What Are You Doing, Sam? [Hardcover]

Marie-Louise Gay (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 2 and up

Stella’s little brother Sam decides Fred the dog needs some new tricks. Not content with just teaching him to roll over, Sam decides to broaden Fred’s horizons to include swimming, cooking, and painting. Of course, Fred finds a way to subvert each experience in order to do exactly as he pleases and to create the maximum amount of mess. Stella watches the goings-on with amusement, always asking “What are you doing, Sam?” — a phrase familiar to little brothers and sisters everywhere. Gay’s delicate watercolors, full of expression and humor, complement the whimsical story.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-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 brothers 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 grandmothers 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 © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

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. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 2 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Groundwood Books (July 20, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0888997345
• ISBN-13: 978-0888997340
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,007,226 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Whimsical, fun and sweet, Sam and Stella series are stellar!, January 18, 2007

By 

Yvette Yasui "Noakai's Mama" (Brooklyn and Honolulu) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: What Are You Doing, Sam? (Hardcover)

Sam is Stella's younger brother and in this book shows a bit of his independance as he goes around the house doing projects and having a very full day indeed.

We think this series of books by Canadian children's book writer Marie-Louise Gay are a wonderful series for parents looking for books about siblings. Most books about having a younger brother or sister portrays the event as negative or stressful for the older child. In this series, Sam and Stella have wonderful adventures together, quiet moments in nature and sweet moments in life around the house.

My son loves the Sam character for his curiosity and timid nature, and he does not have any sisters or siblings, but the books are so fun, we love them for any child or child at heart. Highly recommended.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What Are you Doing, Sam?, August 12, 2007

By 

Bronte' (Alabama) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: What Are You Doing, Sam? (Hardcover)

Can't get enough of this adorable brother and sister and their dog Fred. Stella and Sam have become 'my own' Sam's and my favorite book friends to spend time with. This series should be in every household. The creativity of Marie-Louise Gay is remarkable.