Read Me a Story, Stella by Marie-Louise Gay (review)

In their first new appearance in more than four years, siblings Stella and Sam spend a day outside together building a doghouse, picnicking, and flying a kite. As in previous offerings (Stella, Princess of the Sky, BCCB 10/04, etc.), the draw here is the casual banter between siblings, with Sam asking questions and Stella patiently answering, or Stella making suggestions and Sam happily complying. Stella spends most of the story with her nose in one of her books, and throughout the day she shares tidbits of stories and facts with her brother, from folklore references to information about caterpillars to poetry about bunnies for the benefit of Sam's carrot garden. The literary references are perfectly organic to the storyline—neither pedantic nor obvious, just part of how Stella rolls; Sam's response is also very natural, sometimes showing an interest in the books and sometimes busy with something else ("'Do you want me to read this story to you?' 'Not right now,' said Sam. 'I'm trying to catch a frog'"). Stella is truly the model sister: always kind, always engaged, always interested in what her brother is up to. Sam, for his part, is earnest and lovable, the perfect comrade for his steadfast canine companion. Gay's watercolor compositions dominate each spread, with text only filling the minimal white strip at the bottom. The delicately sketched outdoor scenes are full of butterflies, birds, wildflowers, and puffy white clouds, lending a sense of purity to the natural setting, while Stella's mess of auburn curls draws attention to her sweet face. This is an excellent model both of positive sibling relations and of the way books and stories can naturally play into everyday life.