, p. 210; March 26, 2001, review of On My Island, p. 92; September 1, 2003, review of Good Night, Sam, p. 91; October 10, 2005, review of Caramba!, p. 59; July 19, 2010, review of Roslyn Rutabaga and the Biggest Hole on Earth!; December 1, 2014, review of Princess Pistachio, p. 55; October, 2015, review of Tiger and Badger, p. 74; January 23, 2017, review of Short Stories for Little Monsters, p. 79; June 12, 2023, review of Hopscotch, p. 90.
Quill & Quire, December, 1989, Callie Israel, review of Fat Charlie’s Circus, p. 22; number 60, 1990, Marie Davis, interview with Gay, pp. 52-74; December, 1993, Janet McNaughton, review of Rabbit Blue, p. 33; October, 1994, Joanne Findon, review of The Three Little Pigs, p. 41; October, 2011, Elisabeth de Mariaffi, review of Caramba and Henry; April, 2012, Nathan Whitlock, review of Summer in the City.
Resource Links, February, 2005, Zoe Johnstone, review of Stella, Princess of the Sky, p. 4; February, 2006, Lori Lavallee, review of Caramba!, p. 3; October, 2006, Moira Kirkpatrick, review of Travels with My Family, p. 10; December, 2014, Tanya Boudreau, review of Any Questions?, p. 4; April, 2015, Mavis Holder, review of The Traveling Circus, p. 10; April, 2015, Moira Kirkpatrick, review of Princess Pistachio and the Pest, p. 10; April, 2017, Tanya Boudreau, review of Short Stories for Little Monsters, p. 4; October, 2017, Nicole Rowlinson, review of Princess Pistachio and Maurice the Magnificent, p. 19; December, 2018, Tanya Boudreau, review of Houndsley and Catina and Cousin Wagster, p. 6.
School Library Journal, November, 1997, Jeanne Clancy Watkins, review of Rumpelstiltskin, p. 107; October, 2000, Grace Oliff, review of Stella, Queen of the Snow, p. 125; July, 2001, Holly Belli, review of On My Island, p. 75; June, 2002, Mary Elam, review of Stella, Fairy of the Forest, p. 96; April, 2003, Martha Topol, review of Good Morning, Sam, p. 1331; November, 2003, Marge Loch-Wouters, review of Good Night, Sam, p. 94; October, 2004, Lisa Gangemi, review of Stella, Princess of the Sky, p. 113; September, 2006, Maryann H. Owen, review of What Are You Doing, Sam?, p. 171; October, 2006, Maren Ostergard, review of The Fabulous Song, p. 77; November, 2006, Julie Roach, review of Caramba!, p. 120; August, 2009, Wendy Lukehart, review of When Stella Was Very, Very Small, p. 75; September, 2010, Sarah Polace, review of Roslyn Rutabaga and the Biggest Hole on Earth!, p. 123; November, 2011, Sara Lissa Paulson, review of Caramba and Henry, p. 85; June, 2012, Roxanne Burg, review of Summer in the City, p. 83; October, 2014, Maryann H. Owen, review of Any Questions?, p. 82; April, 2015, Nancy Jo Lambert, review of Princess Pistachio, p. 139; April, 2015, Katherine Koenig, review of The Traveling Circus, p. 140; July, 2015, Lisa Kropp, review of Princess Pistachio and the Pest, p. 71; December, 2015, Mahnaz Dar, review of Tiger and Badger, p. 91; February, 2017, Maria B. Salvadore, review of Short Stories for Little Monsters, p. 69; July, 2017, Jennifer Gibson, review of Princess Pistachio and Maurice the Magnificent, p. 67; July, 2018, Amy Shepherd, review of Mustafa, p. 52; September, 2018, Jayne Ramsey, review of Houndsley and Catina and Cousin Wagster, p. 99; September, 2019, Robbin E. Friedman, review of Fern and Horn, p. 97; February, 2020, Kelly Roth, review of Houndsley and Catina at the Library, p. 60; July, 2021, Emily Beasley, review of Travels in Cuba, p. 55.
ONLINE
Canadian Children’s Book Centre website, http://www3.sympatico.ca/ (June 29, 2001), “Marie-Louise Gay.”
CBC website, https://www.cbc.ca/ (October 9, 2019), Ryan B. Patrick, author interview.
CNN website, https://www.cnn.com/ (October 11, 2023), Fabiana Chaparro, article mentioning author.
Groundwood Books website, http://www.groundwoodbooks.com/ (June 9, 2007), “Authors: Marie-Louise Gay.”
Inspired by Savannah, http://www.inspiredbysavannah.com/ (September 28, 2011), review of Caramba and Henry.
Marie-Louise Gay website, http://www.marielouisegay.com (November 11, 2024).
National Library of Canada, http://www.nlc-bnc.ca/ (June 28, 2001), “Cartoon Art: Marie-Louise Gay.”
Open Book, https://open-book.ca/ (August 22, 2023), author interview.
Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast, http://blaine.org/ (April 21, 2015), author interview.
Telling Tales, https://tellingtales.org/ (November 11, 2024), author interview.
Meet the Author/Illustrator: Marie-Louise Gay (video), School Services of Canada, 1991.
Marie-Louise Gay
My Life So Far
home-image.jpg
I was born in Quebec City into a nomadic family. We moved ten times before I was twelve years old, from Montreal to Vancouver and back, with frequent stops in between. During these travels, I learned to speak a new language (English), I marveled at the landscapes of rocky mountains, wild oceans, rainforests and prairie skies, and I understood that my best and most constant friends would always be books.
We often think that a future artist’s talent is apparent during their childhood. Not in my case. As a child, I did not draw much and after failing art in Grade 3, I gave up drawing for the next ten years.
I tried piano lessons. Since we had no piano at home, I had to practice on a cardboard replica of a piano keyboard. I had absolutely no musical talent at all. At the suggestion of my piano teacher, my musical career was terminated.
When I was nine years old, I became a child actress. I acted on stage and in several TV series. I missed a lot of school and was the envy of my classmates. Unfortunately, our family got itchy feet once again and headed back to Montreal. My promising acting career bit the dust.
By the time I had become a disgruntled and bored teenager of seventeen or so, something strange and wonderful happened. A series of bizarre cartoon creatures invaded my schoolbooks. Purple pigs flew in and out of my math equations, rabbits skated on my Latin verbs and cats wearing running shoes snored on top of my algebra problems. I was the creator of these creatures! Obviously, my mind was elsewhere. You just had to look at my report card. But from then on, I knew I had found my passion.
I enrolled at the Institut des arts graphiques in Montreal, where I studied graphic design. But a need to be more creative took me to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts School where I majored in animation. Later on, I studied illustration at the Academy of Art College in San Francisco.
Over the years, I worked as a professional illustrator, illustrating magazines, textbooks and posters. I was a freelance art director and production manager for a children’s book publisher. I taught illustration at the Université du Québec à Montréal.
I also designed clothes for children and wrote three plays for which I created the sets, puppets and costumes.
But at a certain point, I fell in love with children’s books and the idea of weaving words and images, poetry and color to create stories where my characters would live great adventures and feel much emotion. A rich visual world where everything was possible.
Since then, I have written and/or illustrated over sixty books for children — board books, picture books and novels — inspired by my childhood, my own children, my travels and especially by my overheated imagination. I write my stories in English and in French and my books have also been translated into many languages. Languages I cannot even speak or read: Chinese, German, Slovenian, Hebrew and Portuguese, to name a few. Fortunately, my illustrations can be read in any language.
When I first started writing and illustrating books, I was surprised and very pleased to be invited to meet children, teachers and librarians in schools and libraries across Canada, from Inuvik to St. John’s, from Tête-à-la-Baleine to the Queen Charlotte Islands. I continue to do readings, workshops and conferences in North America, China and Europe.
I live in Montreal with my family. I still travel a lot, on foot, bicycle, by airplane and canoe — but mainly through my imagination.
Marie-Louise Gay
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Marie-Louise Gay
Gay at the Salon du livre de Montréal 2016 in Montreal Canada
Gay at the Salon du livre de Montréal 2016 in Montreal Canada
Born June 17, 1952 (age 72)
Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
Occupation Illustrator, writer
Language English, French
Genre Picture books, children's literature
Spouse David Homel
Marie-Louise Gay (born June 17, 1952) is a Canadian children's writer and illustrator.[1] She has received numerous awards for her written and illustrated works in both French and English, including the 2005 Vicky Metcalf Award, multiple Governor General's Awards,[2] and multiple Janet Savage Blachford Prizes, among others.
Biography
Gay was born in Quebec City and lived in Montreal and Vancouver as a child. Gay lives in Montreal.[when?]
Gay co-wrote two longer books with her husband, Montreal novelist and translator David Homel, which included her black-and-white illustrations: Travels With My Family (2006) and On the Road Again! (2008).[3] At the time, she said, "For the last twenty-five years, I have mainly been writing, illustrating and creating only for children."[3]
Gay's books received renewed attention after a public school library system in Alabama mistakenly flagged Read Me A Story, Stella as potentially inappropriate for children, because of her surname.[4]
Awards and honours
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (March 2023)
In 2013, Canada Post released a series of stamps featuring Gay's character Stella.[5]
Awards for Gay's writing
Year Title Award Result Ref.
1984 Lizzy's Lion by Dennis Lee Canada Council Children's Literature Prize Winner
1984 Drôle d'école Canada Council Children's Literature Prize Winner
1987 Moonbeam On A Cat's Ear Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award Winner [6]
1987 Rainy Day Magic Governor General's Award for English-language children's illustration Winner [7][8]
1988 Angel and the Polar Bear Governor General's Award for English-language children's illustration Shortlist
1988 Rainy Day Magic Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award Winner [6]
1995 Berthold et Lucrèce Governor General's Award for French-language children's illustration Shortlist
2000 Sur mon île Governor General's Award for French-language children's illustration Shortlist
2000 Yuck, A Love Story Governor General's Award for English-language children's illustration Winner [7][8]
2001 Stella: Queen of the Snow Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Award Winner
2002 Stella, Fairy of the Forest Governor General's Award for English-language children's illustration Shortlist
2005 Vicky Metcalf Award Winner [9][10]
2006 Caramba Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award for Children's Picture Book Winner
2006 Caramba Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award Winner [11]
2007 Houndsley and Catina ALSC Notable Children's Books Selection [12]
2007 Stella étoile de la mer Mr. Christie's Book Award for French: 7 and under Winner
2009 When Stella Was Very, Very Small Janet Savage Blachford Prize Shortlist [13]
2009 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award Longlist [14]
2010 When Stella was Very, Very Small Canadian Booksellers Association Libris Award for Children's Picture Book Winner [15]
2010 When Stella Was Very, Very Small Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Awards Shortlist [16]
2011 Roslyn Rutabaga and the Biggest Hole on Earth! Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award Winner [6]
2011 Roslyn Rutabaga and the Biggest Hole on Earth! Forest of Reading: Blue Spruce Award Shortlist [17]
2014 Any Questions? Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award Winner [6]
2014 Any Questions? Janet Savage Blachford Prize Shortlist [13]
2014 Any Questions? Governor General's Award for English-language children's illustration Shortlist [18][19]
2014 Read Me a Story, Stella Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award for Children's Picture Book Finalist [20][21][22]
2015 Any Questions? Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Award Winner [23]
2015 Any Questions? CBC Fan Choice Award Winner [24]
2015 Any Questions? TD Canadian Children's Literature Award Finalist [25][26]
2017 Short Stories for Little Monsters Governor General's Award for English-language children's illustration Shortlist
2018 Mustafa Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Award Finalist [27]
2019 Mustafa Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award for Children's Picture Book Finalist [28]
2019 Mustafa TD Canadian Children's Literature Award Shortlist [29][30]
2020 Fern and Horn Janet Savage Blachford Prize Shortlist [13][31]
2020 Mustafa Forest of Reading Award Shortlist [32]
2020 The Three Brothers Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Award Winner [33][34]
2020 The Three Brothers Janet Savage Blachford Prize Winner [13][35][36]
2022 I’m Not Sydney Janet Savage Blachford Prize Shortlist [37][38][39]
Publications
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (March 2023)
Stella and Sam series
Main article: Stella and Sam
Gay's Stella and Sam books have been published in more than twelve languages.[3] They spawned a 52-episode cartoon series in 2013 that aired on Sprout and Family Junior.
Stella series
Stella, Star of the Sea (1999)
Stella, Queen of the Snow (2001)
Stella, Fairy of the Forest (2002)
Stella, Princess of the Sky (2004)
When Stella Was Very, Very, Small (2009)
Read Me A Story, Stella (2013)
Sam series
Sam is Stella's younger brother
Good Morning, Sam (2003)
Good Night, Sam (2003)
What Are You Doing, Sam? (2006)
Travels with My Family series
The Travels with My Family series was co-written with David Homel.
Travels With My Family (Groundwood, 2006)
On the Road Again! (Groundwood, 2008)
Summer in the City (Groundwood, 2012)
The Traveling Circus (Groundwood, 2015)
Travels in Cuba (Groundwood, 2021)
Standalone books authored
Lizzy's Lion (1984)
The Garden: Little Big Books (1985)
Moonbeam On A Cat's Ear (1986)[6]
Rainy Day Magic (1987)[6]
Angel and the Polar Bear (1988)
Fat Charlie's Circus (1989)
Willy Nilly (1990)
Mademoiselle Moon (1992)
Rabbit Blue (1993)
Midnight Mimi (1994)
Qui a peur de Loulou? (Who's afraid of Loulou?) (Montreal: VLB Editeur, 1994), 111pp, "Theatre for children"[3]
The Three Little Pigs (Canadian Fairy Tales Series) (1994)
Rumplestiltskin (1997)
Sur Mon Ile (1999)
Caramba (2006)
Roslyn Rutabaga and the Biggest Hole on Earth! (2010)[6]
Caramba and Henry (2011)
Any Questions (2014)[6]
Short Stories for Little Monsters (2017)
The Three Brothers (2020)
Books illustrated only
The Last Piece (1993)
When Vegetables Go Bad! (1993)
The Fabulous Song (1996)
Dreams Are More Real Than Bathtubs (1999)
Yuck, a Love Story (2000)
Didi and Daddy on the Promenade (2001)
Houndsley and Catina (2006)
Maddie series; Sophie series (1993–2003)[clarification needed]
QUOTED: "The story is fictional, though based on some elements and memories that have stayed with me since childhood."
Marie-Louise Gay on Getting Personal about Tough Childhood Moments in Her Magical New Picture Book
Date
August 22, 2023
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Banner image with photo of writer and illustrator Marie-Louise Gay on the right. Dark blue square on the left reads "Interview with Marie-Louise Gay, A riveting discussion with one of Canada's top KidLit creators". Open Book logo bottom left. Left and right sides of the banner show Gay's art supplies in the foreground.
For a kid, moving to a new house and finding friends in a new school can be extremely tough. In iconic KidLit creator Marie-Louise Gay's new picture book, Hopscotch (Groundwood Books), Ophelia uses the power of her imagination to make a new, painful situation feel magical instead of intimidating.
At first, Ophelia's hyper-charged imagination is working against her: with Gay's trademark creativity, we see giant rabbits with sharp teeth at her new house, scary ogres on the way to school, and crow-witches in the trees as Ophelia can't help but imagine the scariest version of her new life after yet another move.
But when she arrives in her new school, with everyone staring at the "new kid"—the only one who doesn't speak French—Ophelia puts her whimsical, powerful imagination to good use, creating her own kind of magic and connecting with her new classmates.
A story of the big feelings of childhood, Hopscotch is Gay at her best, acknowledging the rich, vast world of childhood and the depth of kids' emotions and experiences, as well as the power of their creativity. Hopscotch's intimate storytelling and lush, whimsical artwork draws close-to-home inspiration from Gay's own childhood in Quebec.
We're excited to welcome one of Canada's most talented kids' book creators to Open Book today as part of our Kids Club interview series. Gay, who is known for her beloved storytelling including the popular Stella and Sam series, tells us about how she finally came to be ready to let readers get a glimpse of her own childhood experiences, explains why she loves the freedom of not knowing a story's end when she starts writing, and shares her two strategies for getting through a project's toughest points.
Open Book:
Tell us about your new book and how it came to be.
Marie-Louise Gay:
Over the years, since I wrote the Stella and Sam series, I have been struck by the fact that people ask me over and over again if Stella was me as a child. Was Stella's childhood similar to mine? Was Stella one of my children? As it is often said, writers put a little bit of themselves in every one of their characters, so I can truthfully say that Stella resembles me in certain ways, mainly for her optimism, her whimsicality, and imagination. But my childhood was different, not as easy-going or as carefree as in the Stella series. I finally understood that I had written the Stella stories as a way to recreate the childhood I wanted to have. So I decided to revisit an uncertain, precarious time of my childhood and see what kind of story would emerge. After all, writing is a process of discovery.
Hopscotch by Marie-Louise Gay
Hopscotch by Marie-Louise Gay
It became the story of Ophelia, the little girl who is the main character in Hopscotch, who lives in a family that moves around a lot. She often has to leave friends and stability behind. Like Jackson, the tiny dog who lives next door, and who was soon to be her friend, but who disappears just before Ophelia has to move again with her family. Ophelia despairs of ever seeing him again even though, she tells us, "Every day I cross my fingers and wait for Jackson to come back. At night I make a wish on every shooting star. I rub the magic stone I found in my yellow rain boot. I draw a magic hopscotch. I hop forward on one leg, I hop backward with my eyes closed..."
Ophelia believes in spells, charms, magic, and enchantment, and has a vivid imaginary world where giant rabbits roam and crow-witches cackle in the trees that tower over her temporary home in a decrepit motel. She meets a huge ogre on her way to her new school where she finds out what her mother hadn't told her: everybody speaks a language she cannot understand. Even the fairy princess teacher. Ophelia is sad and scared and lonely, but is also resilient and creative and manages to find a way to cope with her dilemma. The story is fictional, though based on some elements and memories that have stayed with me since childhood.
OB:
Did the book look the same in the end as you originally envisioned it when you started working, or did it change through the writing process?
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MLG:
I think that every book that I have written and illustrated has taken a different route than the one I envisioned at the very beginning, when ideas float around and are not tied down yet. I think it would be tedious and frankly boring to follow word by word a preconceived scenario to the very end. I actually never know the ending of a story when I start writing and that is important because I feel free to wander off the beaten track, to change my mind, to backtrack, to expand my ideas in other directions.
An outstanding example of this is my book Caramba. For three years I wrote and rewrote a story about a little boy and his cat whom he loved more than anything or anyone in the world. I wrote and illustrated lovely scenes of tenderness and complicity. It was a lovely idea but it wasn't compelling. There was no conflict, no resolution. I dropped the boy character and there was the cat all by himself: "Caramba looked like any other cat. He had soft fur and a long stripy tail. He ate fish. He purred. He went for long walks. But Caramba was different from other cats. He couldn't fly." Just like that, the story went in another direction.
In Hopscotch, I wanted to explore certain events and emotions in my childhood, a story that would be in part autobiographical but very much fictional. I ended up exploring the border between reality and a vivid imaginary world that children cross into so easily when they need to understand and absorb, in their own way, what is happening to them. Their imagination is also a place of refuge and hope. I remembered how I believed in superstition and magic when I was young: crossing my fingers, not stepping on a sidewalk crack or wishing on a shooting star. I expanded and enlarged the presence of magic and imagination in Ophelia's story and everything came together. It made me aware that the story could speak in a subliminal way to children who would identify with the underlying emotions of sadness, fear, uncertainty and loneliness which are part of many children's childhoods. Then they might understand that imagination and creativity can become a form of resilience.
OB:
How do you cope with setbacks or tough points during the writing process? Do you have any strategies that are your go-to responses to difficult points in the process?
MLG:
I have two strategies: I either drop everything, stop writing and engage in a physical or manual activity: gardening, cycling or walking. I try to empty my mind of any thoughts about the story that I have been working on. This creates a space where eventually new, fresh ideas might appear.
Or I switch to my other creative process which is, of course, drawing. I sketch and draw randomly, letting my pencil lead the way, I draw shapes that become people or animals or fantastic objects, I play with colours and forms, I let my mind wander and meander until ideas emerge from this form of visual meditation: a new character who could possibly intervene, a different landscape or setting that would affect the course of the story. I might also start exploring the various emotional states of my hero through facial expressions or body positions. In short, I spend hours drawing and sketching until I find my way back into my story. Then I go back to writing. I write with words as well as with pictures.
____________________________________________________
Marie-Louise Gay is an internationally acclaimed children's book creator whose work has been translated into more than 20 languages. She has won many awards including two Governor General’s Literary Awards, the Vicky Metcalf Award for Children’s Literature, the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award and the Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Picture Book Award. She has also been nominated for the prestigious Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award and the Hans Christian Andersen Award. She lives in Montreal, Quebec.
Marie-Louise Gay is an internationally acclaimed children’s book author and illustrator. She is best known for her Stella and Sam series. In fact, the last time Marie-Louise visited Telling Tales was in 2013 with Read Me a Story, Stella. Coming all the way from Montreal, Quebec, Marie-Louise is excited to share her new picture book, Hopscotch, with us!
Q & A with Author–Illustrator Marie-Louise Gay
Where do you find the inspiration for your books? Are you inspired to create the pictures or the story first?
I am inspired by many things: my childhood memories and the memories of my two children’s young years. Travelling inspires me—the new landscapes, the different variety of trees, flowers, birds; the colors; and the stories you hear. I always carry a notebook with me in which I write down thoughts that could evolve into stories, or I scribble little sketches of people and animals that could become alive in one of my books…
I usually create the story and the pictures together. I start thinking of a story and I immediately want to know what the main character would look like, so I sketch him or her out. Then I return to my writing. I go back and forth between words and images during the whole creative process.
What were your favourite books when you were a kid? As a young reader, did you see yourself in the books you read?
Babar the Elephant; Tintin; Astérix; Grimm’s fairy tales; Le Petit Nicolas; The Lion,the Witch and the Wardrobe; the Lord of the Rings trilogy; and many many more.
I saw myself or a part of myself in every book I read and enjoyed.
What’s the most surprising thing you have learned when creating your books?
I learned that I never know in advance how the story will end, and I am always surprised at the the winding paths, the crossroads and the circuitous routes that I must take to get there.
What is a challenge you have faced as an author and/or illustrator?
At the beginning of my career, the challenge that I faced was to realize that I had to evoke emotion, humour , laughter, tears and adventures in a minimum of words that resonated for children. As an illustrator of picture books, I had to understand that children “read” every detail of an illustration, so the image must be detailed, subtle and vibrant.
What advice do you have for kids who are interested in art or writing?
Read a lot, a variety of books: picture books, cartoon books, graphic novels, and novels. Look at art, illustrations, drawings… in museums, on the street, in books.
Observe the details of life around you. Take notes. Sketch.
Write, write, write. Draw, draw, draw.
Use your imagination.
Seven Questions Over Breakfast with Marie-Louise Gay
h1April 21st, 2015 by jules
“I shake my ideas around and turn them upside down and look at them flying out the window like a flock of birds. Suddenly, I know who lives in the forest … a giant,
a shy young giant with birds nesting in his hair. His story starts here …”
If you saw last year’s Any Questions?, written and illustrated by Canadian Marie-Louise Gay, who has been nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award and the Hans Christian Andersen Award, you may recognize the above illustration. It’s from the book, and it’s Marie-Louise herself, hard at work in her studio. (Some of my favorite illustrator interviews have been the ones where artists send illustrated “author photos,” but I digress.)
Any Questions?—a finalist for Canada’s 2014 Governor General’s Literary Award for Children’s Illustration, as well as a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year and a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year—was released last August by Groundwood Books, and it was then that I contacted Marie-Louise about an interview. I’ve admired her work over the years, and then along comes this excellent book, an exploration of what it means to be creative, as well as imagined conversations with children about writing and creating art — ones based on real conversations she’s had at school visits over the years. Booklist praised the book’s “empowering” message — “that creativity is messy and fun!” Hear hear.
Yes, that was last year. Sometimes I get busy. But better late than never. But she’s also just released (this month, in fact) the adventure novel The Traveling Circus, written with her partner, David Homel, and also published by Groundwood. So, I meant to post this interview so late. Yes, I MEANT TO DO THAT. (Ahem.)
When I asked Marie-Louise about her published books thus far in her career, a question I ask everyone, she sent me a comprehensive bibliography, which I’m not including at the bottom of this post, only because it refuses to format properly for me. But trust me when I say it’s a long list; her first illustrated book was in 1976, as those of you who have followed her career closely know well. She’s spent decades capturing, with her warm watercolor illustrations, the wonders of childhood and nature. There is a spontaneity and energy to her work that really shines.
We’re having her preferred breakfast today — an orange, granola, yogurt, and a strong coffee. “Strong” coffee? An illustrator after my own heart. Let’s get right to it, and I thank her for visiting and sharing art. …
* * * * * * *
Jules: Are you an illustrator or author/illustrator?
Marie-Louise: Author/Illustrator.
From Any Questions?:
“But what if my story started on old yellowish paper? …”
From Any Questions?:
“Believe it or not, there are times when I don’t have any ideas at all.
My mind is a blank. …”
From Any Questions?:
“So I have to use my imagination. Try out new ideas. …”
From Any Questions?:
“But sometimes that doesn’t work either.
So I go back to my drawing table. …”
Jules: Can you list your books-to-date? (If there are too many books to list here, please list your five most recent illustrated titles or the ones that are most prominent in your mind, for whatever reason.)
Marie-Louise: [See the “Books” link at Marie-Louise’s site.]
From Any Questions?:
“One cold, gray autumn day, when the trees had just started losing their leaves, revealing their well-kept secrets—hidden birds’ nests, lost kites and the dreams of those who had slept in their cool, leafy summer shadows—
the giant heard something. …”
From Any Questions?:
“I wonder if this green is slimy enough? …”
From Any Questions?:
“‘Who are you?’ asked the giant.
‘I’m a beast,’ whispered the beast. ‘A horrible, dreadful beast. …'”
Jules: What is your usual medium?
Marie-Louise: Watercolor is my preferred medium, but I use it in conjunction with pencil, colored pencils (Caran d’Ache Supracolor), pastels, acrylic, gouache, collage, and ink.
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Jules: If you have illustrated for various age ranges (such as, both picture books and early reader books OR, say, picture books and chapter books), can you briefly discuss the differences, if any, in illustrating for one age group to another?
Marie-Louise: I have illustrated both board books and picture books, as well as early reader books and chapter books. I can’t say that there is such a big difference between illustrating early reader books and chapter books. The difference would not be illustrating for one age group or another but, in the case of the picture book, where the visual vocabulary (the art) is much richer than the the text. It enables the child who cannot yet read, or has difficulty in reading, to understand the story through it’s visual clues, body language and facial expressions of the characters, the details, etc. My goal when I write and illustrate a picture book is to be spare with words and eloquent in my art.
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Jules: Where are your stompin’ grounds?
Marie-Louise I live in Montréal, province of Québec, Canada.
Jules: Can you briefly tell me about your road to publication?
Marie-Louise: I started drawing when I was sixteen years old, doodling on my textbooks, sketching on paper napkins or on any available and relatively flat surface. I opted for art school. After studying graphic design, animation, drawing, and photography, I started doing various cartoon strips for local magazines and newspapers while I was still in school. I branched out towards editorial illustration for magazines in Canada and the U.S.: Saturday Night, Mother Jones, Psychology Today, etc.
I was approached a few years later by a publisher and author of children’s books who asked me to illustrate one of his picture-book manuscripts — then a second one and a third. The experience was exhilarating. I fell in love with exploring a story in pictures, creating a visual vocabulary, creating characters that evolved in a landscape that I had invented. It didn’t take too long before I was tempted to try my hand at writing my own stories.
Jules: Can you please point readers to your web site and/or blog?
Marie-Louise: www.marielouisegay.com.
Jules: If you do school visits, tell me what they’re like.
Marie-Louise: I don’t do as many school visits as I used to, but I still enjoy doing them. My preference goes to smaller groups, one or two classes, because I find that interactive presentations are much more fun and inspiring. I start by describing what an author/illustrator’s life is like (normal except for the fact that I have no boss, no office hours, and I spend the day alone in my studio, doodling and writing and daydreaming). I talk about the creative process. I show them sketches, storyboards, colored sketches, and original drawings. I read them a story or two. I sometimes do a drawing, using the kid’s suggestions, or write an interactive story with them. Other times we improvise a play with characters that I have just created in front of them and to whom they give life. I answer as many questions as I can.
— From a Houndsley and Catina book (Candlewick Press)
Jules: If you teach illustration, by chance, tell me how that influences your work as an illustrator.
Marie-Louise: I taught illustration for ten years at the Université du Québec in Montréal, but that was twenty years ago. At the time, I felt that all the research I did to build my classes was very inspiring and enriched my work greatly.
Jules: Any new titles/projects you might be working on now that you can tell me about?
Marie-Louise: I have just finished illustrating a picture book for Candlewick, Press called Tiger and Badger by Emily Jenkins. It will be published in February 2016.
I am also exploring, sketching, and writing a book of short illustrated cartoon stories. I’m in the middle of the ninth draft of a puppet play. I am revising a new chapter book in the Travels with my Family series (co-written with my partner, David Homel). The Traveling Circus published just this month.
Mmm. Coffee.Okay, we’ve got more coffee, and it’s time to get a bit more detailed with six questions over breakfast. I thank Marie-Louise again for visiting 7-Imp.
1. Jules: What exactly is your process when you are illustrating a book? You can start wherever you’d like when answering: getting initial ideas, starting to illustrate, or even what it’s like under deadline, etc. Do you outline a great deal of the book before you illustrate or just let your muse lead you on and see where you end up?
Sketches from Caramba (Groundwood, 2013)
Marie-Louise: When I am asked to illustrate someone else’s story, the process starts immediately as I read the manuscript for the first time. If I don’t instantly see images in my mind as I read it, it is usually a sign that this particular story is not for me. At the second reading, I am already doing thumbnail sketches of key parts of the story or of the main character, in pencil right on the paper manuscript. Then, once everything is settled—contract, advance, due date, etc.—the first thing I do is a quite detailed storyboard of the book on the layout provided by the art director, and then I start looking for ways of escaping the imposed layout, letting my sketching guide me, trying out different points of view — but always within the confines of the story, of course.
It is quite a different process when I write and illustrate my own story. I feel more at liberty to improvise, to try new paths, to let my illustration change the story, and vice versa. It is a process of osmosis, much more organic then when I am illustrating an another author’s story.
Illustrations from and cover of Caramba
2. Jules: Describe your studio or usual work space.
Marie-Louise: A small light-filled studio on the second floor of our tiny, century-old red brick house. The large windows look over scruffy urban gardens, shadowed by large maple trees, and an alleyway where dozens of children play, laugh, scream, climb trees, skateboard, play tag or hide and seek. In the summer I am hidden in a sea of green leaves, and in the winter, a storm of snowflakes. I am surrounded by books, notebooks, art books, design books, children’s books, old magazines and encyclopedias or animal books and my art materials — jars of paintbrushes or colored pencils, bottles of ink, tubes of watercolor paints or acrylics, scraps of paper. An immense wooden chest of drawers that was used to store priests’ vestments in a sacristy now holds hundreds of sheets of paper of every size, shape, texture and color, as well as my artwork. My computer is in another room to keep distractions to a minimum. The walls are covered in sketches and artwork, and taped or pinned on the wall nearest to my drawing table is the project I am working on: storyboards, sketches, or final artwork.
Illustrations from and cover of Caramba and Henry (Groundwood, 2011)
3. Jules: As a book-lover, it interests me: What books or authors and/or illustrators influenced you as an early reader?
Marie-Louise: I grew up speaking French at home and did most of my primary schooling in English, so I read both in English and French. Babar, Curious George, Martine à la Plage, Grimms’ fairytales, as well as Hans Christian Andersen, Tintin, Nancy Drew, C. S. Lewis. I was fascinated by the detailed illustrations in the Babar stories or in the Tintin books.
But the real turning point was in my early teens when I immersed myself in the worlds of Ursula K. Le Guin or John Wyndham, and at the same time I was mesmerized by the surrealistic, achingly funny, intellectual, and visual musings of the french bédéistes (in English, this could translate as perhaps cartoonists or precursors of the graphic novel?): F’Murr with his Génie des alpages; Claire Bretécher and her Cellulite; Mandryka with his Concombre Masqué; Gotlib; Jean-Michel Folon.
My sources of inspiration expanded as I attended different art schools in Montréal and San Francisco. I poured over Saul Steinberg’s and Ralph Steadman’s drawings. I discovered the quirky, wonderful world of Edward Gorey, the inventiveness of André François, the bold designs of Tomi Ungerer, the weird illustrations of Ian Pollock. I was influenced by painters who “illustrated,” who told a story: Fernando Botero, Edward Hopper, David Hockney. And as it became clear to me that writing and illustrating books for children were my main interest and passion, I was absorbing the perfect twinning of art and story in the humourous and lively illustrations of Tony Ross and Quentin Blake; the painstakingly detailed drawings by Chris Van Allsburg; the gentle, emotional, funny books illustrated by André Dahan, William Steig, and Rosemary Wells. I especially admired the eastern Europeans — Helme Heine, Wolf Erlbruch, Lisbeth Zwerger, Henrik Drescher, Klaus Ensikat, and Květa Pacovská.
In Canada, I poured over Ken Nutt’s enchantingly detailed Zoom illustrations; I was inspired by Michèle Lemieux’s colours and light and masterful drawing technique; and Pierre Pratt’s quirky vision of the world. I was enthralled by the lovely energy and vivacity of Katy MacDonald Denton’s children and animal characters.
This list is far from exhaustive, and the more I think about it, the more images float to my mind. All these artists’ works have become part of my visual memory and vocabulary. This is where I have found find part of my inspiration.
Illustrations from and cover of Roslyn Rutabaga and
the Biggest Hole on Earth! (Groundwood, 2010)
4. Jules: If you could have three (living) authors or illustrators—whom you have not yet met—over for coffee or a glass of rich, red wine, whom would you choose? (Some people cheat and list deceased authors/illustrators. I won’t tell.)
Marie-Louise: Edward Gorey, Shaun Tan, and Lisbeth Zwerger. But I would prefer seeing them individually and in their respective studios. (Edward Gorey might be difficult to meet!)
Illustrations from and cover of
Stella, Queen of the Snow (Groundwood, 2010)
5. Jules: What is currently in rotation on your iPod or loaded in your CD player? Do you listen to music while you create books?
Marie-Louise: I only listen to music or the radio when I am applying colors or collage on an illustration: I want my mind to work instinctively when I paint. I want my choices and juxtaposition of colors to emerge from my subconscious. So while my mind is following a certain beat, a rhythm, a train of thought, a poetic turn of phrase, surprising colors, or odd combinations, lovely and spontaneous mistakes subtly make their way into my illustrations. I might listen to , Cat Power, Miles Davis, Glenn Gould, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Joan Osborne, Leonard Cohen, Lucinda Williams, Manu Chao, and more. But I need total silence when I am writing, storyboarding, or exploring a story’s twists and turns.
Illustrations and cover art from
Stella, Star of the Sea (Groundwood, 2010)
6. Jules: What’s one thing that most people don’t know about you?
Marie-Louise: That I am constantly anthropomorphizing birds, cats, trees, sheep, objects etc. — creating conversations between them, giving them thoughts and emotions, and imagining their lives and adventures.
Illustrations and cover art from
When Stella Was Very, Very Small (Groundwood, 2011)
* * * The Pivot Questionnaire * * *
Jules: What is your favorite word?
Marie-Louise: “Serpentine.”
Jules: What is your least favorite word?
Marie-Louise: “Compulsory.”
Jules: What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
Marie-Louise: A vast, luminous landscape of mountains. Or a starry, moonlit sky over the ocean.
Jules: What turns you off?
Marie-Louise: Crass commercialism.
Jules: What sound or noise do you love?
Marie-Louise: The beat of a bird’s wings flying overhead in an early morning sky.
Jules: What sound or noise do you hate?
Marie-Louise: Loud racing car engines.
Jules: What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Marie-Louise: Actor, architect, explorer, sculptor, ceramist.
Jules: What profession would you not like to do?
Marie-Louise: Politician.
All images are used by permission of Marie-Louise Gay.
The spiffy and slightly sinister gentleman introducing the Pivot Questionnaire is Alfred, copyright © 2009 Matt Phelan.
QUOTED: "After reading the book, maybe if they meet a child in their class who can't speak their language, they could possibly address that child in another way."
Why Marie-Louise Gay created a picture book about the life of a child refugee
Ryan B. Patrick · Posted: Oct 09, 2019 9:41 AM EDT | Last Updated: October 9, 2019
Marie-Louise Gay is the author of Mustafa. (Groundwood Books)
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Montreal's Marie-Louise Gay is a prolific author and illustrator of children's literature. Her latest is Mustafa, a picture book which tells the story of an imaginative child refugee whose new country is very far away from his old home.
Mustafa is on the shortlist for the 2019 TD Canadian Children's Literature Award. The $50,000 prize is the biggest in Canadian children's literature. The winner will be announced on Oct. 15, 2019.
Gay has previously been nominated for the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award twice — in 2015 for Any Questions? and in 2008 for Please, Louise! written by Frieda Wishinsky.
Gay spoke to CBC Books about how she created Mustafa.
The resilience of refugees
"This book is special because it is based on something real. Four years ago, I was travelling in Europe and I was hearing a lot about the migrants or refugees that were crossing Croatia and Serbia by bus, truck or train. While in Belgrade to see a friend, I could see that some parts of the city were filled with refugees waiting for the next leg of their journey. Large groups of families were staying in parks in makeshift tents and camps. I could see that they were weary and clearly had travelled far.
This book is special because it is based on something real.
- Marie-Louise Gay
"What stayed with me seeing this situation was the resilience of the kids that were there. There were all these young kids playing around in the grass. I was thinking of these kids, who were on the cusp of a new life. Unlike their parents, they didn't have the same notion of what it means to leave a place for a new one. But what they do have is their curiosity and their ability to thrive in a new environment. And so the idea for Mustafa sprang from this."
14 Canadian picture books to check out this fall
Through a child's eyes
"When I was five years old, I was moved with my parents from Quebec to Ontario. I had never spoken a word of English up to that point. I was put into kindergarten with English speaking kids, as there wasn't an immersion program at the time.
"I remember this vividly, not being able to communicate or understand the other children. This experience helped me better understand what children like Mustafa might experience."
Excerpted from Mustafa, copyright © 2018 by Marie-Louise Gay. Reproduced with permission from Groundwood Books Ltd., Toronto. (Groundwood Books)
The little things
"I tried to see the world as a child would. The vision that a child has includes all the details of their environment. Even as they don't necessarily understand the bigger picture, kids understand the small things.
I tried to see the world as a child would. The vision that a child has includes all the details of their environment.
- Marie-Louise Gay
"Mustafa looks at the world around him, the flowers and the insects and the people that he doesn't understand. His imagination is working all the time and I tried to capture that feeling of childhood where everything is different. As children, you're trying to crack the code in the world around you and they don't have the hangups or biases that we adults we often have."
Meet children's book author and illustrator, Marie-Louise Gay
Starting small
"I work in a home studio. From that initial idea, I started taking notes and creating little sketches of what Mustafa and his world might look like. I created a storyboard and used a paper and pencil to create the text. As a picture book there isn't a large word count but every sentence counts.
"In the case of Mustafa, I used a lot of watercolours and line work for the art. Typically, it's only when I have a solid storyboard and a polished draft of the manuscript when I present it to a publisher."
Excerpted from Mustafa, copyright © 2018 by Marie-Louise Gay. Reproduced with permission from Groundwood Books Ltd., Toronto. (Groundwood Books)
Hope and friendship
"I didn't want Mustafa to be identified as a certain type of refugee or migrant from a specific country. But I did want to reflect that he would be coming from a place that was experiencing a terrible ordeal. The only outward sign you would see is that his mother is wearing a headscarf. I recently got some feedback on the book from a librarian who was Muslim and who loved the book because she could see Mustafa being from a place like Syria.
Mustafa is a real character to me. I wanted him to to be able to communicate without words.
- Marie-Louise Gay
"I get involved with my characters. Mustafa is a real character from me. I wanted him to be able to communicate without words. It was about trying to get that little boy to communicate his loneliness and isolation to the reader.
"After reading the book, maybe if they meet a child in their class who can't speak their language, they could possibly address that child in another way."
Marie-Louise Gay's comments have been edited for length and clarity. You can read more interviews from the How I Wrote It series here.
Alabama public library system mistakenly flags children’s book as ‘sexually explicit’ because author’s last name is Gay
By Fabiana Chaparro, CNN
4 minute read
Updated 2:22 PM EDT, Wed October 11, 2023
"Read Me a Story, Stella" by Mary-Louise Gay
"Read Me a Story, Stella" by Mary-Louise Gay From Amazon
CNN
—
An Alabama public library system says it mistakenly added a children’s picture book to a list of books containing explicit material because the author’s last name is Gay.
The Huntsville-Madison County Public Library system accidentally labeled the book, “Read Me a Story, Stella,” by Marie-Louise Gay, as “potentially inappropriate” during an internal review of sexually explicit books in the children’s and young adult sections of the county’s ten libraries.
The library system admitted to the mistake this week after receiving backlash from internal library system staff and the local community.
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Cindy Hewitt, the library’s executive director, told CNN the picture book was labeled as containing potentially explicit material after an automated keyword search turned up the word “gay” in the book’s title, author name or subject line.
But, she said, the purpose of the review was never to ban or censor books that dealt with topics related to LGBTQ+ issues, gender identity, race or racism.
Instead, in response to widespread efforts to ban books across the country, Hewitt said the library system wanted to survey its catalog and take steps to preempt any state efforts to ban books.
“We decided, as a whole, to look at all our collection and see what was likely to be challenged, with the purpose of protecting our collection and making sure it stayed intact,” Hewitt said. “(The) opposite of banning, we were trying to protect.”
Library managers conducted the review using a list of books provided by Clean Up Alabama, a group that claims Alabama libraries offer books “intended to confuse the children of our communities about sexuality and expose them to material that is inappropriate for them.”
Copies of banned books from various states and school systems from around the country as seen during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol in March 2023.
Book bans continue rising in the US with more targeting 'sexual' and 'inappropriate' content, free speech group says
The organization says it works to protect “the well-being and innocence of children by advocating for a safe and enriching environment in the children’s sections of our public libraries,” according to its website.
“Read Me a Story, Stella,” was not on Clean Up Alabama’s list of potentially inappropriate books. Hewitt acknowledged the book does not exhibit any content that could be labeled as sexually explicit.
The book is part of the popular Stella and Sam series where eldest sister, Stella, introduces her younger brother, Sam, to reading. The series has sold two million copies in 10 languages, according to summary provided by Groundwood Books, the book’s publisher.
In a statement, the company said it was “laughable” that the picture book was flagged because the author’s last name is Gay.
“The ridiculousness of that fact should not detract from the seriousness of the situation,” the publishing company said.
Although “Read Me a Story, Stella,” was not on Clean Up Alabama’s list of so-called age-inappropriate books, Groundwood Books noted other books by popular authors are.
“Although the focus here seems to be on LGBTQ+ content, books such as Angie Thomas’s “The Hate U Give,” Sherman Alexie’s “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian,” and Rainbow Rowell’s “Eleanor & Park,” also make appearances,” the statement read.
“This proves, as always, that censorship is never about limiting access to this book or that one. It is about sending the message to children that certain ideas — or even certain people — are not worthy of discussion or acknowledgment or consideration.”
Kirsten Brassard, Gay’s publicist, told CNN to her knowledge, none of the author’s other books in the Stella and Sam series have been censored before.
Last week, in a letter to the Alabama Public Library Service, Gov. Kay Ivey mandated the system change policies in order to receive state funding, including placing books in age-appropriate categories.
“We’re still waiting for how the Alabama Public Library service is going to respond to that and what’s going to be required of us on the local level,” Hewitt said.
She added Alabama seems to be moving in a direction where censoring books would become more commonplace.
But, Hewitt said, “Read Me a Story, Stella,” is “cute,” completely appropriate and would have never been banned. It continues to be available for loan at libraries in the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library system, she said.
As of now, Hewitt said, the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library system has stopped all collection reviews.
Any Questions?
Marie-Louise Gay, author/illustrator
Groundwood Books
c/o Publishers Group West
1700 Fourth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
9781554983827, $19.95, www.groundwoodbooks.com
"Any Questions?" is a fun, thought-provoking kid's book about the amazing process of writing a book. Colorful, zany illustrations of kids, all asking funny questions, narrate the description of writing a story. My personal favorite character commentator is the little gray striped cat who wishes he could fly. The talented author/illustrator describes fascinating parts of her creative process.....: "I draw and Paint. I cut and paste. I let my mind wander..... I shake my ideas around and turn them upside down and look at them flying out the window like a flock of birds. Suddenly, I know who lives in the forest.... a giant, a shy young giant with birds nesting in his hair. His story starts here...." The central part of "Any Questions?" presents a wonderful story about a shy giant who tends his forest and confronts a ferocious purple gobbling beast, then finally tames him by.... reading him a story! All the children and forest storybook characters love the story so much they don't want it to end, and that is where the end is in fact, the beginning. At the (actual) end of "Any Questions?" there is a list of real children's questions with the answers of award-winning author/illustrator Marie-Louise Gay. "Any Questions?" is a fabulous way to describe and explore the creative process of writing a story with children ages 6-9.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2014 Midwest Book Review
http://www.midwestbookreview.com/cbw/index.htm
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Source Citation
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"Any Questions?" Children's Bookwatch, Aug. 2014. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A381408032/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=24442719. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
QUOTED: "a delightful and interactive step into the world of creating engaging picture books for children."
Gay, Marie-Louise ANY QUESTIONS? Groundwood (Children's Picture Books) $19.95 8, 12 ISBN: 978-1-55498-382-7
Gay introduces young readers to her craft as an author and illustrator of children's books, simultaneously inviting their participation in creating the story. In a spread at the beginning, the author is addressed by a heaving crowd of young fans, asking her questions in their own authentic voices: "Do you have a pet rabbit? I do" and "Can you write a story about me?" The author then takes some of these inquisitive young characters through her process, using both the illustrations and the narrative to demonstrate how a picture book comes to life. The process isn't always easy. She experiments with many doodles and words. A number of ideas are tried and discarded, until the right setting and the characters finally reveal themselves; in this case, it's a shy giant who lives in the forest. A metastoryline emerges, with the author asking the children she is still addressing to help her further develop the giant's tale. The ideas blend together sweetly, with the children eventually finding themselves inside the story. The whimsical mixed-media illustrations invite exploration, and they include what appear to be handwritten, even cursive passages. The exceptional use of negative space allows readers to truly experience a story appearing in front of their eyes. A delightful and interactive step into the world of creating engaging picture books for children. (Picture book. 4-8)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2014 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Gay, Marie-Louise: ANY QUESTIONS?" Kirkus Reviews, 15 Aug. 2014. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A378247462/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=c0775078. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
GAY, Marie-Louise
Any Questions? [G]
Groundwood Books, 2014. 60p. Illus. Gr. 1-3. 978-1-55498-382-7. Hdbk. $19.95
Marie-Louise Gay's (Stella and Sam Series) newest picture book answers the question, "Where does a story start?" The children and animals that appear on the page collaborate with her by providing dialogue and ideas that become incorporated into a spontaneous story. "Let's put some penguins in the story. I love penguins ", Gay's inspirations for her books are many. Paper colour turns into a setting. White paper makes her think of snowstorms. Old, yellow paper makes her draw prehistoric backgrounds. If a word or phrase captures her imagination (snake pit, wacky wild wombat), they make their way into a story too. Characters may come from random doodles or scribbles. She does make writing look like fun (the pages are colourful and the settings imaginative) but she shows the down side too, like what happens when she has writer's block and the different ways she has learned to overcome it.
The reader (like the characters in the book) can become part of her story by writing or telling what happens next. English and home-school teachers could use this book to teach students how to write a story with interesting characters and attention-grabbing plots. Fans of the author's previous work will recognize a few of the characters (Stella and Caramba the cat) in this story. The artwork (rendered in watercolour, pencil, pastel, ink, and coloured pencil, and collage) is a mix of styles to distinguish between her story and the children's additions. This would be a useful book to get before the author comes for a school visit because she addresses many of the questions she is asked by students (at the back of the book) and she provides her mailing address in case children want to ask her any other questions.
Thematic Links: Writing; Stories; Authors and Illustrators; Imagination; Questions; Collaboration
[E] Excellent, enduring, everyone should see it!
[G] Good, even great at times, generally useful!
[A] Average, all right, has its applications
[P] Problematic, puzzling, poorly presented
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2014 Resource Links
http://www.atcl.ca
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
Boudreau, Tanya. "Gay, Marie-Louise: Any Questions?" Resource Links, vol. 20, no. 2, Dec. 2014, pp. 4+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A404446137/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=d096e6c9. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
QUOTED: "delightful creation."
GAY, Marie-Louise. Any Questions? illus. by Marie-Louise Gay. 60p. House of Anansi/Groundwood. 2014. Tr $19.95. ISBN 9781554983827.
K-Gr 2--Authors are asked many questions at school and library visits, such as "How many books have you written?" and "Where do your ideas come from?" In answering the question "Where does a story start?" the author/illustrator in this charming picture book demonstrates the method she uses for inspiration. Explaining that a thought can travel in many directions or go nowhere at all, Gay shows how opening up her mind can trigger an idea for a story. She begins by composing and illustrating a tale entitled "The Shy Young Giant" and midway through invites three children to assist her in continuing the fiction. The story-within-a-story technique makes the writing process clear, informative and fun. The kids have such a good time writing and drawing that when the story ends, they're excited to begin another. Engaging illustrations, in watercolor, pencil, pastels, and collage, feature speech bubbles, handwritten notes, and childlike sketches. Gay's delightful creation reveals how the combination of children's natural curiosity and imagination can be the perfect springboard for a story.--Maryann H. Owen, Children's Literature Specialist, Mt. Pleasant, WI
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Owen, Maryann H. "Gay, Marie-Louise. Any Questions?" School Library Journal, vol. 60, no. 10, Oct. 2014, pp. 82+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A384340058/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=2f313f44. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
Princess Pistachio
Marie-Louise Gay, trans. from the French by Jacob Homel. Pajama Press (Orca, dist.), $12.95 (48p) ISBN 978-1-927485-69-9
Gay (the Stella and Sam books) introduces a mercurial heroine named Pistachio Shoelace in this early reader series launch. An anonymous birthday gift of a golden crown confirms the redheaded, freckle-faced girl's belief that she is actually a princess from an island kingdom, where she was showered with lavish presents--"silver skates, invisible kites, a parrot that spoke five languages"--until a jealous witch whisked her away to live with "adoptive parents." Pistachio's jubilation over "discovering" her regal origins gives way to outrage when her parents and friends refuse to appreciate her royal status ("My real mother would never deny me anything," Pistachio huffs). Worse still, her baby sister, Penny, insists she's a princess (or rather "pwincess"), too. Airy spot illustrations keep the comedy fresh, drolly portraying Pistachio's lofty airs, which result in not-infrequent rages when the world doesn't bend to her will. Gay gives full credence to Pistachio's volatile emotions--she often lashes out at her sister in ways that are uncomfortably believable--which makes the reconciliation between the girls feel a bit rushed as the story concludes. Ages 5-8. (Feb.)
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"Princess Pistachio." Publishers Weekly, vol. 261, no. 50, 1 Dec. 2014, p. 55. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A392899790/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=27ef205c. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
GAY, Marie-Louise. Princess Pistachio. illus. by Marie-Louise Gay. 48p. Pajama Pr. 2015. Tr $12.95. ISBN 9781927485699.
K-Gr 2--On her birthday, Pistachio Shoelace gets an unsigned card that says "Happy birthday, my little princess" and a golden crown. She has suspected her whole life that she is actually a princess, so she weaves a tale that she believes is the story of her royal heritage. At dinner, donning her princess dress and crown, she informs her family that "From this day forth, you shall call me Princess Pistachio." Unfortunately, her annoying little sister Penny wants to follow in her footsteps and decides she will be a princess, too. In this easy chapter book comprised of five short chapters, Pistachio realizes that her own family, friends, and teacher, and even the neighborhood boys don't really acknowledge her new status and some make fun of her. Readers will be empathetic to her struggles, especially when she wishes her sister away, and then has to find her. Young readers transitioning to chapter books will be enthralled by Pistachio and her big personality and imagination. The pen-and-ink illustrations are tinted with bright water colors and will help readers visualize the girl's antics. VERDICT A wonderful new offering from Gay to take her picture book readers to the next stage.--Nancy Jo Lambert, McSpedden Elementary Frisco, TX
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Lambert, Nancy Jo. "Gay, Marie-Louise. Princess Pistachio." School Library Journal, vol. 61, no. 4, Apr. 2015, p. 139. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A408648953/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=fe450e14. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
QUOTED: "a playful and entertaining take on children's perennial questions surrounding ideas of personhood, family and community."
Gay, Marie-Louise PRINCESS PISTACHIO Pajama Press (Children's Fiction) $12.95 2, 2 ISBN: 978-1-927485-69-9
The arrival of a tiara in the mail is the tipping point in evidence for Pistachio Shoelace that she is really a princess--but no one seems to believe her.In five short and humorous chapters readers learn that Pistachio has long believed that a "ghastly witch, green with envy" stole her, the Papuan princess, and allowed her adoption by Mr. and Mrs. Shoelace of 23 Maple St. Pistachio attempts to dress and act the part of her ideal, pampered, "real princess"--but no one, including her mother, plays along. When she tries to avoid looking after her baby sister, Pistachio's mother only tells her that princesses "always obey their mothers, or they go without television for a week." And her best friend, Madeline, actually laughs at Pistachio's sudden, unexpected costume and behaviors. The skillful combination of text and illustrations addresses many serious concerns of early childhood--and even of parenthood--without straying from the book's tone of fun and frivolity. (Among the issues so adeptly addressed are adoption, sibling relationships, classmate rejection and a missing child.) The characters are pen-and-ink creations tinted with bright watercolors; Pistachio's russet braid and freckled face are reminiscent of Pippi Longstocking and the author's own Stella. Whimsical names (Pistachio's teacher is Mrs. Trumpethead) add to the fun. A playful and entertaining take on children's perennial questions surrounding ideas of personhood, family and community. (Early reader. 4-8)
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"Gay, Marie-Louise: PRINCESS PISTACHIO." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Dec. 2014, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A391851622/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=9ab6f9f2. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
Gay, Marie-Louise THE TRAVELING CIRCUS Groundwood (Children's Fiction) $15.95 4, 14 ISBN: 978-1-55498-420-6
A Canadian family's vacation in Croatia offers both typical road-trip zaniness and opportunities for deep reflection.When Charlie and Max find (under the kitchen stove) the postcard from Fred inviting the family to visit them on Vrgada, they know they are in for it. Older brother Charlie narrates the high jinks in a voice that is endearingly both knowing and impressionable. He is wise in the ways of his family, but he is also ready to try to understand Croatia. Mixed in with the usual vacation travails (car sickness, border pit stops, keeping tabs on his perpetually hungry little brother, Max) are sights and incidents very specific to their destination. Some are funny--apparently just about all Croatian men are named Slobodan, including family friend Fred--but just as many are poignant. They stop in an abandoned village seeded with land mines during Yugoslavia's brutal civil war; they encounter psychologically maimed war survivors. All of this is related in Charlie's convincing voice--he only half understands it but is deeply moved all the same. These hints of gravity punctuate but do not puncture the holiday fun; readers like Max and Charlie who have grown up in safety will emerge thoughtful but not traumatized. A salutary, unusual look at part of the world rarely seen in North American children's literature, wrapped up in family fun. (Fiction. 7-10)
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"Gay, Marie-Louise: THE TRAVELING CIRCUS." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Feb. 2015, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A401284161/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=b4007f37. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
The Traveling Circus
Illustrated by Marie-Louise Gay. Groundwood Books, 2015. 152p. Illus. Gr. 4-7. 978-1-55498-420-6. Hdbk. $15.95
[E]
This is the fourth book in the series which tells of the holiday adventures of Charlie and his brother, Max, and their somewhat unconventional parents. This adventure starts when Charlie finds a postcard that had been swept under the fridge for months. It reminds his parents of friends who live in Croatia, a country Charlie has not heard of, in a town that he cannot pronounce. The brothers find adventures wherever they go. enjoying the food and hospitality although they cannot speak the language.
This is a warm and amusing book that celebrates the enthusiasm of children to explore the unfamiliar world around them. Charlie is the narrator and talks from the perspective of an 11 year old boy and so he notices and comments on things that an adult might prefer not to mention! However, there are some serious messages in the book as Charlie discovers the troubled history of this part of the world and learns how long held grudges and feuds result in divisions that can lead to war.
There are numerous black and white cartoon style illustrations at chapter headers and throughout the text by Marie Louise Gay.
A great read aloud for the younger listener, or for the older reader to discover a little known part of the world.
Thematic Links: Travel; Humour; Holidays
Mavis Holder
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2015 Resource Links
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Holder, Mavis. "Gay, Marie-Louise and David Homel: The Traveling Circus." Resource Links, vol. 20, no. 4, Apr. 2015, pp. 10+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A412265603/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=1d179370. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
QUOTED: "The prose is spry, literate, and lively, making this, and the whole series, a must for budding world travelers."
The Traveling Circus
by Marie-Louise Gay and David Homel; illus. by Marie-Louise Gay
Intermediate Groundwood 144 pp.
4/15 978-1-55498-420-6 $15.95
e-book ed. 978-1-55498-784-9 $14.95
"Oh, boy! A country broken up by a war, where people spoke a language with no vowels, and that no one could understand. The perfect place for a vacation!" Narrator Charlie, his little brother Max, and their parents (Summer in the City, rev. 5/12) set off to Croatia in this latest travel romp. It's a place where people show how happy they are to see one another "by crushing each other with bear hugs and monster handshakes" and where Charlie and Max almost get arrested by a border guard because Max has to pee. It's also where they meet the mysterious hermit of Vrgada and learn a subtle lesson about the costs of war. The slim volume is packed full of adventures in an unfamiliar landscape, where Charlie and Max live out an old-fashioned kind of childhood with
a lot of freedom to go exploring. Adults are present, usually hanging out together and talking, talking, talking, ever happy to share a story that puts Charlie's adventures into cultural context. Charlie's wide-eyed first-person point of view keeps this installment as fresh and enjoyable as the others in the series. The prose is spry, literate, and lively, making this, and the whole series, a must for budding world travelers.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2015 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Sources, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.hbook.com/magazine/default.asp
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Schneider, Dean. "The Traveling Circus." The Horn Book Magazine, vol. 91, no. 4, July-Aug. 2015, p. 132. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A421324170/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=1432a02a. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
QUOTED: "fun romp, with a lovable narrator and enhanced by Gay's charming pencil drawings."
GAY, Marie-Louise & David Homel. The Traveling Circus, illus. by Marie-Louise Gay. 152p. Groundwood. Apr. 2015. Tr $15.95. ISBN 9781554984206; ebk. $14.95. ISBN 9781554987849.
Gr 2-4--Family adventures begun in Travels with My Family (2006) and On the Road Again (2008, both Groundwood) continue for Charlie, younger brother Max, and their parents. This time they are off to Croatia after Charlie discovers an old postcard under the stove. With a dreamy, artistic mother and a slightly spacey father, Charlie and always-hungry Max are free (sometimes unbelievably so at the ages of roughly 12 and six) to engage in zany, episodic encounters with the local environment and personalities. Fascinated by a language with almost no vowels (they head to the island of Krk), Charlie narrates fishing attempts gone wrong, labyrinths with scary hermit "minotaurs" in the center, goats used as traffic control, and war-torn villages. Charlie's voice and humor lighten even the darker moments, and his interaction with, and eventual appreciation of, even the quirkiest characters will guide young readers by example. VERDICT While the picaresque format precludes either a complex plot or any significant character development, this fun romp, with a lovable narrator and enhanced by Gay's charming pencil drawings, is recommended for children graduating from beginning readers to chapter books.--Katherine Koenig, The Ellis School, PA
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Koenig, Katherine. "Gay, Marie-Louise & David Homel. The Traveling Circus." School Library Journal, vol. 61, no. 4, Apr. 2015, p. 140. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A408648959/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=7ed69fdf. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
QUOTED: "Sure to be a big hit with young readers just graduating from picture books to their first chapter books."
GAY, Marie-Louise
Princess Pistachio and the Pest
Translated by Jacob Hamel. Pajama Press, 2015. 41 p. Illus. Gr. K-3. 9781-927485-73-6. Hdbk. $12.95
[G]
Princess Pistachio is elated to be out of school and starting summer vacation. She has big plans with friends for the first day, all of which are dashed in an instant when her mother insists that she take her younger sister Penny to the park so that she can finish her work. An exciting day exploring a cavern in the cemetery has now transformed into a boring excursion to the park with her annoying baby sister.
The day proves to be anything but boring however. Beginning with Penny's display of kleptomania at the grocers, followed by a disappearing act, near fatal accident and an encounter with Oldtooth, the witch in the park, Penny keeps Princess Pistachio hopping all day long. Seeing Pistachio exhausted and frustrated by the end of the day, Mom relents and offers to bring in a babysitter for the following day. When the pair hear who she has in mind however, they quickly decide they can fare better on their own.
This book is full of adorable illustrations that, along with the text, clearly capture both the frustrations and fondness older siblings have for their younger charges. Sure to be a big hit with young readers just graduating from picture books to their first chapter books.
Thematic Links: Siblings; Summer Vacations; Beginning Chapter Books
Moira Kirkpatrick
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2015 Resource Links
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Kirkpatrick, Moira. "Gay, Marie-Louise: Princess Pistachio and the Pest." Resource Links, vol. 20, no. 4, Apr. 2015, p. 10. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A412265602/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=2bc49eb1. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
GAY, Marie-Louise. Princess Pistachio and the Pest. tr. from French by Jacob Homel, illus. by Marie-Louise Gay. 48p. (Princess Pistachio). Pajama Pr. Aug. 2015. Tr $12.95. ISBN 9781927485736.
Gr 1-3--It is the first day of summer vacation, and Pistachio has big plans with her friends. There are caverns to explore in the cemetery! But Pistachio's plans are thwarted when her mom tells her she must take her baby sister Penny to the park instead. A grumpy Pistachio and an exuberant Penny, wearing a superman cape and bunny ears, no less, head off to the park--and a series of mishaps happen along the way. This entertaining transitional reader is perfectly suited for children ready to try chapter books. Translated from French, the text is rollicking and descriptive, offering strong vocabulary words such as careens, ecstatic, and flabbergasted. Gay's pen-and-ink illustrations are awash with soft watercolors in blues, purples, and warm yellows, allowing Pistachio's orange hair to pop off the pages. Penny is the perfect complement to Pistachio--full of energy and a daredevil side that keeps her big sister on her toes at all times. VERDICT Fans of other high-spirited girl characters like Junie B. Jones and Clementine will fall in love with Princess Pistachio.--Lisa Kropp, Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Bellport, NY
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2015 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Kropp, Lisa. "Gay, Marie-Louise. Princess Pistachio and the Pest." School Library Journal, vol. 61, no. 7, July 2015, p. 71. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A420435519/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=56a18980. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
QUOTED: "Long live Princess Pistachio."
Gay, Marie-Louise PRINCESS PISTACHIO AND THE PEST Pajama Press (Children's Fiction) $12.95 8, 3 ISBN: 978-1-927485-73-6
Princess Pistachio Shoelace's summer vacation is not starting out on a high note. She has big plans to meet with her friends to search for treasure. But her mother insists that she must take her little sister, Penny, to the park. Penny is delighted, but Pistachio is definitely feeling put-upon. Penny, dressed in a bunny hat and a cape and perched in a wagon filled with toys and the dog, exhorts Pistachio to "giddy up." The day goes from bad to worse, as Penny manages to cause a great deal of trouble, especially when Pistachio has momentary lapses of attention. Penny sneaks fruit from the grocer, Mr. Pomodoro, and Pistachio is blamed. Penny climbs a wall and falls off, into the garden of Mrs. Oldtooth, the neighborhood witch. When Penny swims in the park fountain and pulls out some coins, Pistachio is blamed again. It has been a decidedly unroyal day, and her frustration is compounded by their mother's clueless reaction. In four breathless, fast-paced chapters, Gay once again weaves a frantically funny tale with deliciously named characters, while subtly recognizing some underlying concerns regarding sibling responsibility and difficulties with adult-child communication. Descriptive and age-appropriate language flows naturally and is in perfect tandem with the brightly hued illustrations that depict redheaded, freckle-faced Pistachio's every changing emotion. Young readers will cheer for her. Long live Princess Pistachio. (Early reader. 4-8)
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"Gay, Marie-Louise: PRINCESS PISTACHIO AND THE PEST." Kirkus Reviews, 15 June 2015. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A417619428/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=12def8a4. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
Jenkins, Emily TIGER AND BADGER Candlewick (Children's Picture Books) $15.99 2, 9 ISBN: 978-0-7636-6604-0
Tiger and Badger are very young--maybe 4--and they are best friends, doing as best friends do. When Badger finds Tiger in her chair, eating her orange slices, Badger points out with impeccable logic that she was in that chair, before. Then Badger and Tiger (and Bad Monkey, a stuffie of uncertain provenance) want a Popsicle. But there is only one Popsicle. Badger eats all of it. Tiger is furious at her, and Bad Monkey gets thrown up into a tree, leading to this classic exchange: " 'You're mean,' says Tiger. 'You ate the whole thing.' 'No, you're mean,' says Badger. 'You threw Bad Monkey up high.' 'No, you're mean,' says Tiger. 'You made me throw Bad Monkey.' / 'Fine.' " However, with the help of a spatula, some books, and that chair, the friends eventually cooperate. Bad Monkey is rescued, and then there is an episode of pushing, tail-pulling, and a lot of yelling. Then there are funny faces and laughing. They are best friends. The pictures, in watercolor, acrylic, and pencil, are a mosaic of tiny, exquisite details of leaves, branches, fruit, flowers, birds, and toys in a slightly surreal landscape of hills and trees and sunlight. Tiger's whiskers seem always to be blowing in the wind, and Badger exudes a comfortable, if pointy-nosed, solidity. A very funny and fine tribute to a very young friendship. (Picture book. 4-7)
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"Jenkins, Emily: TIGER AND BADGER." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Nov. 2015. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A434352268/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=6a3682e1. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
QUOTED: "a lighthearted yet spot-on look at friendship from a child's point of view."
JENKINS, Emily. Tiger and Badger. illus. by Marie-Louise Gay. 32p. Candlewick. Feb. 2016. Tr $15.99. ISBN 9780763666040.
PreS-Gr 1--Jenkins and Gay describe the ups and downs of a friendship between two adorable animals. Simple and repetitive, the dialogue-heavy text rings true. Tiger and Badger argue over who gets to sit in a particular chair, who gets the last popsicle, and whether their stuffed monkey is really a monster, and their exchanges will elicit knowing smiles from parents. The two always manage to make up, however, even when their latest fight leaves both of them lying on the ground howling. The exuberant loose-lined watercolor, acrylic, and pencil illustrations are cartoon-like, with plenty of motion lines and dark clouds that appear over characters' heads to indicate anger. The visuals reinforce the mood in other ways, too; for instance, after Tiger and Badger's big fight, the two are depicted on different sides of the spread, staring accusingly at each other. Jenkins and Gay display an intuitive understanding of a child's mentality, from the chaotic look and feel of the outdoor landscape--haphazardly dotted with trees, grazing cows, chairs, and toys--to the range of emotions that Tiger and Badger experience. The pair go quickly from frustration to tears and tantrums, but they are just as fast to forgive each other. VERDICT While picture books centering on pals coping with disagreements are common, this gentle and quirky addition is sure to please. A lighthearted yet spot-on look at friendship from a child's point of view--Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2015 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Dar, Mahnaz. "Jenkins, Emily. Tiger and Badger." School Library Journal, vol. 61, no. 12, Dec. 2015, p. 91. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A436437369/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=f625f60f. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
Tiger and Badger
Emily Jenkins, illus. by Marie-Louise Gay.
Candlewick, $15.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-76366604-0
Tiger and Badger love each other, but they argue a lot---loudly. Each wears a dramatic dress-up hat, and they play in a flowered meadow furnished with assorted chairs and a dresser. When Badger's stuffed toy Bad Monkey gets stuck in a tree, the two become allies: "Okay. We can use my spatula," says Badger. "And the books. And my chair," adds Tiger, who holds Badger so she can flick Bad Monkey out of the tree. But soon it's back to trouble as they clash about what to do next. "Tiger throws himself on the ground. He is so sad and mad." Gay (the Stella and Sam series) uses delicate ink-and-wash drawings to find humor in all kinds of places, from the scribbled black clouds that hang over the heads of the friends when they're angry to the movements of sky and birds that mirror the emotional flow of their exchanges.
Jenkins (A Fine Dessert), meanwhile, nails the high-intensity, high-energy nature of Tiger and Badger's friendship as her story zigzags from selfishness to sharing, offense to reconciliation, tantrum to teamwork. Ages 2-5. (Feb.)
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"Tiger and Badger." Publishers Weekly, vol. 262, no. 43, 26 Oct. 2015, p. 74. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A443055111/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=a51d3bec. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
QUOTED: "This picture book portrays childhood friendships in a witty, perceptive fashion."
Tiger and Badger. By Emily Jenkins. Illus. by Marie-Louise Gay. Feb. 2016. 32p. Candlewick, $15.99 (9780763666040). K-Gr. 2.
Tiger and Badger are best friends, though sometimes ... well, you could say they have tiffs. OK, knock-down, drag-out fights. The squabbling begins with a dispute over whether Badger is Tiger's best friend or Tiger is Badger's best friend. With a hug, they make up. Temporarily. Next, Tiger provokes Badger by sitting in her chair and eating her orange slices. Angry but resourceful, Badger lures him away and reclaims her seat. Later, Badger eats the only Popsicle. Tiger throws her stuffed animal into a tree. Tensions rise and fall, but, in the end, Tiger and Badger are best friends. Jenkins' text captures the dynamics of children's play (and their peer-to-peer relationships) with precision, humor, and style. Kids will enjoy watching the characters mouth off and act out with abandon, knowing that all will end well. Created with watercolor, pencil, and collage, the illustrations include a fanciful outdoor setting, improbably strewn with household goods (spatula, fishbowl, chest of drawers) and creatively patterned birds and flowers. But on every page, the eye is drawn first to the characters, who interact, overreact, and express intense emotions in direct, cartoon-style ways. Great for reading aloud, this picture book portrays childhood friendships in a witty, perceptive fashion.--Carolyn Phelan
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2015 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
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Phelan, Carolyn. "Tiger and Badger." Booklist, vol. 112, no. 8, 15 Dec. 2015, p. 60. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A439362702/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=d29e8fec. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
Gay, Marie-Louise SHORT STORIES FOR LITTLE MONSTERS Groundwood (Children's Picture Books) $19.95 3, 14 ISBN: 978-1-55498-896-9
Nineteen short stories explore some enormously funny ideas. Ideas are big and things are often more than they seem in each of these brief vignettes, which are divided like chapters. One story shows snails having anxious nightmares about going too fast; another has a mother who foils her children's bedtime games with her ability to see through ceilings; and still another explores the secret life of rabbits as they enjoy a whimsical subterranean wonderland. Although the diverse cast of characters seems to occasionally appear across multiple narratives, each of the stories is separate and self-contained, allowing readers to decide if and how the snapshot vignettes might be connected. Nearly all of the stories are paneled, employ speech bubbles, and are presented in sweeping double-page spreads, providing an early primer for readers working their way toward graphic novels, as the author's frenetic, childlike illustrations and deceptively simple narratives each hit with a potent humor just this side of nonsense. Readers searching for an anchor of plot among the playful absurdity may find themselves a little disoriented, but fans of Louis Sachar's Wayside School stories and Shel Silverstein's repertoire of drawings will delight as this picture book joins their ranks. Frivolity for surface amusement with a touch of poignancy for pondering. (Picture book. 3-7)
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"Gay, Marie-Louise: SHORT STORIES FOR LITTLE MONSTERS." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Jan. 2017, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A477242269/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=3a5a20de. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
GAY, Marie-Louise. Short Stories for Little Monsters, illus. by Marie-Louise Gay. 48p. Groundwood. Mar. 2017. Tr $19.95. ISBN 9781554988969.
K-Gr 3--In this comic collection disguised as a picture book, each short, highly imaginative story is contained on a spread. Readers can consume them in a single sitting or one at a time (though they'll notice that some characters appear in more than one tale). The first entry, "When I Close My Eyes," effectively sets the stage for the sagas that follow. In it, a boy tries to hurry along a younger girl, presumably his sister. She asks him to wait so she can tell him what she sees with her eyes closed. In scoffing at the notion, the bigger boy misses the glorious scenes the girl envisions as he pulls her on. Detailed line and wash illustrations filled with humor depict everyday goings-on and childlike antics and present a multiracial cast of kids and adults (plus even a few nonhuman creatures, such as snails, trees, and worms). Conversations in thought bubbles complement the drawings, which extend beyond the confines of tire comic strip boxes. VERDICT This must-have volume is worth reading multiple times to enjoy the humor and to revisit the witty illustrations and snappy dialogue.--Maria B. Salvadore, formerly at District of Columbia Public Library
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Salvadore, Maria B. "Gay, Marie-Louise. Short Stories for Little Monsters." School Library Journal, vol. 63, no. 2, Feb. 2017, p. 69. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A479405495/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=68323282. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
Short Stories for Little Monsters
Marie-Louise Gay. Groundwood (PGW, dlst.),$19.99 (48p) ISBN 978-1-55498-896-9
In these comics-style snapshots of whimsy, Gay (Tiger and Badger) lets children and other creatures break the rules of ordinary life. In one of three "Snail Nightmares," a snail can't stop its forward momentum and crashes into the end of its comic strip. A girl tests out replacement noses after breaking hers "into a thousand pieces" while playing on a laundry line. And one boy fears that sharks might lurk in a swimming hole--and turns out to be right. Gay's spidery lines capture her characters' flyaway hair, the exuberant antics of her animals, and the way her children's loose-fitting clothing seems to stay up in defiance of gravity. Brilliant colors abound, trees can talk, and the interiors of snail shells feature chandeliers and slipcovered armchairs. In the final comic, two children debate what might be down a rabbit hole. "Maybe rabbits build beautiful houses underground," the girl says. "Are you kidding?" the boy responds. The truth is bigger than either of them: a cutaway view of the hole reveals a rabbit paradise with its own beachfront and Ferris wheel. Imagination makes the strangest things possible. Ages 5-8. (Mar.)
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"Short Stories for Little Monsters." Publishers Weekly, vol. 264, no. 4, 23 Jan. 2017, pp. 79+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A479714248/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=ec32228a. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
QUOTED: "original, inventive, pore-over-able, and child-pleasing."
Short Stories for Little Monsters
by Marie-Louise Gay; illus. by the author
Primary Groundwood 48 pp.
3/17 978-1-55498-896-9 $19.95
Here's a collection of super-short stories--one per double-page spread--in the growing tradition of such collections (recently, for instance, One Day, the End, rev. 9/15; Benjamin Bear in "Brain Storms!" rev. 5/15). This one, mainly in comics format, is marked by authorillustrator Gay's signature energy, cheerful near-chaos, and abundance of humor. Characters recur--and not just the happily messy children in Gay's diverse mix, but also snails, worms, and ants. "Snail Nightmares" features three multi-paneled strips picturing a snail getting up such a head of steam it can't stop (and crashes into the farright edge of the comic strip); a snail who realizes it's lost its shell ("Eek! My pants!"); and a snail being teased by a couple of sniggering birds (they're in the far-left panel holding down its tail while the snail, in the far-right panel, says, "Verrry funny"). The book's layout is varied and creative, with the panels themselves often incorporated into the art, as when two sides of a panel serve as anchors for a clothesline in "The Incredible Invisible Twins," or when the wind blows a panel right off its strip in a story about making faces that then get stuck. A rare (quite gorgeous, and very funny) unpaneled spread reveals what trees talk about to one another. Original, inventive, pore-over-able, and child-pleasing; it's well worth being deemed a "little monster" to be the audience for this book.
Caption: Short Stories for Little Monsters. [c] 2017 by Marie-Louise Gay.
Parravano, Martha V.
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Parravano, Martha V. "Short Stories for Little Monsters." The Horn Book Magazine, vol. 93, no. 2, Mar.-Apr. 2017, pp. 68+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A485970928/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=32c3c810. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
QUOTED: "The creativity in this book is abundant."
GAY, Marie-Louise
Short Stories for Little Monsters
Groundwood Books, 2017. 42p. Illus. Gr. K-2. 978-1-55498-896-9. Hdbk. $19.95
Montreal author Marie-Louise Gay (Stella and Sam Series) has written a new picture book containing nineteen short stories about children and animals with big imaginations. The stories are two to four pages in length and illustrated in comic book style with panels and speech bubbles. When I Close My Eyes is about a little girl who wants her big brother to guess what she sees when her eyes are shut. "You can't see anything," he says. Her answer is a collage of the impossible where clocks grow like trees and flowers grow upside down like bats. In Snail Nightmares, three comic strips reveal what snails do not like dreaming about when their eyes are closed. One is a nightmare that is common with people. In What Do Cats See? and What Games Do Cats Play?, the author-illustrator pokes fun at cats. She shows them attacking "terrifying socks" and "evil dust balls". There are stories about serious topics like feeling invisible and being ignored (The Incredible Invisible Boy, The Incredible Invisible Twins) and trying to discern the difference between the truth and a lie (Blowing in the Wind, Jump!). Most of the stories feature school age children but three stories include an adult; a teacher in Who? Me? and Art? and a mother in Zombie Mom and Lies My Mother Told Me.
The creativity in this book is abundant because the author envisions a world where trees complain (a woodpecker gives a tree a headache) and laugh (the bunnies are tickling them) and rabbits have secret lives where they are capable of piloting carrots, and rhinoceros (spelled rhisonoros on purpose) are helpful and kind. Children ages 4-7 could understand these stories but younger children will also enjoy the artwork because it's colourful and fun.
Thematic Links: Monsters; Comics; Children; Observations
Tanya Boudreau
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Boudreau, Tanya. "Gay, Marie-Louise: Short Stories for Little Monsters." Resource Links, vol. 22, no. 4, Apr. 2017, p. 4. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A495033870/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=b0ce9f8b. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
QUOTED: "Gay's easy, breezy syntax is wonderfully descriptive."
Gay, Marie-Louise PRINCESS PISTACHIO AND MAURICE THE MAGNIFICENT Pajama Press (Children's Fiction) $10.95 9, 4 ISBN: 978-1-77278-021-5
Irrepressible Princess Pistachio is back in all her enthusiastic glory. Her dog, Dog, is perfectly content to spend his days sleeping on his cushion. He snorts, grunts, and occasionally pulls himself up only to lie down again. He is certainly not interested in playing games or doing anything that involves effort. Redheaded, freckle-faced, white Pistachio is worried that he is suffering from boredom. Since she is not one to accept anything ordinary, she is determined to get some excitement into his life. As usual, she plunges headlong into her project. Even after a hilarious but rather disastrous Show and Tell, Pistachio refuses to give up. A sign advertising an audition for a "talented, intelligent, beautiful dog" gives her new hope. Of course Dog's sleeping ability wins the day, and he becomes a star, renamed Maurice the Magnificent. Pistachio loves the attention and neglects her best friend, brown-skinned Madeline, who is reduced to drastic measures to get Pistachio to remember that friendship. Gay's easy, breezy syntax is wonderfully descriptive even as it skillfully addresses life lessons about friendship, self-involvement, and forgiveness. The cast of characters is eccentric and diverse, and teacher Mr. Grumblebrain's name is wonderfully inventive. Ink, watercolor, and colored-pencil illustrations are full of life and humor, perfectly complementing the action. Breathless, laugh-out-loud fun. (Early reader. 4-8)
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"Gay, Marie-Louise: PRINCESS PISTACHIO AND MAURICE THE MAGNIFICENT." Kirkus Reviews, 15 July 2017, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A498344893/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=f568b038. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
QUOTED: "The child appeal of this tale will keep independent readers chuckling and wanting more."
GAY, Marie-Louise. Princess Pistachio and Maurice the Magnificent. illus. by MarieLouise Gay. 52p. Pajama. Sept. 2017. Tr $10.95. ISBN 9781772780215.
Gr 1-3--This lighthearted story about a young girl and her lazy dog will entice young readers who are venturing into chapter books. When Pistachio Shoelace's dog's comical and haphazard rise to fame as actor "Maurice the Magnificent" results in a neglected friendship, the girl hilariously learns her lesson. Readers will get a kick out of Maurice's talent: "No one has ever seen an actor sleep or snore with such flair." Such kid-centric humor prevents the plot from veering into didacticism, while still getting a simple, universal message across. Gay has also successfully illustrated for other authors, and inventing her own world with Pistachio, Maurice, Madeleine, and minor but memorable other characters such as Mr. Grumblebrain has allowed her expertise with water-based media to shine. Illustrations depicting Pistachio's classmates' laughter during show and tell and the series of dogs trying out for the Doggone Theater's lead role (from trumpeting Chihuahuas to a beagle balancing a teacup on her nose) all fit perfectly with the text's silly and sweet tone. VERDICT The child appeal of this tale will keep independent readers chuckling and wanting more; a strongly recommended purchase.--Jennifer Gibson, SUNY Cortland
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Gibson, Jennifer. "Gay, Marie-Louise. Princess Pistachio and Maurice the Magnificent." School Library Journal, vol. 63, no. 7, July 2017, p. 67. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A497611075/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=722bb913. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
GAY, Marie-Louise
Princess Pistachio and Maurice the Magnificent (Princess Pistachio
Pajama Press, 2017. 52p.
Illus. Gr. 1-4. 978-1772780215. Hdbk. $12.95
[G]
This is the third installment in the Princess Pistachio Series, written and illustrated by the award-winning and prolific author, Marie-Louise Gay.
Princess Pistachio has gotten it into her head that her dog's life is far too drab, and if she doesn't do something about it, and fast, he's likely to die of boredom. She decides school is the answer for Dog, and packs him up in her backpack the next day. She has forgotten it is show-and-tell day however, and has no choice but to use Dog for her presentation. Delighted, Pistachio's classmates think Dog is hilarious and he is very clearly a natural ham. Mr. Grumblebrain is not amused.
Later in the week, Pistachio sees an advertisement for a talented dog to play a role at the local theatre, and she immediately knows the role was meant for Dog. Her friend Madeline disagrees, thinking Dog could never pull it off. Naturally, this only makes Pistachio more determined to get Dog that role, and she vows to get him to co-operate. Luckily, the role turns out to be perfect for Pistachio's lazy, tired mutt. As a newly anointed theatre star, Pistachio changes Dog's name to Maurice the Magnificent, sure that this is the beginning of an amazing career, despite everything Madeline says against it.
After six months of a successful ran, with Pistachio being completely preoccupied with her dog's newfound stardom, Maurice the Magnificent suddenly goes missing. A ransom note confirms Pistachio's suspicions--Maurice has been dognapped! Pistachio seeks Madeline's advice, but Madeline has been feeling neglected and left out and sadly turns her away. Pistachio is on her own to figure out who has stolen her dog and how to get him back.
For the primary crowd, this story would likely work best as a read-aloud, as there are many words that beginning readers would stumble on. Alternatively, it would be a good fit for slightly more developed readers transitioning to chapters. The text is quite humorous, and the silliness in the character's names and antics will delight the young crowd. Whimsical drawings in Gay's signature style are on each page, and the layout of text and illustrations will be very appealing for the targeted age.
Thematic Links: Dogs; Friendship; Theatre; Early Chapter Books; Loyalty; Conflicts
[G] Good, even great at times, generally useful!
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Rowlinson, Nicole. "GAY, Marie-Louise Princess Pistachio and Maurice the Magnificent (Princess Pistachio Series)." Resource Links, vol. 23, no. 1, Oct. 2017, pp. 19+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A514884075/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=c3eca588. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
GAY, Marie-Louise. Mustafa, illus. by Marie-Louise Gay. 40p. Ground-wood. Aug. 2018. Tr $19.95. ISBN 9781773061382.
PreS-Gr 3--A young boy has traveled a long way to this new country from his old one, where the trees were dusty and gray and there was not a lot of extra food. But here, in this new country, people feed the birds and the squirrels, and the trees magically turn from lush green to bright jewel-toned colors. Mustafa is amazed by all he sees around him and learns about the culture of this new place through observation; but when he tries to engage with a little wave or a smile, he goes unnoticed. Mustafa wonders if he is invisible, but his mother assures him that he is not. One day, a little girl that Mustafa has observed multiple times in the park reaches out to him, making a connection and a lasting impression. This latest from Gay is a beautifully written and illustrated picture book for elementary-aged children. The story of a young boy moving to an unfamiliar place and finding his way, even when another language is spoken, is one that all children should hear. His experience is one that many kids can relate to and others should be aware of. Mustafa is brave and courageous, putting himself out there to learn about the world around him and make a new friend. The mixed-media illustrations are drawn delicately but filled in with rich, bold colors. Even young children not yet able to read will be able to look at the pictures, follow the story line, and feel the emotions. VERDICT One for the must-be-purchased List.--Amy Shepherd, St. Anne's Episcopal School, Middleton, DE
KEY: * Excellent in relation to other titles on the same subject or in the same genre | Tr Hardcover trade binding | lib. ed. Publisher's library binding | Board Board book | pap. Paperback | e eBook original | BL Bilingual | POP Popular Picks
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Shepherd, Amy. "GAY, Marie-Louise. Mustafa." School Library Journal, vol. 64, no. 7, July 2018, p. 52. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A545432328/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=904d3268. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
QUOTED: "an invaluable resource for those working with children from resettled refugee families as well as host communities."
Gay, Marie-Louise MUSTAFA Groundwood (Children's Fiction) $19.95 8, 7 ISBN: 978-1-77306-138-2
A touching story about adjustment, recovery, love, and friendship, told of a boy whose family moves to a new country due to war.
As Mustafa, a black-haired, brown-skinned boy who seems to be from Syria or Iraq, settles into his new environment, he observes everything around him: In the nearby park, there are green trees, flowers that look like his grandmother's teacups, and bugs that resemble jewels. He also sees a blonde, white girl with a cat and runs away after she talks to him with words he cannot understand. When he visits the park the next day, he finds many new interesting things, among which is a perfect stick for drawing. He draws an airplane and a burning house and runs away again when the girl comes. She creates butterflies and flowers that erase the previous drawing. Mustafa later sees children playing and waves to them, but they don't notice him. One day he hears a tune he already knows, but no one pays attention when he whistles along with it. "Am I invisible?" he asks his mom. "If you were invisible, I couldn't hug you, could I?" she says. Eventually, the girl succeeds in communicating with Mustafa, and a new friendship is born. Gay's customarily splashy, scratchy illustrations effectively depict Mustafa's isolation and yearning even as her text carefully delineates what about his new home is familiar and what is strange.
An invaluable resource for those working with children from resettled refugee families as well as host communities. (Picture book. 3-8)
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"Gay, Marie-Louise: MUSTAFA." Kirkus Reviews, 15 May 2018. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A538293992/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=000c0dae. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
QUOTED: "perfectly pitched to help young children explore empathy in a thoughtful, nonthreatening manner."
Mustafa. By Marie-Louise Gay. Illus. by the author. Aug. 2018.40p. Groundwood, $19.95 (9781773061382). K-Gr. 3.
Gay's latest picture-book opens with a vast landscape peopled with tiny figures who carry bundles and board a small boat to a city in the distance. Nonspecific references to old and new countries identify Mustafa and his family as immigrants, and his dreams and drawings suggest that they left because of war. Small details provide contrast between the two places. Mustafa enjoys the green space of a park, where he is amazed to see an old woman scatter crumbs for birds: there was no food to spare before. Mustafa finds comfort in noticing the moon, ants, caterpillars, and bees look the same in both places. With people, though, Mustafa feels invisible. One day a girl in the park offers him a welcome, and over time the two learn to communicate with their drawings. A variety of media, including watercolor, ink, colored pencil, and crayon, are used to produce nuanced illustrations depicting changing seasons and shifting perspectives. Perfectly pitched to help young children explore empathy in a thoughtful, nonthreatening manner. --Lucinda Whitehurst
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 American Library Association
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Whitehurst, Lucinda. "Mustafa." Booklist, vol. 114, no. 19-20, 1 June 2018, pp. 110+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A546287711/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=1ba27102. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
Mustafa
by Marie-Louise Gay; illus. by the author
Primary, Intermediate Groundwood 40 pp. 8/18 978-1-77306-138-2 $19.95
In this touching picture book, a boy travels "a very, very long way" to live in a new country. While it's never explicitly stated, visual clues indicate that he's a Syrian refugee (his mother wears a headscarf, and shoes are left outside the front door--an Arab custom). Mustafa shows signs of trauma. Dreams of "smoke and fire and loud noises" wake him; he hides when he meets someone new; and during his daily trips to the park he picks up a stick and draws scenes from his former life: "He draws the house he used to live in. He draws clouds of smoke and fire. He draws broken trees." A silent observer who is never noticed by others, Mustafa asks his mother, "Am I invisible?" Finally, one girl coaxes Mustafa out of his isolation by inviting him to feed fish in a koi pond. The book ends with a satisfying feeling that this fish-out-of-water may have found a kindred spirit with whom to connect. The exuberant, colorful watercolor, ink, colored-pencil, crayon, and collage illustrations lighten the story considerably but shift to moments of contemplation in Mustafa's renderings of war and despair. This nuanced book shows the necessity of friendship for those who carry unseen emotional scars from war.
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Azzam, Julie Hakim. "Mustafa." The Horn Book Magazine, vol. 94, no. 5, Sept.-Oct. 2018, pp. 60+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A552263115/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=6d441dd3. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
Howe, James HOUNDSLEY AND CATINA AND COUSIN WAGSTER Candlewick (Children's Fiction) $15.99 9, 4 ISBN: 978-0-7636-4709-4
In Houndsley and Catina's latest, Houndsley's globe-trotting cousin, Wagster, pays the two best friends a visit.
From the moment he arrives, "razzle-dazzle" Wagster is all charm. Catina is immediately smitten after he pays her a compliment and regales her with stories of his travels. Houndsley, on the other hand, begins to feel increasingly invisible. Whether cooking scrumptious desserts or imitating famous movie stars, Cousin Wagster is good at everything! Houndsley wrestles with his feelings of inadequacy until he finally confronts Catina about it at their dance class. Catina responds in simile: Whereas Wagster is like the beautiful butterfly who flits around from garden to garden, Houndsley is like the butterfly that stays. Plus, Wagster's parting gift proves that he's not so perfect after all--and that's totally fine! Howe's ode to true friendship and the quiet pleasures of home combines sight words with more complex vocabulary and a few lyrical passages. The story is divided into three chapters, with ample leading between lines of text (which range from two to 15 lines per page). Gay's watercolor, pencil, and collage illustrations enrich the story with muted colors and repeated patterns. She excels at capturing small details and telling little stories within the larger one--a wonderful treat for this sparse text.
As sweet as Houndsley's key-lime pie with whipped cream. More, please. (Early reader. 5-8)
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"Howe, James: HOUNDSLEY AND CATINA AND COUSIN WAGSTER." Kirkus Reviews, 15 July 2018. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A546323184/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=196bac1b. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
QUOTED: "wonderful transitional book for newly independent readers."
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HOWE, James. Houndsley and Catina and Cousin Wagster
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Author: Jayna Ramsey
Date: Sept. 2018
From: School Library Journal(Vol. 64, Issue 9)
Publisher: Library Journals, LLC
Document Type: Book review; Brief article; Children's review
Length: 280 words
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HOWE, James. Houndsley and Catina and Cousin Wagster. illus. by Marie-Louise Gay. 48p. (Houndsley and Catina: Bk. 5). Candlewick. Sept. 2018. Tr $15.99. ISBN 9780763647094.
Gr 1-3-Houndsley and Catina are back for another adventure when cousin Wagster comes to visit. Unlike Houndsley, who is a rather quiet dog, his cousin Wagster is loud and fall of stories and also seems to be good at everything. As Houndsley, Wagster, and Catina cook dinner, play Ping-Pong, and go on a picnic, Houndsley finds the fact that charming Wagster is good at everything a little disheartening. When Houndsley and Catina get some time away, Houndsley must find a way to tell Catina how he has been feeling a bit neglected and is worried about their friendship. Of course, Catina is sensitive to how Houndsley is feeling and reassures him that they are the very best of friends and nothing will change that. With three short chapters, this is a great book to transition independent readers from picture books to something a little more challenging. Even though it is on the longer side, this entry is still very engaging. Gay's delightful artwork, done in watercolor and pencil, adds a playful quality to the story and don't overwhelm the page, leaving plenty of space for the paragraphs of text. VERDICT Add this wonderful transitional book for newly independent readers to most collections.--Jayna Ramsey, Douglas County Libraries in Parker, CO
KEY: * Excellent in relation to other titles on the same subject or in the same genre | Tr Hardcover trade binding | lib. ed. Publisher's library binding | Board Board book | pap. Paperback | e eBook original | BL Bilingual | POP Popular Picks
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Ramsey, Jayna. "HOWE, James. Houndsley and Catina and Cousin Wagster." School Library Journal, vol. 64, no. 9, Sept. 2018, p. 99. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A553280043/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=4de395af. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
HOWE, James
Houndsley and Catina and Cousin Wagster
Illustrated by Marie-Louise
Gay. Candlewick Press, 2018. 44p. Illus. Gr. K-2. 9780-7636-4709-4. Hdbk. $18.00
[E]
Houndsley feels jealous of his cousin Wagster. When he comes to visit, he impresses all Houndsley's friends with his tales of adventure (he travels all over the world) and with demonstrations of his many talents (cooking, dancing, card tricks). Houndsley grows quieter as Wagster's stay gets longer. When Houndsley's best friend Catina notices his silence, he confides in her how he's worried about losing their friendship. Catina listens, and then reassures him that will not happen by comparing his friendship to, "a beautiful butterfly that stays in the garden. You make every day brighter by being you. " The two friends hug and then discover a pair of homemade gifts Wagster left them before he went back home. The appearance of the presents is a surprise, but they remind Houndsley (and the readers) that no one is perfect.
The story of Wagster's arrival is told in three short chapters. Watercolour, pencil, and collage illustrations are set in the early fall. Leaves are falling, hats are worn, but a few flowers still dot the land. When the scenery is outdoors, Gay adds insects, birds, and wildlife to the scenes. The main characters are anthropomorphic (they wear clothes, talk and walk upright) and exhibit feelings and thoughts children experience such as feeling sad and left out. Catina's sensitivity and kindness to her friend's emotions is something readers can take away and use in their own lives. Howe (author of the Bunnicula series) has written five other books starring Houndsley and Catina, all illustrated by the Canadian illustrator Marie-Louise Gay.
Thematic Links: Friendship; Family; Dogs and Cats; Early Chapter Books; Jealousy
Tanya Boudreau
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Boudreau, Tanya. "HOWE, James: Houndsley and Catina and Cousin Wagster." Resource Links, vol. 24, no. 2, Dec. 2018, p. 6. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A570046455/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=dfd7ddf6. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
QUOTED: "a real winner that's as delightful as it is constructive."
Gay, Marie-Louise FERN AND HORN Groundwood (Children's Fiction) $18.95 9, 3 ISBN: 978-1-77306-226-6
Sibling rivalry as an art form.
Fern, a little girl with big curly hair and an imagination as vast as the universe, loves to draw, especially natural things like plants and insects. The illustrations suggest that Fern draws on everything: the walls, couch, floor, window--turning the indoors into an outdoor garden. When her brother, Horn, ambles in, Fern offers him her "favorite purple crayon," but he wants to borrow them all. Although Horn feels that "his flowers look like purple pancakes" (they do!) and "his caterpillars look like striped socks" (he's right!), Fern advises him to draw whatever he wants. Horn might not draw objects accurately, but he can surely draw them big. He creates a ferocious, floor-sized elephant that comes to life and stomps Fern's flowers and swallows her insects. Faced with the destructive nature of Horn's sentient creations, Fern sets her sights somewhere out of reach: the stars. She loans Horn her scissors, not realizing that while cutting out stars, he will deconstruct the page on which he appears…to make a star-eating polar bear. Gay's take-you-by-surprise, childlike mixed-media illustrations wittily shine a spotlight on children's creativity and ingenuity, affirming that sharing can solve a multitude of conflicts…sometimes. Both children have light-brown skin and tightly curled black hair.
A real winner that's as delightful as it is constructive. (Picture book. 4-8)
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"Gay, Marie-Louise: FERN AND HORN." Kirkus Reviews, 15 June 2019. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A588726786/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=40dcb0ad. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
GAY, Marie-Louise. Fern and Horn, illus. by Marie-Louise Gay. 48p. Groundwood. Sept. 2019. Tr $18.95. ISBN 9781773062266.
PreS-Gr 2--A sibling pair explores the creative possibilities of destruction in a madcap battle of crafting and imagination. Fem--an olive-skinned girl with a striped top and a swoop of curly black hair--loves drawing and cutting, producing flowers, butterflies, and stars. She happily shares her art supplies with her brother, Horn, a slightly smaller boy with a slightly smaller swoop of hair. Horn finds Fern's artistic endeavors too finicky, opting instead to fashion (or imagine?) gigantic elephants and polar bears who wreak havoc on Fern's more delicate creations. Here's where Gay's book departs from most titles about a wild younger brother. Instead of reacting with wounded frustration or older sibling condescension, Fern responds to Horn's playful chaos with determination. She builds anew, shifting the narrative to meet each fresh challenge, such as throwing chocolate chip cookies from a cardboard castle to subdue a dragon-suited Horn. Repeated lines and rich vocabulary pair with sweeping spreads in vibrant colors to lend the story a heightened, fantastical quality. Gay's childlike, mixed-media illustrations capture the messy joy of playtime, as projects morph and accumulate. The distinction between the siblings' imagination and their actual art may elude readers, but most will comprehend the satisfaction the kids find in their whimsical battle. VERDICT A crafty sibling story that celebrates the delights of imaginative rivalry. Perfect for young makers.--Robbin E. Friedman, Chappaqua Library, NY
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Friedman, Robbin E. "GAY, Marie-Louise. Fern and Horn." School Library Journal, vol. 65, no. 8, Sept. 2019, pp. 97+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A597858969/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=73a2aad2. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
QUOTED: "a dazzling romp celebrating childhood and imagination."
Fern and Horn. By Marie-Louise Gay. Illus. by the author. Sept. 2019.48p. Groundwood, $18.95 (97817730622661. PreS-Gr. 2.
The little boy Harold, who picked up a purple crayon and drew himself into different landscapes in the classic Harold and the Purple Crayon, may be the inspiration for this madcap foray into drawing, imagination, and sibling play. After all, the action starts with little girl Fern handing her brother, Horn, her favorite purple crayon. He can't draw the flowers, bees, butterflies, birds, caterpillars, and orange trees with which Fern has already covered the windows, curtains, couch, and living room floor, so instead Horn draws a giant elephant, who promptly stomps all over Fern's nature drawings. Fern has to come up with a solution, so she designs a tree, filling its branches with cut-outs of stars that the elephant can't reach. Horn responds with a huge polar bear that eats all the stars. Their artistic back-and-forth escalates until Fern throws chocolate chip cookies at Horn's dragon attacking her castle--and a truce is finally reached. Gay's illustrations, done in acrylic, watercolor, pencil, and collage, are wonderfully whimsical, mimicking how kids might draw, paint, cut, glue, and paste, while also bringing an elephant, polar bear, castle, dragon, and three-eyed monster from outer space to vivid life. A dazzling romp celebrating childhood and imagination.--Connie Fletcher
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Fletcher, Connie. "Fern and Horn." Booklist, vol. 116, no. 2, 15 Sept. 2019, p. 59. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A602232097/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=066bf5ee. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
QUOTED: "gentle existentialism for emergent readers."
Howe, James HOUNDSLEY AND CATINA AT THE LIBRARY Candlewick (Children's Fiction) $15.99 3, 10 ISBN: 978-0-7636-9662-7
Three anthropomorphic animals share a story about community and life changes.
Houndsley, a dog who bakes muffins, Bert, a scarf-clad white bird, and Catina, a creative white cat, spend every Saturday at the library. They teach others to read, shelve books, and do yoga, respectively, generating a dynamic image of what goes on these days in libraries beyond sitting and reading a book. Cheery watercolor illustrations nestle with paragraphs of large, plain text with ample negative space for emergent readers. One Saturday, the normally cheerful librarian, a white bunny named Trixie, is unexpectedly downcast. The friends learn that Trixie is retiring to attend circus school, which means the library will be closing imminently. A hand-drawn sign announces a final chance to wish Trixie well and to return library books, and it also encourages everyone to "bring something special" for Trixie. As the week unfolds, each animal pursues thoughtful going-away gestures for Trixie, and one in the group puts thought toward how to save the fate of the library. Themes of kindness, adapting to sudden change, and pursuing personal growth make this early reader a touchpoint for conversations. Even with these opportunities for dynamic discussion, the plot's drama and stress are resolved in a quick and satisfying manner. A table of contents will make this outing feel like a chapter book, readers gaining confidence.
Gentle existentialism for emergent readers. (Early reader. 6-9)
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"Howe, James: HOUNDSLEY AND CATINA AT THE LIBRARY." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Dec. 2019. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A608364560/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=471334ba. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
HOWE, James. Houndsley and Catina at the Library. illus. by Marie-Louise Gay. 48p. (Houndsley and Catina). Candlewick. Mar. 2020. Tr $15.99. ISBN 9780763696627.
K-Gr 2--Houndsley and his friends Catina and Bert spend every Saturday morning at the library tutoring, taking classes, and volunteering. Librarian Trixie has always greeted them with a smile, a joke, and book recommendations. However, on their latest visit, Trixie seems sad and preoccupied. As the three friends leave, they notice a sign that says the library is closing and to please bring something special to Trixie's farewell party. The friends learn that Trixie is retiring to pursue a circus career and there is no one to take her place. Saddened that they are losing their beloved library, all three prepare their "something special" for Trixie. Houndsley and Catina know right away what they are going to bring. Bert struggles; how can he thank her for all of the happy Saturdays he has spent at the library? At the party, Houndsley brings baked goods to share. Catina gives Trixie a beautiful circus performer's outfit she created. Bert brings himself and his desire to take Trixie's place as the new librarian so the library will not have to close. The watercolor, pencil, and collage illustrations are gentle and expressive, and the text is just right for readers transitioning into beginning chapter books. VERDICT A good choice for early reader collections that works equally well as part of the series or as a standalone.--Kelly Roth, Bartow County Public Library, Cartersville, GA
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Roth, Kelly. "HOWE, James. Houndsley and Catina at the Library." School Library Journal, vol. 66, no. 2, Feb. 2020, p. 60. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A613048768/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=9f339199. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
QUOTED: "satisfying."
Houndsley and Catina at the Library. By James Howe. Illus. by Marie-Louise Gay. Mar. 2020. 48p. Candlewick, $15.99 (9780763696627). K-Gr. 2.
Every Saturday morning, Houndsley, Catina, and Bert visit the library. But one week, Trixie the librarian barely greets them and goes home early. As they leave, the three friends notice a sign indicating that the library will be closing. Determined to comfort Trixie, they visit her home, only to find her jumping joyfully on her trampoline. Newly enrolled in circus school, she's eager to retire but sad that, with no librarian, the library must close. The following week, at Trixie's retirement party, Bert asks for her help in finding a library school, so that he can enroll and keep the library open. Hurrah! The charm of this amusing beginning-reader book is that just when the plot seems entirely predictable, the turn of a page surprises readers with a wacky left turn in the story, even while remaining true to the characters. Created with watercolor, pencil, and collage, the illustrations express varied emotions, maintaining a buoyant tone overall. Kudos to Howe and Gay for the seventh satisfying entry in the dependable Houndsley and Catina series.--Carolyn Phelan
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2020 American Library Association
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Phelan, Carolyn. "Houndsley and Catina at the Library." Booklist, vol. 116, no. 13, 1 Mar. 2020, p. 62. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A618567243/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=4f25e717. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
Gay, Marie-Louise THE THREE BROTHERS Groundwood (Children's None) $19.95 9, 29 ISBN: 978-1-77306-377-5
Young brothers Finn, Leo, and Ooley set off to find wild animals in the woods near their farmhouse.
The art—involving pencils, watercolor, wax crayons, and white ink—immediately draws readers in. Three Muppet-like boys with dark hair and beige skin comfortably share a pale-green sofa and a stack of books while birds fly above them and ghostly images of nonthreatening wild mammals surround them. Pastels and muted primary colors form a pleasing palette that continues throughout. “Every night, Finn reads a story to his brothers.” The text goes on to say that the boys enjoy stories with adventures and wild animals; middle child Leo suggests that tomorrow, the boys should go exploring for wild animals. By this time, little Ooley is already asleep, setting the stage for more toddler behaviors that will charm young readers. The text is simple, suitable for independent, transitional readers and for reading aloud. As the boys trudge through deep snow—with Ooley in his bear suit always lagging behind—readers, but not the boys, see ghostly animals in and around tree trunks. While the older brothers have a brief discussion that hints of the effects of climate change on animal populations, readers—but not Finn and Leo—will see Ooley happily sliding away down a hill. Other than brief mentions of Grandpa, no adults clutter this tale of siblings who are resourceful, creative, and kind. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10.5-by-16-inch double-page spreads viewed at actual size.)
Gentle, humorous, and fun. (Picture book. 4-8)
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"Gay, Marie-Louise: THE THREE BROTHERS." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Sept. 2020, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A634467489/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=4728dfa7. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
QUOTED: "will find themselves absorbed and longing to see Cuba for themselves."
GAY, Marie-Louise & David Homel. Travels in Cuba, illus. by Marie-Louise Gay. 128p. (Travels with My Family). Groundwood. May 2021. Tr $15.95. ISBN 9781773063478.
Gr 2-5--A young white boy named Charlie, his younger brother, and parents travel from Canada to Cuba for the experience of a lifetime, getting to know another country through its people and customs. Instead of staying at the all-inclusive resort, they lodge with locals in small villages sharing their meals and living as much unlike tourists as possible. Our protagonist quickly learns Cuba is a place of rules and traditions to keep tourists and citizens separate, but he finds ways to make friends and learn the hidden side of a colorful and vibrant locale. This latest installment of the "Travels with My Family" series will transport developing readers, and will leave them wanting to taste fruits they may have never seen and learn to ride a horse bareback. The short chapters have many Spanish phrases, most of which are translated in context. What the story lacks in plot it makes up for in its ability to make children feel they are seeing, smelling, and experiencing Cuba firsthand. Black-and-white sketches and moments of humor are scattered throughout this unique fictionalized version of a youth travel guide. VERDICT While this book may not appeal to all readers due to its weak plot and somewhat fragmented story line, those who have ever wondered what other parts of the world are like will find themselves absorbed and longing to see Cuba for themselves.--Emily Beasley, Omaha Public Sch., NE
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Beasley, Emily. "GAY, Marie-Louise & David Homel. Travels in Cuba." School Library Journal, vol. 67, no. 7, July 2021, p. 55. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A667846322/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=7a7252bd. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
QUOTED: "a meandering but agreeable introduction to modern Cuba."
Gay, Marie-Louise TRAVELS IN CUBA Groundwood (Children's None) $15.95 5, 4 ISBN: 978-1-77306-347-8
When Charlie’s parents tell him and his brother, Max, that they will be heading to Cuba for vacation, they think of beautiful beaches and resorts. What they find off the beaten path is a very different Cuba.
When Charlie’s mother is invited to Cuba to work with local schoolchildren, the whole family goes with her to explore, learning that Cuba is a bit more complicated than they anticipated. As their tour guide begins to take them around Havana, it becomes apparent that some places are for turistas only, which doesn’t seem fair to young Charlie. “That was the point of all the rules, I decided. They were there to keep Cubans and us from talking to each other.” As they leave the city and find their way to Viñales and Trinidad, they discover the kind people, delicious food, and infectious music of Cuba. But they also encounter the poverty, hunger, fear, and rules that come with living in a communist country. As with her previous books in the Travels With My Family series, Gay tries to paint a portrait of Cuba from the perspective of children. She does a lovely job of highlighting Cuban culture while also addressing directly the very real issues that come with over 60 years of communist rule. However, the story itself is somewhat slow and lacks clear direction, jumping from place to place near the end.
A meandering but agreeable introduction to modern Cuba. (Fiction. 8-10)
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"Gay, Marie-Louise: TRAVELS IN CUBA." Kirkus Reviews, 15 May 2021, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A661545736/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=4f81f731. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
Gay, Marie-Louise HOPSCOTCH Groundwood (Children's None) $19.99 8, 1 ISBN: 9781773068435
Life moves forward, sometimes back.
Ophelia, narrating in first-person present tense, loves Jackson, a neighbor's dog who, attached to a clothesline, runs back and forth each day. When he disappears, heartbroken Ophelia draws a "magic hopscotch" grid on the ground, hopping on it forward and backward and wishing for his return. Ophelia and family, who "move all the time," leave because Dad needs to look for a new job. Outside their dilapidated new cabin, imaginative Ophelia spies giant rabbits and "crow-witches." On the first day of school, Ophelia encounters an "ogre" (the crossing guard) and a brown-skinned "fairy princess" (the teacher) who speak French, which Ophelia doesn't understand. Ever mindful Ophelia draws Jackson's portrait and creates a hopscotch grid on which everyone plays. That night, while dreaming, Ophelia is able, at last, to bid Jackson "au revoir." After another move, far from the scary creatures, Ophelia's language skills blossom, and the child soars, confident that "I will learn to fly!" This poignant story is about taking tentative first steps toward independence. The hopscotch drawings are artful but vague metaphors for life's shifting fortunes; they suggest one moves both forward and backward along life's path. This lofty notion, also conveyed through Jackson's movements and the family's frequent address changes, may go over kids' heads, though the cheery, stylized illustrations are lively, delicate, and airy. The protagonist has light skin; classmates are diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Gentle encouragement to embrace life's inevitable changes. (Picture book. 4-7)
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"Gay, Marie-Louise: HOPSCOTCH." Kirkus Reviews, 1 June 2023, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A751050051/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=b9114cfc. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
QUOTED: "an endearing, reassuring picture book for kids facing their own first-day-of-school jitters."
Hopscotch. By Marie-Louise Gay. Illus. by the author. Aug. 2023.40p. Groundwood, $19.99 (9781773068435). PreS-Gr. 1.
Despite Ophelias protests, her family moves to a new town. Her mother walks her to school for the first time and tries to boost her spirits by saying that she'll learn reading, writing, and counting. Ophelia asks whether she'll learn how to fly or become invisible or find the dog who lived next door to her old home. Her mother replies, "You might not learn all that on the first day." Ophelia is baffled by her classroom. Everyone is speaking French, which she doesn't understand. Initially she hides, but the teacher is kind. Ophelia enjoys singing like a crow (" Caw! Caw! Caw!') and, at recess, drawing a giant hopscotch game, where other kids join her. Inspired by events in Gay's childhood and told from Ophelia's viewpoint, the narrative and expressive illustrations, created with pencil, crayon, watercolor, and acrylic paint, make clear that although Ophelia feels anxious about this new experience and isolated in her classroom, she quickly adapts and comes to love school. An endearing, reassuring picture book for kids facing their own first-day-of-school jitters. --Carolyn Phelan
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2023 American Library Association
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Phelan, Carolyn. "Hopscotch." Booklist, vol. 119, no. 19-20, 1 June 2023, p. 89. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A754223219/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=020df062. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
Hopscotch
Marie-Louise Gay. Groundwood, $19.99 (40p) ISBN 978-1-77306-843-5
The child who narrates this dreamlike telling begins the story focused on a beloved dog named Jackson who's tied to a clothesline in the neighbor's garden. The child envisions freeing Jackson ("All I need is a long ladder"), until one day the pooch disappears; only his collar remains. The emotional loss ("I will wait for him forever") pervades what follows, as the child moves to a new town ("Jackson will never, ever find me!") and enters a new landscape and school. Gay (the Stella and Sam series) conveys with perceptive power a contrast between the anxious fantasy of the child's world ("Out of nowhere... a huge ogre appears") and the reality of an adult's ("Say hello to the crossing guard, Ophelia"). Memories of Jackson persist until at last the child is able to tell him "au revoir." Sweetly styled watercolor, acrylic, wax crayon, and pencil images temper the story's moments of loss, centering figures of varied skin tones that look like diminutive toys, while Gay's writing zeroes in on the way the child, whose skin tone reflects the white of the book's paper, uses the power they have to cope with change ("I draw an extra-long giant magic hopscotch"). Ages 3-6. (Aug.)
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"Hopscotch." Publishers Weekly, vol. 270, no. 24, 12 June 2023, p. 90. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A755030637/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=c1dc8a2e. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
QUOTED: "a lovely example of young people taking small steps toward sustainability."
Gay, Marie-Louise WALKING TREES Groundwood (Children's None) $19.99 3, 5 ISBN: 9781773069760
Take a tree for a walk, share some shade, and build a happy community.
Lily and her father live in a gray city with lots of buildings but few trees. Remembering the lush and verdant forest she once visited, she asks her father for a tree for their tiny balcony. He obliges, and she names it George. One morning, she decides to show George around the neighborhood. Carting the potted tree about in a wagon, she meets Mrs. Lee, who feels hot and uncomfortable. George's leaves provide cool shade, and Mrs. Lee offers Lily an orange in thanks. Later, Lily's friends enjoy the shade so much that they get their own trees to take around the neighborhood. Soon, the ever increasing grove of trees is providing shade to folks throughout the community and transforming the once-gray city into a colorful, joyful forest. Gay's multimedia illustrations effectively and poignantly portray Lily's community-beautification project through vibrant washes of yellows, blues, greens, and pinks. A gatefold spread shows in glorious detail just how vibrant and alive the neighborhood has become. The prose is straightforward, and visual cues in the accompanying art will help kids hone their reading skills. In an author's note, Gay says that she was inspired by an art project in the Netherlands in which volunteers walked potted trees around the city. Lily, her father, and Mrs. Lee are light-skinned; the neighborhood is diverse.
A lovely example of young people taking small steps toward sustainability. (Picture book. 4-8)
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"Gay, Marie-Louise: WALKING TREES." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Jan. 2024, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A779191212/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=03d1d668. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
QUOTED: "Gay's cheerful story will help build appreciation for trees."
Walking Trees. By Marie-Louise Gay. Illus. by the author. Mar. 2024. 36p. Groundwood, $19.99 (9781773069760). K-Gr. 3.
Lily lives in a smoggy city with little sign of nature inside her small, dark apartment. Nevertheless, she loves trees and requests one for her birthday. When it finally arrives, she names it George, and the sapling sits on her balcony, haloed by cheerful greens and yellows. Lily doesn't want George to be confined to the balcony, however, so she places him in her wagon and off they go. Anywhere they stop, George offers a nice amount of shade on hot summer days to anyone nearby. At first, kids poke fun at Lily for walking a tree instead of a dog, but soon they realize how cool trees are. Before long, lots of kids are wheeling trees around the city and becoming "a walking forest," providing cool relief from the blazing sun. Gay's cheerful story will help build appreciation for trees and encourage children to view them with care and affection. Gay's light watercolor brushstrokes, bringing lively color whenever a tree appears, nicely depict how trees can beautify any space. A perfect choice for Earth Day.--Vivian Alvarez
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Alvarez, Vivian. "Walking Trees." Booklist, vol. 120, no. 14, 15 Mar. 2024, p. 84. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A788125097/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=bc85dec1. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
QUOTED: "Gay captures the joy of a diverse urban community bonding over nature."
Walking Trees
by Marie-Louise Gay; illus. by the author
Primary Groundwood 40 pp. 3/24 9781773069760 $19.99
e-book ed. 9781773069777 $16.99
Gay found inspiration for this winning story from reading about the residents of a Dutch city who transformed their streets into a "walking forest" by wheeling trees about in wooden containers. In this fictionalized telling, city girl Lily visits the woods and finds herself so enamored with trees that she asks her father for one for her birthday. She names her leafy new friend George. Gay deftly employs various shades of green in her playful mixed-media illustrations, which reflect the loving connection between child and tree. The tale takes an entertaining turn when Lily decides to show George the world beyond their tiny balcony. Lily pulls George about in a wagon and discovers that the tree provides shade and comfort to the people she meets along the way. Two boys tease her initially but learn that being in George's shadow keeps their Popsicles from melting. They ask for trees of their own, and treemania spreads as other residents follow suit. Gay captures the joy of a diverse urban community bonding over nature that brings beauty to their locale and lives. The finale depicts people enjoying a park scene filled with trees of many colors and shapes before bringing the narrative back to Lily and George and a triumphant hug. BRIAN E. WILSON
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Wilson, Brian E. "Walking Trees." The Horn Book Magazine, vol. 100, no. 3, May-June 2024, p. 115. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A793839391/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=e0262141. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.