From School Library Journal
PreS-Gr 2—Stella, a red fox, is proud of her family's trailer home. It has cozy corners, fun hiding places, and a color that resembles the stars. When some older weasels call it a tin can, she hides her sadness at their hurtful comments from her mom so she won't "feel the stings, too." The problem is resolved, though, as the trailer home takes flight to a new location, where Stella meets new friends, in what appears to be a vivid fantasy sequence. The small camper that looked cheap to the weasels makes her new playmates envious. With bunnies Grace and Stumpy sharing a meal with her in the trailer, Stella feels like a "squillionaire" once again. Wells's illustrations (rendered in watercolor, gouache, pastel, ink, and colored pencil) appear against a summer country landscape alive with swirling stars and sun-dappled trees. While reading this book, children will realize that it's not the size of one's house that makes a happy home; it's the love inside it.—Tanya Boudreau, Cold Lake Public Library, AB, Canada
*Starred Review* Stella, a little fox, lives with her parents in the Starliner, a trailer that’s neat and cozy on the inside and shiny silver on the outside. She and her mama spend a contented day together, visiting the farmers’ market and the bookmobile. But when some mean weasels pass by after school, they stop to taunt Stella, calling her poor and her home a “tin can.” Stung by their cruel words, Stella cannot eat or sleep. That night, she confides in her mother, who points out that the trailer is moving. The next morning, they arrive in a tropical setting, where two new bunny friends admire Stella’s silver home. While the journey section has an ambiguous, dreamlike quality, as though representing the wish to flee whenever words or deeds cause pain, there’s much to admire in both the art and the story. The text is simply written but precise. When the weasels tease the little fox, “their words sting Stella’s heart like the stings of bees”—a memorable image. Created using watercolor, gouache, pastel, ink, and colored pencil, the lovely illustrations convey a sense of order, safety, and wonder in Stella’s world. This evocative picture book makes an absorbing read-aloud choice for young children.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Something new from the creator of Max and Ruby, and countless other beloved stories, is sure to be in demand. Preschool-Grade 3. --Carolyn Phelan
Review
[A] gorgeous, good-hearted book.
—The New York Times Book Review
As income inequality takes it toll on more and more children, this story and its heroine are an important reminder of just how resilient families can — and must — be.
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
There’s much to admire in both the art and the story. The text is simply written but precise. ... Created using watercolor, gouache, pastel, ink, and colored pencil, the lovely illustrations create a sense of order, safety, and wonder in Stella’s world. This evocative picture book makes an absorbing read-aloud choice for young children.
—Booklist (starred review)
Wells’ winsome animal characters are charming, as always... The casual, colloquial tone suits the simple tale beautifully. ... [T]he variously sized mixed-media illustrations are captivating, featuring lush forests, starry nights, expressive faces and delightful details.
—Kirkus Reviews
Wells’s illustrations (rendered in watercolor, gouache, pastel, ink, and colored pencil) appear against a summer country landscape alive with swirling stars and sun-dappled trees. While reading this book, children will realize that it’s not the size of one’s house that makes a happy home; it’s the love inside it.
—School Library Journal
Packaged within silver starry-sky endpapers, the illustrations (in watercolor, gouache, pastel, ink, and colored pencil on sanded paper) vary in size from spot art to a striking double-page spread of the flying Starliner. Backgrounds are full of symbols that deepen the story, and words and images work effectively together to develop the setting and this loving family looking out for one another.
—The Horn Book
Many kids will share Stella’s love for a compact and mobile dwelling, and the book vividly depicts the joys of her cozy life... The art has that famous Wells combination of adorableness and artistry; the starry motif, which has a Van Gogh flavor at times, is echoed in delicate pointillism in the landscape detailing. Gleaming silver framing or borders accent most of the spreads, adding to the magic of Stella’s silver home and enhancing appeal for viewers.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
When you are small, there is nothing quite like the awful feeling of having your home or family mocked. It can leave an ache that lingers for years. Rosemary Wells puts a gentle finger on the exact point of pain—and relieves it—in "Stella's Starliner," a picture book for 4- to 8-year-olds filled with vibrant, emotionally resonant illustrations. ... Sensitive and visually delightful pages.
—The Wall Street Journal
Created with watercolor, gouache, pastel, ink, and colored pencil on sanded paper, the handsome illustrations and simple text make it clear Stella has a happy home. ... Not only is this picture book a marvelous example of the different perceptions of others, but it also shows how hurtful words can be. This picture book would be perfect for sharing with a class at the start of the year as a reminder not to judge others by where they live or their economic status.
—Reading Today Online
Author-illustrator Wells creates gorgeous, dreamy landscapes to linger over for long minutes.
—The Sunday Plain Dealer
About the Author
Rosemary Wells has written and/or illustrated more than 120 books for children and has received many awards. She is the author-illustrator of Love Waves, the creator of the Max and Ruby stories, and the illustrator of My Very First Mother Goose and Here Comes Mother Goose, both edited by Iona Opie. Rosemary Wells lives in upstate New York.
