FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 10, 2011 (TORONTO) — Astral’s Playhouse Disney premiered the new animated series Stella and Sam on Sunday, January 9 at 10:30am ET. The new series, based on the internationally best-selling Groundwood books by Canadian author and illustrator Marie-Louise Gay, follows the backyard adventures of four-year-old Sam and his older sister Stella. Gay has written and illustrated eight books in the Stella and Sam series to date. They have been translated into fifteen languages and sold more than one million copies worldwide.

Children can now venture further into the world of Stella and Sam with interactive adventures designed for children and their families to explore online at www.playhousedisney.ca. Families can learn more about show’s characters, play Stella and Sam games and download printable activities.

New episodes of the show will premiere on Sunday mornings at 10:30am ET with episodes also airing on Saturday mornings at 10:30am ET as well as Saturday and Sunday evenings at 8 pm ET. Groundwood will be publishing new paperback editions of Good Morning, Sam and Good Night, Sam in February 2011, followed by When Stella Was Very, Very Small and What Are You Doing, Sam? in the same format this August. All books can be purchased from booksellers nationwide or the Groundwood Books website.

Learn more about the creator at www.marielouisegay.com.

For more information, please contact:

Kate McQuaid | Publicist | Groundwood Books
416-363-4343 x229 | kmcquaid@groundwoodbooks.com