by Jane Porter
illustrated by Maisie Paradise Shearring
 
Stella spots everything. Every little bittie thing. From the horses galloping in the clouds to the man with the spikes in his hair. Dad calls her, “my little detective”. But on a trip to the park, Dad asks her to lower her voice and to hurry along. So, she keeps the honking geese to herself. But maybe she can point out the “funny, shuffly, rainbow lady” in the park? No. Dad wants to play the not-noticing-things game for a while. But Stella finds her environment much, much too irresistible! And then, it turns out, her superlative powers of perception save the day for one grateful rainbow lady. 
 
A sweet tale set in a beautifully illustrated urban environment. Maisie’s honking-geese eyes’ view of the high street is a treat and the smells of Autumn just drift off the page. Lovely also to see Dad as primary carer. ‘The combination of dad being loving yet slightly distracted is highly relatable and Stella feels totally real to me. The adult learning from the child is a nice touch which is subtly done” (Mark Jennett, Equalities Trainer/Consultant, Letterbox Library reviewer). By the winners of the 2020 Little Rebels Award with The Boy Who Loved Everyone. [White leads; ethnically diverse neighbourhood; single parent family]. Age 4-7, Paperback 24pp 
 
Themes: Diverse Families