This is a delightful picture book!  Based around the “simple” task of getting up and dressed in the morning, it manages to tell several stories to the different audiences who will read it.

Young early readers will follow Sam as his bossy older sister Stella tries to keep him going through the steps of getting out of bed and finding all the right clothes, while he finds ways to make it a great game. 

Older children will sympathise with Stella as little brother Sam keeps wandering off task despite all her best efforts, losing his shoe, hiding in the wardrobe, playing with the dog.  And parents will chuckle at the wonderful creation of the bond between the two siblings, and the amazing ability of children to be sidetracked. 

Marie-Louise Gay is an award winning Canadian author and illustrator and her skill with simple line and colour is evident.  Sam and Stella’s facial expressions carry so many of the jokes and tricks between the two, and a little subplot with Sam’s dog runs through the pictures. 

Good Morning Sam is one for the whole family to enjoy because they will all recognize something in it.

Stella and Sam also feature in more titles, building their own series around some key moments in childhood.  These include:
Good Night Sam,
Stella, Star of the Sea
Stella, Fairy of the Forest
Stella, Queen of the Snow

Review by David Beagley

© 2003 David Beagley