Marie-Louise Gay | |
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![]() Gay at the Salon du livre de Montréal 2016 in Montreal Canada | |
Born | Quebec City, Quebec, Canada | June 17, 1952
Occupation | Illustrator, writer |
Language | English, French |
Genre | Picture books, children's literature |
Spouse | David Homel |
Marie-Louise Gay (born June 17, 1952) is a Canadian children's writer and illustrator. [1] 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, [2] and multiple Janet Savage Blachford Prizes, among others.
Gay was born in Quebec City and lived in Montreal and Vancouver as a child. Gay lives in Montreal.[ when? ]
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). [3] At the time, she said, "For the last twenty-five years, I have mainly been writing, illustrating and creating only for children." [3]
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. [4]
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In 2013, Canada Post released a series of stamps featuring Gay's character Stella. [5]
Year | Title | Award | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1984 | Lizzy's Lion by Dennis Lee | Canada Council Children's Literature Prize | Winner | |
1984 | Drôle d'école | Canada Council Children's Literature Prize | Winner | |
1987 | Moonbeam On A Cat's Ear | Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award | Winner | [6] |
1987 | Rainy Day Magic | Governor General's Award for English-language children's illustration | Winner | [7] [8] |
1988 | Angel and the Polar Bear | Governor General's Award for English-language children's illustration | Shortlist | |
1988 | Rainy Day Magic | Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award | Winner | [6] |
1995 | Berthold et Lucrèce | Governor General's Award for French-language children's illustration | Shortlist | |
2000 | Sur mon île | Governor General's Award for French-language children's illustration | Shortlist | |
2000 | Yuck, A Love Story | Governor General's Award for English-language children's illustration | Winner | [7] [8] |
2001 | Stella: Queen of the Snow | Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Award | Winner | |
2002 | Stella, Fairy of the Forest | Governor General's Award for English-language children's illustration | Shortlist | |
2005 | Vicky Metcalf Award | Winner | [9] [10] | |
2006 | Caramba | Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award for Children's Picture Book | Winner | |
2006 | Caramba | Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award | Winner | [11] |
2007 | Houndsley and Catina | ALSC Notable Children's Books | Selection | [12] |
2007 | Stella étoile de la mer | Mr. Christie's Book Award for French: 7 and under | Winner | |
2009 | When Stella Was Very, Very Small | Janet Savage Blachford Prize | Shortlist | [13] |
2009 | Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award | Longlist | [14] | |
2010 | When Stella was Very, Very Small | Canadian Booksellers Association Libris Award for Children's Picture Book | Winner | [15] |
2010 | When Stella Was Very, Very Small | Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Awards | Shortlist | [16] |
2011 | Roslyn Rutabaga and the Biggest Hole on Earth! | Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award | Winner | [6] |
2011 | Roslyn Rutabaga and the Biggest Hole on Earth! | Forest of Reading: Blue Spruce Award | Shortlist | [17] |
2014 | Any Questions? | Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award | Winner | [6] |
2014 | Any Questions? | Janet Savage Blachford Prize | Shortlist | [13] |
2014 | Any Questions? | Governor General's Award for English-language children's illustration | Shortlist | [18] [19] |
2014 | Read Me a Story, Stella | Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award for Children's Picture Book | Finalist | [20] [21] [22] |
2015 | Any Questions? | Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Award | Winner | [23] |
2015 | Any Questions? | CBC Fan Choice Award | Winner | [24] |
2015 | Any Questions? | TD Canadian Children's Literature Award | Finalist | [25] [26] |
2017 | Short Stories for Little Monsters | Governor General's Award for English-language children's illustration | Shortlist | |
2018 | Mustafa | Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Award | Finalist | [27] |
2019 | Mustafa | Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award for Children's Picture Book | Finalist | [28] |
2019 | Mustafa | TD Canadian Children's Literature Award | Shortlist | [29] [30] |
2020 | Fern and Horn | Janet Savage Blachford Prize | Shortlist | [13] [31] |
2020 | Mustafa | Forest of Reading Award | Shortlist | [32] |
2020 | The Three Brothers | Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Award | Winner | [33] [34] |
2020 | The Three Brothers | Janet Savage Blachford Prize | Winner | [13] [35] [36] |
2022 | I’m Not Sydney | Janet Savage Blachford Prize | Shortlist | [37] [38] [39] |
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Gay's Stella and Sam books have been published in more than twelve languages. [3] They spawned a 52-episode cartoon series in 2013 that aired on Sprout and Family Junior.
Sam is Stella's younger brother
The Travels with My Family series was co-written with David Homel.
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