Stella's Starliner

Praise

[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