Kirkus Reviews

Wells' winsome animal characters are charming, as always, but her latest effort lacks coherence and depth. The casual, colloquial tone suits the simple tale beautifully. Stella, a fox child, lives a happy life, secure in her parents' love and seemingly unaware of her straitened circumstances. She loves her small, shiny trailer home, enjoys spending time with her mother and looks forward to her father's weekly return on Sundays. Then some unfriendly weasels point out her poverty. Saddened, Stella tries to keep her emotions hidden, but her mother teases the truth out of her. Unfortunately, instead of allowing Stella to sort things out herself, Wells decides to solve her problems geographically. Stella's dad hooks up the house trailer and hauls it to another, more welcoming (and tropical) locale, where the new neighbors greet Stella and her home with awe and enthusiasm. The abrupt ending may leave listeners wondering exactly what happened. They're also likely to be confused by the contrast between scenes that suggest a mid-20th-century rural setting and the inline skates and baggy pants sported by the weasels. Overall, however, the variously sized mixed-media illustrations are captivating, featuring lush forests, starry nights, expressive faces and delightful details. Fans of Wells' work will likely embrace Stella's story, but some may wish she'd been allowed to confront her problems rather than just running away from them. (Picture book. 5-8)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

In a series of silver-framed vignettes, a little fox lives contentedly with her family in Airstream-style trailer, a small but ingenious living space with -a kitchen and a radio and a sofa that turned into a bed.- Stella-s sense of security evaporates when a gang of weasels mocks the Starliner (-It-s an old trailer is what it is!- -You must be poor!-). But when Stella-s Daddy hitches the trailer to his pickup truck and moves the family to a place where there are palm trees and shimmering water, Stella makes new friends who think her life in the Starliner is worthy of -A squillionaire!- Curiously, Wells never clarifies the reason behind the relocation, and so a story that draws so much power from its sense of emotional truth concludes with an ending that seems almost too magical. But that-s a small caveat; 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. Ages 4-8. Agent: Brenda Bowen, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. (Mar.)

Horn Book (Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2014)

Fox Stella and her parents live in a mobile home, the Starliner, that meets all their needs. This peaceful life snags when a gang of weasels mock Stella's home and hurt her feelings. Something magical happens as the Starliner, hitched to Daddy's truck, flies through the night sky toward new neighbors. Packaged within silver starry-sky endpapers, the words and mixed-media images work effectively together.

School Library Journal (Sat Mar 01 00:00:00 CST 2014)

PreS-Gr 2 Stella, a red fox, is proud of her family's trailer home. It has cozy corners, fun hiding places, and a color that resembles the stars. When some older weasels call it a tin can, she hides her sadness at their hurtful comments from her mom so she won't "feel the stings, too." The problem is resolved, though, as the trailer home takes flight to a new location, where Stella meets new friends, in what appears to be a vivid fantasy sequence. The small camper that looked cheap to the weasels makes her new playmates envious. With bunnies Grace and Stumpy sharing a meal with her in the trailer, Stella feels like a "squillionaire" once again. 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. Tanya Boudreau, Cold Lake Public Library, AB, Canada

Starred Review ALA Booklist (Sat Feb 01 00:00:00 CST 2014)

Starred Review Stella, a little fox, lives with her parents in the Starliner, a trailer that's neat and cozy on the inside and shiny silver on the outside. She and her mama spend a contented day together, visiting the farmers' market and the bookmobile. But when some mean weasels pass by after school, they stop to taunt Stella, calling her poor and her home a "tin can." Stung by their cruel words, Stella cannot eat or sleep. That night, she confides in her mother, who points out that the trailer is moving. The next morning, they arrive in a tropical setting, where two new bunny friends admire Stella's silver home. While the journey section has an ambiguous, dreamlike quality, as though representing the wish to flee whenever words or deeds cause pain, there's much to admire in both the art and the story. The text is simply written but precise. When the weasels tease the little fox, "their words sting Stella's heart like the stings of bees" memorable image. Created using watercolor, gouache, pastel, ink, and colored pencil, the lovely illustrations convey a sense of order, safety, and wonder in Stella's world. This evocative picture book makes an absorbing read-aloud choice for young children.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Something new from the creator of Max and Ruby, and countless other beloved stories, is sure to be in demand.