Flat Stanley (picture book edition) [Hardcover]

Jeff Brown (Author), Scott Nash (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: August 22, 2006 | Age Range: 4 - 8 years | Series: Flat Stanley | Lexile Measure: 550L (What's this?)

Meet Stanley Lambchop.

He's an ordinary boy with an extraordinary problem.

He's four feet tall, about a foot wide . . . oh, and half an inch thick.

At first being flat is fine.

It's fun going in and out of rooms simply by sliding under the door.

And it's exciting being mailed to your friends in California for a visit.

But it's not always easy being different, and soon Stanley wishes he could be just like everybody else.

Will he ever be normal again?

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Poor Stanley. He's a perfectly normal boy until one morning he wakes up flat. After his parents peel the incriminating bulletin board off of him, Stanley must adjust to life as a pancake. He is a boy who takes this kind of thing in stride, though, and soon he's enjoying the advantages of squashedness. Sliding under closed doors is fun, and it's gratifying to be of use to his mother when she drops her ring through a narrow metal grating. Expensive plane fare to California? No problem. Svelte Stanley folds comfortably into a brown paper envelope. There's even room left over in there for an egg-salad sandwich. But Stanley's true moment of glory comes when a gang of thieves begins stealing paintings from the Famous Museum of Art. The case seems hopeless--until our two-dimensional hero saves the day. Here is one boy who doesn't let his profile-challenged body stop him from living life fully--that is, until his brother finds a way to help him become well rounded again. Jeff Brown's matter-of-fact tone and Tomi Ungerer's witty and engaging drawings tickle the funny bone, making this 1964 classic a perennial favorite. (Ages 4 to 8) --Emilie Coulter --This text refers to the Library Binding edition.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3–Based on Jeff Brown's original story (HarperCollins, 1964), this oversize picture book condenses some of the adventures of the ever-popular character who was flattened by a bulletin board. Ending up four feet tall, a foot wide, and half-an-inch thick, Stanley discovers that being flat is not only novel (he can slip under cracks), but also exciting. He is mailed off to California in a large envelope; he can be flown like a huge kite; and one night, disguised as a shepherdess, he hides in a painting in the art museum and foils some thieves. Full-page, cartoon illustrations in watercolor and crayon enhance the story while remaining true to the original. This version of an old favorite will introduce a beloved character to a new generation of younger children. It should have wide appeal.–Sally R. Dow, Ossining Public Library, NY
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Product Details

• Age Range: 4 - 8 years
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; First Edition edition (August 22, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061129046
• ISBN-13: 978-0061129049
• Product Dimensions: 12.1 x 9.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (114 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #191,390 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Flat Stanley July 12, 2000

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

This imaginative story by Jeff Brown tells about the adventures of a young boy, Stanley, who is mashed flat by an enormous bulletin board that falls on him in the night. As being flat has its advantages, Stanley has quite a few exciting adventures, one of which includes being placed in an envelope and mailed to friends in California for a vacation trip. The story is filled with mystery, adventure, sibling rivalry, and family fun. Children will love reading about the antics of Flat Stanley!

Note to teachers: This book is great when used as a part of a social studies unit on America. Have children create a U.S. map. Find California. Practice letter writing. Send Flat Stanley to friends and relatives in other states. Locate those states on the class map. Gather information about those states through return letters and let children learn from each other.

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly memorable February 6, 1997

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

Finally I've found Flat Stanley!! I read this wonderful book when I was a small child and was thrilled by Stanley's situation. In fact, it is one of the only stories I can still vividly recall from my TV-infested childhood. (And it still affects me-- to this day I have NEVER put a bulletin board above my bed or anything big for that matter!!!).

As I grew older, I lost track of my copy of the book-- but would always ask friends if they remembered it when the converstation turned to children's literature. Surprisingly, not many people had heard of the story-- which, of course, inspired me to find the book and bring back a classic to my friends, nieces and nephews.

So, I scoured bookstores old and new to find it. And I was without luck-- until now. With the help of my computer and Amazon.com I have, again, found Flat Stanley. So, I'm ordering a bunch of copies-- for myself and my family-- and I'm thrilled that Stanley will find a place once again on my bookshelf -- and will hopefully remain there for years to come.

I can't wait for him to get here!!!

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I'm Hooked March 16, 2004

By ardnam VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

I had heard of Flat Stlanley before and although I thought the concept was cute I had never used this book in my second grade. At least not until this year. I am using it with one of my flexible reading groups. I'm absolutely hooked and the children are as well. We have posted the pros and cons of being flat and have joined in with the Flat Stanley project. This is providing so many enriching extension activities! We are now "hosting" Flat Stanleys from Ontario, Thailand, and Australia. The learning that is taking place (writing, reading, speaking, creating, geography, world cultures) is astounding. My students are constructing their own Stanleys who will be traveling around the world to be hosted in other states and countries. I will be buying more copies of this book so I can do this with my entire class next year. I purchased Stanley in Space for my reading group to move on to next. I can't believe I was not aware of how wonderful this book could be. I have been able to integrate it throughout my curriculum. HIGHLY recommended!

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT CHILDHOOD MEMORY! December 9, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Library Binding

I have been debating what to get my 5 year old neice for Christmas, when out of the blue I remembered Flat Stanley! It has been about 15 years since I thought about this book. My little brother had checked it out from the library, and it was so funny that we ended up checking the book out over & over again that summer. Now when I think about Stanley's comical, but pratical, solutions to his big problem I still get a good laugh! Flat Stanley is by far the most hilarious book ever. It was such a big part of my family, that whenever any of us did something silly, my mother would quote the police officers (The ones who watched Stanley's mother lower him into the grate for her ring), "Get the hook! There's a looney on the loose! ". I am so excited I remembered this book, and I can't wait to read it again!

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fondly remembered from my childhood, sly clever humor! May 28, 2000

By Suzanne Amara VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

I was exposed to this book first by having a section of it in a 5th grade reading book! I didn't know for years that it was out there somewhere as a whole book, and I think finally around high school found it at the library and read the whole thing at last. Just recently I once again remembered it, and got it for my sons! I appreciate it more as an adult---the humor is so dry and the dialogue so deadpan! My favorite scene is that with Stanley's doctor---how he says of it not hurting Stanley to be flat "well, that's mostly how it is with these cases" as if he's seen hundreds of boys flattened by bulletin boards! As a child of course I liked best having Stanley sent by mail to California! I have to admit this book dragged a bit for my sons in reading it to them, but I think perhaps they are really too young for it (at 5 and 2)---but I couldn't wait to read it to them!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful story to show how everyone is special. July 19, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

I am a teacher and we use this book to discuss relationships with others who may be different than us. We also send our own Flat Stanley's through the mail to people we know. Then plot out on a map to show all the places Flat Stanley went and read all the things he did.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Not the real thing March 11, 2011

By James P. Simmer

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is entitled "Flat Stanley" by Jeff Brown. It is a first edition that is copyrighted in 2006. There is another book entitled "Flat Stanley" by Jeff Brown. Its first edition was copyrighted in 1964. These are not the same books. Confused? This review is for the 2006 book, which is "Based upon the original Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown, text copyright 1964". If you look at the other reviews for this book, you will notice that almost all of them were written before 2006, when the book itself was written. Obviously Amazon has included the reviews written for "Flat Stanley" by Jeff Brown that was copyrighted in 1964, probably because Amazon thinks these are the same books. They are not. This title was included on my 8 yr old's "Book Quest" list. When my girl discussed the book with others, the 2006 version turned out to be "missing parts". I haven't seen the 1964 book, but apparently the 2006 book has less text and more pictures, and is probably for a younger (~age 6-7) audience.