[.ca] Stella, fairy of the forest (ISBN 0888994486)

Amazon.ca:
The ever-curious Stella and her cautious younger brother Sam have already explored the summery world of the seashore and winter's deep snow. In Marie-Louise Gay's third picture book featuring these delightful siblings, Stella persuades Sam to enter the forest with her in the hopes of sighting a fairy. Stella, Fairy of the Forest follows a similar pattern to Stella, Star of the Sea and Stella, Queen of the Snow. Its feckless heroine plunges forward with heady abandon, while her brother hangs back, asking nervous questions like "Aren't there bears in the forest?" Stella's authoritatively fanciful responses account for much of the sly humour and charm of the series. "Bears sleep during the day," she brashly asserts, while bees don't sting you "if you move v-e-r-r-y slowly," and sheep are "about as dangerous as woolly blankets." This time, however, Sam surprises Stella by having a few ideas of his own. It is Sam who informs his big sister that blue butterflies "eat pieces of sky," and Sam who spots the only two fairies of their forest walk. Gay creates a brightly coloured forest landscape where tree trunks and grass and even the clouds are exaggerated in size yet never threatening. But while the effervescent, red-headed Stella and her Linus-like brother are just as appealing as ever, Stella, Fairy of the Forest lacks some of the imaginative zip of the earlier books. While Stella and Sam could be said to have truly plumbed the depths of the sea, they only seem to linger on this forest's edge. (Ages 3 to 8) --Lisa Alward

Let's Find Fairies......:
Stella's back, with her self-assured manner and flaming red hair, and she's ready to take her little brother, Sam, on a forest adventure in search of fairies. And as they walk through the meadow filled with wild flowers and sheep, and cross the stream on stepping stones, Sam is filled with questions and thoughtful comments about the world around them, and as always Stella has all the answers. "Do butterflies eat butter?" asked Sam. "Yellow butterflies do," said Stella. "Then I guess blue butterflies eat pieces of sky," said Sam. And so it goes as they enter the forest filled with "big old trees." "Are they older than Grandma?" asked Sam. "Almost," said Stella. "They must be at least a hundred years old." "Is that why their skin is so wrinkled?" asked Sam. "That's not skin," said Stella. "That's bark." "Grandma's bark is much softer," said Sam. "Especially on her cheeks." The adventure continues as they watch and discuss forest animals, snakes, and the origin and growth of rocks, build a forest house out of ferns and branches, and watch for fairies..... No one captures the essence of small children, out for a day of imaginative fun and adventure quite like Marie-Louise Gay. Her gentle text is entertaining and engaging, and her ear for sibling dialogue and chatter is unrivaled. It's easy to believe that you're tagging along with Stella and Sam, and listening in on their conversations. Ms Gay's bright and expressive illustrations are captivating, and filled with joy, whimsy, and marvelous detail. Together word and art offer a feast for both the ears and eyes. Perfect for youngsters 3-7, Stella Fairy Of The Forest is a wonderful new addition to Ms Gay's Stella series. Read them all and enjoy!

You and your preschooler will love this book!:
Marie-Louis Gay's books about Sam and Stella are marvelous. This, their third adventure, begins when Sam asks Stella about fairies. Stella knows just where to find some. She leads Sam through meadows, across a stream and into a magical forest. This story is truly lovely especially in its treatment of the siblings' relationship. Ms. Gay's illustrations have a special quality particularly her depictions of the delightful red-head, Stella. Don't miss it!

Loved the first one, but this one doesn't hold a candle.:
I loved Stella Star of the Sea. The illustrations with that flaming red hair and subtly comic dog, Sam's conservative and inquisitive nature. Stella Queen of the Snow was okay, but didn't have the same uniqueness. The dialogue seemed a bit forced and not as charming as the first. I am sadly disappointed with Stella Fairy of the Forest. It doesn't have any of the wonderful qualities of the Star of the Sea.

Cute:
Stella and her little brother Sam go to play in the forest. Sam has a lot of fears, but Stella, who is a know-it-all, dismisses them by reassuring Sam that bears sleep during the day, and snakes are too small to swallow people. The story is cute, but not always accurate. It has about 600 words.