Marie-Louise Gay (born June 17, 1952) is a Canadian children's writer and illustrator. 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, and multiple Janet Savage Blachford Prizes, among others.
Biography Gay was born in Quebec City and lived in Montreal and Vancouver as a child. She lives in Montreal.
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). At the time, she said, "For the last twenty-five years, I have mainly been writing, illustrating and creating only for children."
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.
Awards and honours
In 2013, Canada Post released a series of stamps featuring Gay's character Stella. +Awards for Gay's writingYearTitleAwardResultRef.1984Lizzy's Lion by Dennis LeeCanada Council Children's Literature PrizeWinner1984Drôle d'écoleCanada Council Children's Literature PrizeWinner1987Moonbeam On A Cat's EarAmelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's AwardWinner1987Rainy Day MagicGovernor General's Award for English-language children's illustrationWinner1988Angel and the Polar BearGovernor General's Award for English-language children's illustrationShortlist1988Rainy Day MagicAmelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's AwardWinner1995Berthold et LucrèceGovernor General's Award for French-language children's illustrationShortlist2000Sur mon îleGovernor General's Award for French-language children's illustrationShortlist2000Yuck, A Love StoryGovernor General's Award for English-language children's illustrationWinner2001Stella: Queen of the Snow Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book AwardWinner2002Stella, Fairy of the ForestGovernor General's Award for English-language children's illustrationShortlist2005Vicky Metcalf AwardWinner2006CarambaRuth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award for Children's Picture Book Winner2006CarambaMarilyn Baillie Picture Book AwardWinner2007Houndsley and CatinaALSC Notable Children's BooksSelection2007Stella étoile de la merMr. Christie's Book Award for French: 7 and underWinner2009When Stella Was Very, Very SmallJanet Savage Blachford PrizeShortlist2009Astrid Lindgren Memorial AwardLonglist2010When Stella was Very, Very SmallCanadian Booksellers Association Libris Award for Children's Picture Book Winner2010When Stella Was Very, Very SmallRuth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book AwardsShortlist2011Roslyn Rutabaga and the Biggest Hole on Earth! Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's AwardWinner2011Roslyn Rutabaga and the Biggest Hole on Earth!Forest of Reading: Blue Spruce AwardShortlist2014Any Questions?Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's AwardWinner2014Any Questions?Janet Savage Blachford PrizeShortlist2014Any Questions?Governor General's Award for English-language children's illustrationShortlist2014Read Me a Story, Stella Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award for Children's Picture BookFinalist2015Any Questions?Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon AwardWinner2015Any Questions?CBC Fan Choice Award Winner2015Any Questions?TD Canadian Children's Literature AwardFinalist2017Short Stories for Little MonstersGovernor General's Award for English-language children's illustrationShortlist2018MustafaElizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book AwardFinalist2019MustafaRuth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award for Children's Picture BookFinalist2019MustafaTD Canadian Children's Literature AwardShortlist2020Fern and HornJanet Savage Blachford PrizeShortlist2020MustafaForest of Reading AwardShortlist2020The Three BrothersElizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book AwardWinner2020Janet Savage Blachford PrizeWinner2022I’m Not SydneyJanet Savage Blachford PrizeShortlist
Publications
Stella and Sam series
Gay's Stella and Sam books have been published in more than twelve languages. 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) Rainy Day Magic (1987) 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" 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) Caramba and Henry (2011) Any Questions (2014) 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)
References
External links
Archives of Marie-Louise Gay (Fonds Marie-Louise Gay, R11738) are held at Library and Archives Canada
Official website