Marie-Louise Gay


Marie-Louise Gay 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. Gay 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 and On the Road Again!. 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.
YearTitleAwardResultRef.
1984Lizzy's Lion by Dennis LeeCanada Council Children's Literature PrizeWinner
1984Drôle d'écoleCanada Council Children's Literature PrizeWinner
1987Moonbeam On A Cat's EarAmelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's AwardWinner
1987Rainy Day MagicGovernor General's Award for English-language children's illustrationWinner
1988Angel and the Polar BearGovernor General's Award for English-language children's illustrationShortlist
1988Rainy Day MagicAmelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's AwardWinner
1995Berthold et LucrèceGovernor General's Award for French-language children's illustrationShortlist
2000Sur mon îleGovernor General's Award for French-language children's illustrationShortlist
2000Yuck, A Love StoryGovernor General's Award for English-language children's illustrationWinner
2001Stella: Queen of the SnowElizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book AwardWinner
2002Stella, Fairy of the ForestGovernor General's Award for English-language children's illustrationShortlist
2005Vicky Metcalf AwardWinner
2006CarambaRuth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award for Children's Picture BookWinner
2006CarambaMarilyn Baillie Picture Book AwardWinner
2007Houndsley and CatinaALSC Notable Children's BooksSelection
2007Stella étoile de la merMr. Christie's Book Award for French: 7 and underWinner
2009When Stella Was Very, Very SmallJanet Savage Blachford PrizeShortlist
2009Astrid Lindgren Memorial AwardLonglist
2010When Stella was Very, Very SmallCanadian Booksellers Association Libris Award for Children's Picture BookWinner
2010When Stella Was Very, Very SmallRuth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book AwardsShortlist
2011Roslyn Rutabaga and the Biggest Hole on Earth!Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's AwardWinner
2011Roslyn Rutabaga and the Biggest Hole on Earth!Forest of Reading: Blue Spruce AwardShortlist
2014Any Questions?Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's AwardWinner
2014Any Questions?Janet Savage Blachford PrizeShortlist
2014Any Questions?Governor General's Award for English-language children's illustrationShortlist
2014Read Me a Story, StellaRuth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award for Children's Picture BookFinalist
2015Any Questions?Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon AwardWinner
2015Any Questions?CBC Fan Choice AwardWinner
2015Any Questions?TD Canadian Children's Literature AwardFinalist
2017Short Stories for Little MonstersGovernor General's Award for English-language children's illustrationShortlist
2018MustafaElizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book AwardFinalist
2019MustafaRuth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award for Children's Picture BookFinalist
2019MustafaTD Canadian Children's Literature AwardShortlist
2020Fern and HornJanet Savage Blachford PrizeShortlist
2020MustafaForest of Reading AwardShortlist
2020The Three BrothersElizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book AwardWinner
2020'Janet Savage Blachford PrizeWinner'
2022I’m Not Sydney''Janet 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
  • Stella, Queen of the Snow
  • Stella, Fairy of the Forest
  • Stella, Princess of the Sky
  • When Stella Was Very, Very, Small
  • ''Read Me A Story, Stella''

Sam series

Sam is Stella's younger brother

Travels with My Family series

The Travels with My Family series was co-written with David Homel.
  • Travels With My Family
  • On the Road Again!
  • Summer in the City
  • The Traveling Circus
  • ''Travels in Cuba''

Standalone books authored

Lizzy's Lion The Garden: Little Big Books Moonbeam On A Cat's Ear Rainy Day Magic Angel and the Polar Bear Fat Charlie's Circus Willy Nilly Mademoiselle Moon Rabbit Blue Midnight Mimi Qui a peur de Loulou? , 111pp, "Theatre for children"The Three Little Pigs Rumplestiltskin Sur Mon Ile Caramba Roslyn Rutabaga and the Biggest Hole on Earth! Caramba and Henry Any Questions Short Stories for Little Monsters
  • ''The Three Brothers''

Books illustrated only

  • The Last Piece
  • When Vegetables Go Bad!
  • The Fabulous Song
  • Dreams Are More Real Than Bathtubs
  • Yuck, a Love Story
  • Didi and Daddy on the Promenade
  • Houndsley and Catina
  • Maddie series; Sophie series