Stanley

by Syd Hoff

Stanley is no ordinary caveman. This makes the other cavemen so angry that they chase him away. But Stanley just goes on being different, and as the others soon see, different isn’t such a bad idea after all.

Stanley is a funny story with a timeless message. As Children's Book and Their Creators commented: "Humorously demonstrates how one nonconformist can make a tremendous difference to his society."

This Level 1 I Can Read classic by Syd Hoff, author of Danny and the Dinosaur, is perfect for children learning to sound out words and sentences.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1962

About the author

Whether you’re seven or seventy, the chances are you’ve probably come in contact with one of his many books (150 plus), or cartoons that have appeared in over 200 magazines in the course of his lifetime, including Laugh it Off which was syndicated for 20 years. His comic strip Tuffy, about a little girl who did funny things, was declared essential for national morale during WWII by William Randolph Hearst.

Syd has worked in diverse genres. He had the distinct honor of working with Alfred Hitchcock and Ellery Queen as a contributor of short fiction writing. He was awarded national advertising commissions for large companies such as Chevrolet, Maxwell House Coffee and others. He had his own TV show (Tales of Hoff on CBS), traveled the world as entertainment on cruise ships and entertained children and teachers in schools and libraries across the country.

Reviews

[Chris Treber · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the reasons that I love this book (aside from the fact that I have fond memories of it as a child, including Syd Hoff coming to our school and signing my copy, which my mother subsequently gave away and I've never seen it again) is that it quietly challenges gender stereotypes for boys. Today, it's all about girl empowerment, which is great, but both sides of gender ideologies should be challenged. It's interesting that a book from this era does that, as it was written at a time when gender roles were fiercely delineated. Stanley, in a community of "manly" cavemen, questions the status quo, including, not only his housing choice, but what he enjoys to pass the time. He is kind to animals, disinterested in club-wielding, and openly likes to do things like paint pictures and plant flowers. It's a fun little story great for early readers, but as the mother of a son, I love that it also shows the attributes of nonconformity - even when it means challenging the stereotypes of your own gender.

[Emerson and Theodore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this vintage original copy at a school library sale. The theme is wonderful and very progressive: Stanley is not like the other cavemen. He wants to live differently and draw pictures and paint and plant flowers and be kind to the animals. In short, he wants to be civilized. But he is also ostracized initially. He is teased by the “manly” cavemen. Very interesting. Cant believe I’m the first reviewer. Maybe this book wasn’t in print long? We also have Sammy the seal and Danny and the dinosaur. Great artist.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favorite book when I was six years old. It was my younger brother's favorite book too. We must have read it thousands of times.

[Jonathan Yan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, along with the other Syd Hoff book "Chester" were by far my two most favorite books during my early childhood.
Syd Hoff's art style is so simple yet so charming. The simplicity gives it beauty. Single colored fields and rivers give a warm comfortable feeling while reading it. Telling you life is great and full of beauty, and to take your time. I'm pretty sure this single handedly began my interest in drawing, or at least doodling. The story is simple, but charming, and the ending is quick, but heart warming. It has such a nice ending for a children's book, and teaches people that being different is okay. ... Sadly, this brings me to my next topic. I grew up, and recently I learned that Syd Hoff had some ties with Communism.
Syd Hoff made cartoons about Communism. He made cartoons for the New Yorker, but he also for Communist newspapers with the pen name A. Redfield. His first book was a collection of his communist cartoons, and his first children's book was released in a Marxist magazine called New Masses. He was even photographed with communists. Syd Hoff had Communists ideals in a Capitalist country. He thought differently... Does this ring a bell? Was Syd Hoff secretly trying to add a slice of his political views to a Children's book? Even the other book, Chester, was about horses that was different from the other horses. Was he trying to brainwash me into becoming a communist? Am I looking way too deep into a childrens book?
I don't care. This book is my childhood and you can't do anything about it Big Brother. Just appreciate it's beauty.

[Edward Sojuwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Syd Hoff's Stanley is the poor person's Fred Flintstone you've been waiting for. If you say you haven't, you're in denial. Stanley is a humble caveman who's also the world's very first trendsetter, a Neander-awwww! who's really the nicest guy in all of prehistory. The other cave-dudes frown at his kindness to others, to his painting cute pictures which, in a thousand years, archaeology students will find in caves and sell on eBay for a cool ten trillion dollars! The cave-dudes want Stan to be a MAN, since under unwritten law in the book of Dino Mentality, real men carry clubs to smack brontos upside the head (or their wives but that's mostly caveman legend). But Stanley doesn't listen, and gets outcast from cave society since, it turns out, he's more of a man than these other brutes. Stanley can't possibly live under a rock or in a tree. So he does the unexpected thing of putting rocks together with some sticky stuff called cement, and lo he has invented....the house! The other cave-dudes? They only ever came up with fire. Not impressed. Not based on a true story....but you can never tell!
Four stars
Stanley helps you do things really right!!!

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a world full of uncivilized cavemen, Stanley is different. He likes to plant things, pain on cave walls and is nice to others, both humans and animals. He's not like the other cavemen, which makes him a misfit. Being a misfit, he's banished from his home and must seek refuge someplace else. But it's okay, he didn't like living in a cave in the first place. When he finds a field to sleep in he's content until it rains and he's forced to come up with a plan B, which, surprisingly, is building a house. I think this was an amusing story about how one person's actions can lead to great change/progress in how man became more civilized (thought sometimes I feel we're going backward nowadays). My rating - 3/5

[Villain E · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, this was interesting. Stanley is a caveman who doesn't like living in a cave. He sets off and studies how animals live before building his own house. The thing I find interesting is that the other cavemen are very alpha male types and Stanley sometimes codes as feminine with long eyelashes and the way he stands. But, even though he codes as effeminate, he's the hero who leads the cavepeople to civilization.

This is an early reader, with only one or two simple sentences per page. At 64 pages, this still tells a full-length story.

[Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never met a Syd Hoff book that I didn't love. I love the stories this one teaches. I love that it teaches that it's okay to be different. I love that it teaches that if we just keep doing what we know we should be doing, others will someday come around.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yuck.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.3

[Monica Loftus · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like how this book uses a subtle way to explain that it is OK to be yourself even if other people don’t always like it. You will always be happier being true to yourself.

[Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book because at the end they all got along

[Danette · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/25/19 Read with Simon

[Lee Wilder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was honestly one of my favorite books as a small child. I read it so much the spine fell off and the whole thing fell apart. Cute read and a wonderful message.

[Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic Syd Hoff!!

[Ryan Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

The very first book I can VIVIDLY remember my Grandma Walsh would read to me EVERYTIME she visited.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book takes the children back to the caveman era. Nicely done, and a nice change from the 'same ole same ole' storybooks. A caveman doesn't like living in a cave where it was cold. He liked being nice to animals and others. But the other cavemen doesn't like him being different. So they chase him away. But he doesn't care he goes on being the same nice person he always has been. He builds himself an actual house and later his friendship he tried to make with the other cavemen came back as they all came to welcome him back to the caves. But he doesn't want to go back to cave living and taught them to be nice and built them homes.

[midnightfaerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book my 6 yr old loved, a little old for my preschoolers. A solid reading level 1 book, this reader has a good amount of advanced vocabulary words, but not so long that it discourages a new reader. Used it for his read out loud book, which was perfect. It took about 10 mins for him to read and had just enough new vocabulary words to make it challenging. Also, it was a fun and interesting story he could get into. He liked it so much, he asked for more by this author. Great reading book!

[Elizabeth S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stanley, the cave-man who likes to plant flowers and be nice to people. How weird! But, of course, we learn the value of such things. I like that there isn't major moralizing to belabor the point. It is a cute, fun story.

[Tricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

tale of a caveman who isn't like the rest. he finds a peaceful way of living unlike his other cavepeople. easy reader.

[Dolly · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an okay story, although it's very silly and not in any way factually correct. Our girls thought it was very goofy.

[Ashlee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Boston liked this one a lot!

[Sem · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stanley marches to the beat of a different drummer.

[Vivian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is written as a beginning reader so needed a little tweaking to be used in our library pre-school story time on CAVES. A very fun story.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of my favorites from childhood, i forgot about it until today. :)