What Are You Doing, Sam?

September 1, 2006
PreS-K -Sam and his older sister are spending the day pursuing various entertainments. While Stella reads, paints, and works on craft projects, she keeps track of her brother -s activities by asking periodically, -What are you doing, Sam? - The boy keeps busy with his dog, Fred, making him pancakes, playing hide-and-seek, and more. Stella looks in on Sam from time to time, but is never perturbed by the mess left in the wake of this small and very active child. The deceptively simple illustrations were created with a variety of materials: watercolor, HB pencil, colored pencils, collage, and acrylic ink. The smallest details add to the charm of the pictures: Sam walks around with only one sock on; he calls out his commands to a decidedly inert dog; and he borrows his grandmother -s glasses to aid Fred in learning to read. Another charming tale about these siblings that will delight all who enter their cozy realm.-" -Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI"

Copyright 2006 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2006
Sam is always up to something. His older sister, Stella, is on the case, asking him what he's doing or where he's going. The answer consistently revolves around some silly antics with the dog, Fred. In one scene, Sam plays hide-and-seek under a striped blanket, which Fred pulls off to find him. In another Sam teaches Fred to read. Gay uses a soft, cheery watercolor palette, energized by the tomato-red of Stella's flyaway hair, and the child-friendly scenes, with lots of white space, sometimes flow across the pages. The little episodes are not always distinct, but children (both older and younger siblings) will easily recognize themselves in Stella and Sam's behavior.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)