Stick Kid

by Peter Holwitz

Draw two eyes and a push-up nose. Ten little fingers and ten little toes. Just a stick kid, a quick little stick kid . . . Until that stick kid starts to grow. And change. And before you know it, your little stick kid isn’t so little. He isn’t even a kid anymore. But he is still yours. And in your heart, he’ll always be your kid, your quick little stick kid. And you’ll love him.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Humor, Fiction

40 pages, Hardcover

First published April 26, 2004

Reviews

[Guilherme Semionato · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cried. Monumentally moving and well written. Such a rich and beautiful poem, an anthem to companionship and letting go.

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adored this author’s Scribbleville and The Big Blue Spot. I found this one to be slightly less creative and I wasn’t quite as enamored by it, but it was a sweet story. I think this author tried a tad too hard to make it meaningful, in my opinion.

[jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book basically gutted me. #postpartumhormones

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my very favorite children's books. It is the sweetest little allegory. Seriously, I tear up sometimes when I read it. My favorite line: "I drew a boat and he went wishing/I drew the stars and he went wishing."

[Cool Guy]

My mom read this book to me when I was young. I found it for the first time in forever the night before I left for college. It is the only thing in the world that brings me to ugly tears every time I think about it. A wonderful book. I'm going to get Stick Kid tattooed on me.

[Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the fun the author has with Stick Kid.

[Shernee Bellamy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cry every time I read this book! This a children’s book I’ve been waiting for ❤️

[Ingrid Weisse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book to my kids when they were little, thinking it would be a silly book. I ended up in tears at the end. So simple, and yet it reminds us how quickly they grow up.

[Dakota Nightingale · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was good but not great. Someone could easily use it in an elementary classroom and connect it with a drawing assignment. It is a very simple book and easy to keep up with, the ending is cute but the story in whole just wasn't very interesting.

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very sweet. It is about a guy who draws a stick kid who comes to life. The stick kid eventually grows until he wants friends and says he doesn't need the artist. And then drives off only to return in a long time with his own stick family. The author ends with, "and he grew up well". It takes the joy/tragedy of having kids (the joy of the children and the sadness when they leave to be their own people) and puts it in a simple form.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is corny and cheesy and just as great as I remember! I first read Stick Kid with my daughter at a library when she was 4. Today, we read it again. It was as fun as I remembered, although my 12-year-old daughter said it was pointless. (This is perhaps NOT a book designed for a preteen audience.)

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very cute book about a boy who drew a stick kid and how that stick kid grew up to be a stick man! The boy draws things on the paper that the stick kid wants and it so reminded me of Harold and the Purple Crayon and I think that's why I liked it so much! It was a hit with my two boys!

[Gena Lott · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun presentation on growing up! The rhyming scheme of the text is simple with a refrain that will entrance child audiences. The pictures are simple and uncluttered and tell the story beautifully!

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the theme of this book, almost a Giving Tree feel, but not as engaging. It's a story about learning to let go as a child grows up and starts living his own life. Sweet, but not amazing.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

A stick figure boy grows up, eventually leaving home and starting a stick family of his own.

[Sharper1 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting concept

[Brianna Crall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reminded me of The Giving Tree. I could see myself giving this to someone whose child is leaving for college.

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very great book for a younger audience. Both for reading to a younger child or having a young student read it to you. Very cute and ended very happily. A good short read by Peter Holwitz.

[Ro Givens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet story about how we try to do the best for our kids, and how they grow up anyway.

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

really cute.

[Austin Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our favorite! <3