Flat Stanley
Written by Jeff Brown illustrated by Scott Nash (Based loosely on the original, Flat Stanley published in 1964) This one has less text and more pictures.
HarperCollins (August 22, 2006) (This is the picture book edition)
Suitable For: Ages 4 and up
Theme/Topic:
Studying America and the world.
Opening:
Breakfast was ready.
"I will go wake the boys," Mrs. Lambchop said to her husband, George Lambchop. Just then their younger son, Arthur, called from the bedroom he shared with his brother, Stanley.
"Hey! Come and look! Hey!"
Mr. and Mrs. Lambchop were both very much in favor of politeness and careful speech. "Hay is for horses, Arthur, not people," Mr. Lambchop said as they entered the bedroom. "Try to remember that."
"Excuse me," Arthur said. "But look!"
Synopsis:
Stanley is an ordinary boy whose life changes in a very big way after being flattened by a bulletin board in his room during the night. He is now a half-inch thick! (Flat as a pancake!)
Why I loved it:
This is a great tool for studying America (one reviewer mentioned you could have the each of the kids send a Flat Stanley to their friends and relatives in other states, thereby learning about those states) as the reader travels with Stanley who travels in an envelope. It is so funny! (Plus, he saves the day when a gang of thieves begins stealing paintings from the Famous Museum of Art.) The illustrations popped right off the page.
Resource linkage:
Here's a great one that shows how one class sent out plain paper dolls that they call FLAT STANLEYS, to visit cities all over America and the World. Mrs. Wolfe's class is totally cool! There are Flat Stanley projects all over the world!
Go and visit my groundhog/horsy pal, Susanna Leonard Hill for more offerings!
Have a great weekend! xoxo
31 comments:
Hi Robyn .. Flat Stanley - sounds fun .. and what great ideas via the two schools/classes ..
Cheers - Hilary
I read "Flat Stanley in Space", but not the first one. Flat Stanley in Space is a good book but Stanley isn't flat anymore. :( I'll have to check this one out!
Erik
Robyn! Great minds think alike! I almost did this today because of my Phyllis idea, but I don't have a copy of the book so I couldn't do it properly and thought - OK, I'll leave it til next week and get it from the library! This is such a great book, with a great activity! Thank you so much for adding it to our list!!!
Hi Robyn, I don't think I've read Flat Stanley yet, it sounds fun and good for manners. And the space one. Have a fun weekend!
My little guy loves these!
Hey, an updated Flat Stanley, how cool! This is a super choice and envelope travel is IN right now!
Flat Stanley is a great book, but I haven't read it for years. I loved seeing the creative ways students showed Flat Stanley their part of the world. I put it on my list and will be checking it out soon for a another read.
I remember my mom's class doing this project. It is a fun way to teach geography and meet pen pals all around the globe. Great recommendation!
It is always interesting to see the updated covers. We have the original from when my husband was little and my kids love it!
Robyn, what a very clever and unusual book. You have such a great activity. Really enjoyed this. I want a copy!
Flat Stanley sounds fun :) Will check it out on Amazon.
I should check this book out! My daughter and I did a Flat Stanley project for my cousin's son. They live in Maine, so we supplied some KY info and pics for him. I love the concept.
Thanks for sharing, amigo,
Karen xo
This looks like such fun! I'd never heard of this until there was some discussion over at Susanna's today. Even then, I didn't realize it was a book, and not simply an activity that schools did.
Thank you! (Perfect timing!)
"Hay" Robyn :)
What a funny story...great concept...kids will love it!!! Thanks for selecting it...and great activities and resources as well.
So much easier than sending a gnome in the mail! :)
Hello Robyn, Flat Stanley is one of th middle grade books that my ten year old daughter enjoyed when she was in the first/second grade. I didn't know it had a picture book version, how awesome! So good to know more and more picture books through PPBF.
Hello Robyn, Flat Stanley is one of th middle grade books that my ten year old daughter enjoyed when she was in the first/second grade. I didn't know it had a picture book version, how awesome! So good to know more and more picture books through PPBF.
I admit, I've never read this book. Very interesting and unusual.
Sounds like a fun book to read. Cute cover. Thanks for sharing about it.
I haven't heard of this one or the earlier version. The less text works well at our age level. I loved pen pals in school, so that would be a fun activity to send a Flat Stanley out to see the world.
I read this a few months ago. It is a fun book! I enjoyed Stanley's adventures as a flat boy.
I remember I got a Flat Stanley sent to me once. My kiddo thought it was fun to take pictures of him by our beach. :)
Flat Stanley is the reason I can't sleep with anything over my head! As a child I was certain something would fall on me and I'd wake up flat - like Stanley! My husband wants to put a painting over our bed, "No way, do you want me to wake up flat like Flat Stanley!" I said. Ha ha.
Hi Robyn,
FLAT STANLEY sounds fun. Will have to check this out.
My daughter's class did that a few years ago. She sent Stanley to her cousins in Dallas and they took pictures of him all around town.
By the way, I tagged you for the Sevens meme at my blog today. :)
it's a popular kindergarten book in these parts..the kids make their own 'flat stanley' and send them around the country. fun!
Hi Robyn =D Sounds like a fun book. I love the idea of sending Stanley around the country.
Flat Stanley is awesome. I worked in elementary schools for the past 4 years and saw so many classrooms incorporate Flat Stanley into their geography and language arts classes.
Hi Robyn! I always see Flat Stanley books but never had the chance to read them. I'll be sure to check one out one of these days. That paper doll activity sounds so much fun. It not only fosters creativity in children, but also allows them to connect with other people. :)
How cute is that cover?! The book sounds like so much fun. This year I have promised myself that I would get back into middle-grade reading, so thanks for the recommendation!
Thanks for the return follow:) Appreciate it :)
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