Marie-Louise Gay is a Canadian

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

 children’s author and illustrator.

Background

Born in Quebec City

Quebec City

Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...

, as a child she lived in Montreal

Montreal

Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...

 and Vancouver

Vancouver

Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...

. Gay has received numerous awards for her written and illustrated works in both French

French language

French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...

 and English

English language

English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...

, including the 2005 Vicky Metcalf Award

Vicky Metcalf Award

The Vicky Metcalf Award is awarded to a writer whose body of work has been "inspirational to Canadian youth." It is one of the top awards for Canadian children's writers. The award was named after Vicky Metcalf...

, multiple Governor General’s Awards

Governor General's Award for English language children's illustration

This is a list of recipients of the Governor General's Award for illustration in an English-language children's book. The award was created in 1987 alongside the award for English-language children's literature.-1980s:...

, the Ruth Schwartz Award, the Mr. Christie’s Book Award, the Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Award

Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Award

The Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Award was established in 1985 following the death of Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver, one of Canada's pre-eminent book illustrators. In her will, Cleaver left a fund of $10,000 dollars for an award to be given annually in recognition of outstanding...

, the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award

Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award

The Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award is an annual Canadian literary award, presented to the year's best illustrated picture book for children. Sponsored by TD Bank Financial Group and the Canadian Children's Book Centre, the award carries a monetary prize of $25,000...

 and the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award

Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award

The Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award was created in 1971 to honour an outstanding work of illustration in current children's literature of Canada. The award is presented annually under the auspices of the Canadian Library Association...

. Her famous Stella and Sam books have been published in more than twelve languages.
Gay lives in Montreal

Montreal

Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...

.

Illustration bibliography

• The Last Piece (1993)
• When Vegetables Go Bad! (1993)
• The Fabulous Song (1996)
• Dreams Are More Real Than Bathtubs (1999)
• Yuck, a Love Story (2000)
• Didi and Daddy on the Promenade (2001)
• Houndsley and Catina (2006)
• Maddie Series/Sophie Series (1993–2003)

Awards

• Rainy Day Magic (1987) - Governor General's Award for English Language Children's Illustration
• Moonbeam On A Cat's Ear (1987) - The Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award
• Rainy Day Magic (1998) - The Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award
• Yuck, A Love Story (2000) - Governor General's Award for English Language Children's Illustration
• Stella: Queen of the Snow (2001) - The Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Award

External links

Marie-Louise Gay fonds at Library and Archives Canada