Stella, Princess of the Sky

Linda Ludke is a librarian at the London Public Library.

The charming Stella and her inquisitive little brother Sam decide to
camp outside together. As the sun begins to set, Sam thinks the sky is
on fire. Stella reassures him that it is just going to sleep, and
wearing red pyjamas. When a raccoon family passes by, Sam thinks they
are wearing masks and worries that they might be robbers. Stella
explains that “they are going to a costume party.” While exploring
nature, the siblings reflect on fireflies, tree frogs, and the moon. The
lovely images perfectly capture a child’s sense of wonder: “‘There
must be a million stars!’ cried Stella. ‘It looks like the moon
spilled a glass of milk,’ said Sam.”

Marie-Louise Gay’s watercolour illustrations show the changing
colours of the evening sky, from orange red to pale blue to deep purple.
The pages are full of witty details that extend the story, such as the
small dog and rabbit that tag along. Observant readers will spot a polar
bear heeding Stella’s advice to follow “the North Star ... it tells
you where the North Pole is.” Highly recommended.