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Stella, Queen of the Snow |
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| Author: |
Marie-Louise Gay |
 Book Review
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| Format: |
Hardcover |
| ISBN: |
0888996519 |
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| Availability: |
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Book Review
It's Sam's first snowstorm and he has a lot of questions. "Is the snow cold? Can you eat a snowflake? Where does a snowman sleep? How many snowflakes are there in a snowball?" His big sister, Stella, has the answer to every question because she is very knowledgeable on the subject, being Queen of the Snow. "Polar bears eat snowflakes for breakfast," Stella informs Sam. "With milk?" asks Sam. "Yes," says Stella. "And sugar." The two venture out into the white wonderland, exploring the tastes and textures of snowflakes and snowballs, the thrill of sledding ("I think I'll walk down," says Sam), and the magic of snow angels. Worldly Stella instructs her cautious little brother in all the ways of winter in the way only a big sister can. Readers will be gratified at the return of Stella, Star of the Sea's ... |
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Lizzy's Lion |
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| Author: |
Dennis Lee |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Hardcover |
| ISBN: |
061323331X |
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| Availability: |
Usually ships within 3-5 weeks. We cannot guarantee availability of special order titles because publishers may run out of stock. We will notify you in 3-4 weeks if we are unable to get this title for you. |
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Stella, Princess of the Sky |
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| Author: |
Marie-Louise Gay |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Hardcover |
| ISBN: |
0888996012 |
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From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 2–With charm and whimsy, Stella and Sam are back, this time spending an evening outside watching daylight fade into dusk, then night. Sam is the quintessential preschooler–full of wondrous questions. Big sister Stella is the authority on their domain, effectively answering him and calming his fears. " 'Why is [the sky] so red?' asked Sam. 'Can't you see? It's wearing red pajamas.'" She points out a family of raccoons. " 'Why are they wearing masks?' asked Sam. 'Are they robbers?' 'No, they're going to a costume party,' said Stella." The detailed illustrations effectively capture the deep blues, blacks, and grays of night, while also illuminating the siblings with pale azures, sage greens, and soft lavenders. This is a quiet star of a story that works well either as a group... |
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Stella: Star of the Sea |
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| Author: |
Marie-Louise Gay |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Hardcover |
| ISBN: |
0888993374 |
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| Availability: |
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Book Review
Marie-Louise Gay's squat, snub-nosed children with their frenzied locks are as familiar to under-fives as the wild things of Maurice Sendak. In Stella, Star of the Sea (which won a Governor General's Award for illustration), the gifted picture-book artist introduces the irresistible duo of Sam and his spirited older sister, Stella. "Stella and Sam were spending a day at the sea shore," Gay begins this playful celebration of summer, adding, "It was Sam's very first time." Stella is an adventurer, eager to dive to the ocean floor, tame sea horses, and dig a hole to China, but her little brother, Sam, is made of more cautious stuff. When Stella, looking out at the sea from the top of a delightfully round sand dune, exclaims, "Isn't it beautiful, Sam?" he observes with a characteristic deadpan, "It's very big... and... |
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Christmas Orange |
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| Author: |
Don Gillmor |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Hardcover |
| ISBN: |
0613974263 |
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| Availability: |
Usually ships within 3-5 weeks. We cannot guarantee availability of special order titles because publishers may run out of stock. We will notify you in 3-4 weeks if we are unable to get this title for you. |
From Booklist
When Anton Stingley presents his 16-page list to Santa, Santa is not amused. On Christmas morning the only present under the tree for Anton is an orange. Anton hires a lawyer, Wiley Studpustle, who puts Santa on the stand and accuses him of breach of promise and of using aliases--Kriss Kringle, Saint Nick, and Father Christmas. When court is adjourned for lunch, the press takes over, accusing Santa of discriminatory hiring practices and using nonunion reindeer. Santa finally has a chance to explain why Anton received just one perfect orange for Christmas, then states he's decided to quit his job. The courtroom is aghast. It's Anton who eventually convinces Santa to go back to work. The story is preachy, but the good-natured hyperbole is extended by funny, cartoonlike illustrations that add appeal. Shelley... |
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Caramba |
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| Author: |
Marie-Louise Gay |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Hardcover |
| ISBN: |
0888996675 |
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| Availability: |
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From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 2–Caramba is ashamed that he cannot fly like the other cats. Confiding in his flightless friend Portia the pig, he practices flying in secret. He lands in some comical predicaments but remains frustrated and grounded. When his cousins try teaching him to get airborne by carrying him over the ocean and letting go, a scary fall to the bottom teaches Caramba that even though he can't perform like they do, he can do something they cannot. He can swim. Gay's characteristic gentle and funny watercolor illustrations make the story more appealing and the characters more alive. Once kids accept the flying cats, they will enjoy this subtle fantasy with its themes of self-esteem and individuality.–Julie Roach, Watertown Free Public Library, MA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a... |
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Didi and Daddy on the Promenade |
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| Author: |
Marilyn Singer |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Hardcover |
| ISBN: |
0618046402 |
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| Availability: |
Ships within 2-3 days. |
From Publishers Weekly
Singer (On the Same Day in March) sets her upbeat tale on the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, a walkway that borders the East River and offers a prime view of the lower Manhattan skyline. On a Sunday morning, frisky Didi and her (possibly single) father take in the sights and sounds of the bustling Promenade, "the best place on earth." They variously pretend to be trucks and boats, dance to the music of street musicians and romp in a playground with another dad and daughter. The author sticks to brief phrases, as when the duo spots pets: " 'Puppy!' says Didi. 'Little yellow puppy.' 'Dog!' says Daddy. 'Big black dog.' " Gay's (Stella, Star of the Sea) animated, inventively detailed watercolor and pen-and-ink pictures capture Didi's effervescence and introduce an entertaining supporting cast in the other spirited... |
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Stella, Fairy of the Forest |
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| Author: |
Marie-Louise Gay |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Hardcover |
| ISBN: |
0888994486 |
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| Availability: |
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Book Review
Stella has as much moxie as Eloise and as much confidence (and red hair) as Pippi, but her spirit of adventure, overactive imagination, and older-sister omniscience catapult her into a league of her own. We met the inquisitive, impulsive Stella and her less reckless little brother, Sam, in Stella, Star of the Sea and in Stella, Queen of the Snow, but are newly delighted with Stella, Sam, and their faithful dog's thoroughly charming foray into the forest. Stella has seen hundreds of fairies. Sam think he sees one, too, tiny and beautiful, but it is only a butterfly, Stella tells him. "'Do butterflies eat butter?'" asked Sam. 'Yellow butterflies do,' said Stella." As much as Stella seems to know, however, Sam knows a few things, too. That blue butterflies must eat pieces of blue sky, for instance. And that... |
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Stella, Queen of the Snow |
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| Author: |
Marie-Louise Gay |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Hardcover |
| ISBN: |
0888994044 |
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| Availability: |
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Book Review
It's Sam's first snowstorm and he has a lot of questions. "Is the snow cold? Can you eat a snowflake? Where does a snowman sleep? How many snowflakes are there in a snowball?" His big sister, Stella, has the answer to every question because she is very knowledgeable on the subject, being Queen of the Snow. "Polar bears eat snowflakes for breakfast," Stella informs Sam. "With milk?" asks Sam. "Yes," says Stella. "And sugar." The two venture out into the white wonderland, exploring the tastes and textures of snowflakes and snowballs, the thrill of sledding ("I think I'll walk down," says Sam), and the magic of snow angels. Worldly Stella instructs her cautious little brother in all the ways of winter in the way only a big sister can. Readers will be gratified at the return of Stella, Star of the Sea's ... |
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Houndsley and Catina |
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| Author: |
James Howe |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Hardcover |
| ISBN: |
0763624047 |
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| Availability: |
Usually ships within 24 hours. |
From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 2 Catina, who has just completed Life Through the Eyes of a Cat, looks forward to winning prizes and being famous. Houndsley thinks that the book is terrible, but spares her feelings by telling her that her writing leaves him speechless. He is such a good cook that Catina and their friend Burt convince him to enter a cooking contest, but he is so nervous that he undercooks the rice and leaves out the beans in his three-bean chili. In the end, Houndsley realizes that he is happy to experience the joy of cooking; he can live without fame, and Catina confesses that she does not enjoy the process of writing. Houndsley suggests that she can be famous for something else and tells her that she is good at being a friend. Catina purrs: Being your friend is better than being famous. Gay presents... |
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Houndsley and Catina and the Birthday Surprise |
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| Author: |
James Howe |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Hardcover |
| ISBN: |
0763624055 |
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| Availability: |
Your order will ship upon release. |
Book Description
Great friends think alike, as James Howe and Marie-Louise Gay bring a beguiling duo back for their second adventure.
Houndsley is sad. Not because it is raining or because there are holes in his sweater, but because he doesn't know when his birthday is. All of a sudden Catina is sad, too. But friends are very good at cheering each other up, and Houndsley and Catina are the very best of friends. So it won't be long before they each discover, in a most surprising way, how a first-rate friend can brighten even the saddest days.
About the Author
James Howe is the acclaimed author of more than seventy books for young readers, including the much-lauded BUNNICULA and its sequels. He lives in Yonkers, New York.
Marie-Louise Gay is the author-illustrator of many... |
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The 3 Little Pigs |
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| Author: |
Marie-Louise Gay (Illustrator) |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Paperback |
| ISBN: |
088899639X |
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| Availability: |
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Book Description
"It has always been one of my favorite fairy tales. It is a joyful, heart-thrilling story in which children can easily recognize their emotions. They see their own doubt, insecurity, fear, and courage in every one of the little pigs and in the big bad wolf himself, which makes the story an empowering tale about growing up and acquiring intelligence and cleverness." - Marie-Louise Gay
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Good Morning, Sam |
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| Author: |
Marie-Louise Gay |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Hardcover |
| ISBN: |
0888995288 |
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| Availability: |
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From School Library Journal
PreSchool-This book perfectly balances a preschooler's desire to get dressed all by himself with his need for help. Big sister Stella, with her flaming orange hair and skinny limbs, is the ever-patient helper. She hurries young Sam along while still giving him the space he needs to progress from underwear and shirt to socks and shoes. They play hide-and-seek games, "Sam, are you in there?" and find the lost sock and shoes, with their sidekick dog, all pudgy and round, the thieving culprit every time. Finally, when Sam proudly declares, "I'm ready! And I did it all by myself!" readers will delight both in his exaggerated claim and the fact that he has forgotten his pants. When the two siblings finally exit the house, this punch line is extended as Stella, who has been distracted by her responsibilities, has... |
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Angel and the Polar Bear |
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| Author: |
Marie-Louise Gay |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Paperback |
| ISBN: |
0773673989 |
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| Availability: |
Ships within 2-3 days. |
Book Description
Angel woke up one morning. There was water all over her apartment! "Well," said Angel, "what should I do now? I can't swim." Then Angel got a good idea, and the fun began...
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How to Take Your Grandmother to the Museum |
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| Author: |
Lois Wyse |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Hardcover |
| ISBN: |
0761109900 |
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| Availability: |
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From Publishers Weekly
Wyse (whose books for adults include Funny, You Don't Look Like a Grandmother) teams up with her granddaughter for this energetic museum tour. Young Molly acts as an amiable guide, showing her grandmother around the American Museum of Natural History and spouting snippets of information on dinosaurs, African animals, underwater creatures, bugs and the Ice Age. While the text effectively mimics a child's varied interests, its haphazard quality sometimes results in confusion. For example, when the pair heads to Africa, the text reads, "We took a shortcut through Asia and turned left at Central America. Soon we were surrounded by antelopes and monkeys and cheetahs"; some readers may be confused about which continent they're visiting. However, Molly's concluding notes clear up most of these questions and also expand... |
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Christmas Orange |
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| Author: |
Don Gillmore |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Hardcover |
| ISBN: |
0773731008 |
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| Availability: |
Usually ships within 3-5 weeks. We cannot guarantee availability of special order titles because publishers may run out of stock. We will notify you in 3-4 weeks if we are unable to get this title for you. |
From Booklist
When Anton Stingley presents his 16-page list to Santa, Santa is not amused. On Christmas morning the only present under the tree for Anton is an orange. Anton hires a lawyer, Wiley Studpustle, who puts Santa on the stand and accuses him of breach of promise and of using aliases--Kriss Kringle, Saint Nick, and Father Christmas. When court is adjourned for lunch, the press takes over, accusing Santa of discriminatory hiring practices and using nonunion reindeer. Santa finally has a chance to explain why Anton received just one perfect orange for Christmas, then states he's decided to quit his job. The courtroom is aghast. It's Anton who eventually convinces Santa to go back to work. The story is preachy, but the good-natured hyperbole is extended by funny, cartoonlike illustrations that add appeal. Shelley... |
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Yuck a Love Story |
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| Author: |
Donald M. Gillmor |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Hardcover |
| ISBN: |
0773732187 |
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| Availability: |
Ships within 2-3 days. |
From Publishers Weekly
Gillmor and Gay (The Fabulous Song) team up again for a sympathetic account of a childhood crush in this good-natured book, which wisely mentions love only in the title. Austin Grouper says "yuck" when he hears that Amy, a girl his age, has moved in next door. Yet he courts her attention by dressing as a superhero and sculpting a dinosaur out of Popsicle sticks in her yard. " 'Dinosaurs had very small brains,' Amy said. She was wearing a blue sweater with horses on it. 'So do you,' Austin told her, and went home." On Amy's birthday, Austin doesn't get her an ordinary present. He literally lassoes the moon (alluding to It's a Wonderful Life's romance) and drags it into Amy's backyard, although he never explains why he goes to so much trouble for a girl. Amy accepts his gift politely. Gay, whose round-faced... |
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On My Island |
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| Author: |
Marie-Louise Gay |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Hardcover |
| ISBN: |
088899396X |
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| Availability: |
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Book Review
A little boy lives all alone on a mysterious island--or so he says. He's alone, sure, if you can ignore the wolf, two cats, three ants, and the swooping bat that share the island with him. In the playful hands of award-winning author and illustrator Marie-Louise Gay (Stella, Star of the Sea), young readers will discover a fabulously fantastic world of make-believe and magic lurking just behind the story that her young narrator tells. Does nothing happen on the island, as our young friend keeps insisting? What are we to make then of that fire-breathing dragon circling the island, those blue and white flying fish swooping over the water, or the big gray elephants parachuting off the sides of that erupting volcano? Gay's simple text and evocative watercolour illustrations neatly play off one another, creating a rich... |
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