Flat Stanley

Flat Stanley #1

by Jeff Brown, Macky Pamintuan (Illustrator)

When Stanley Lambchop wakes up one morning, his brother, Arthur, is yelling. A bulletin board fell on Stanley during the night, and now he is only half an inch thick! Amazing things begin happening to him. Stanley gets rolled up, mailed, and flown like a kite. He even gets to help catch two dangerous art thieves. He may be flat, but he's a hero. This is the very first Flat Stanley adventure, updated with crisp new art.

Supports the Common Core State Standards

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Picture Books, Fantasy, Chapter Books, Writing, Adventure

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1964

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Jeff Brown had worked in Hollywood and as an editor and writer in New York before creating Flat Stanley, a hero for the youngest readers whose adventures, with illustrations by Tomi Ungerer, were first published in 1964. Flat Stanley became the star of a series of perpetually popular books. The last, "Stanley, Flat Again!," was published the year he died. All together, Stanley's tales have sold nearly a million copies in the United States alone. The character's life extended further, as schoolchildren mailed cut-outs of him to their friends. In translation, he traveled to France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Japan and Israel, among other places.

Jeff Brown was born Richard Chester Brown. Originally a child actor, he became Jeff Brown because Actors Equity already had a Richard Brown as a member. A graduate of the Professional Children's School, he provided a child's voice in a radio drama and appeared onstage.

In Hollywood he worked for the producer Samuel Goldwyn Jr. and was a story consultant at Paramount. Preferring to write himself, he sold fiction and articles to national magazines while working at The New Yorker, Life, The Saturday Evening Post, Esquire and finally at Warner Books, where he was a senior editor until 1980. The idea for Stanley came to him one night at bedtime when his sons J. C. and Tony were young and stalling for time. One asked what would happen if the big bulletin board on the wall were to fall on J. C., and Mr. Brown said he would most likely wake up flat. That led to speculation about what such a life might be like. After writing "Flat Stanley, " Mr. Brown went on to "Stanley and the Magic Lamp," "Stanley in Space," "Stanley's Christmas Adventure," "Invisible Stanley" and finally "Stanley, Flat Again!"

The Flat Stanley Project was started in 1995 by Dale Hubert, a third grade schoolteacher in London, Ontario, Canada. It is meant to facilitate letter-writing by schoolchildren to each other as they document where Flat Stanley has gone with them. The Project provides an opportunity for students to make connections with students of other member schools who've signed up with the project. Students begin by reading the book and becoming acquainted with the story. Then they make paper "Flat Stanleys" (or pictures of the Stanley Lambchop character) and keep a journal for a few days, documenting the places and activities in which Flat Stanley is involved. The Flat Stanley and the journal are mailed to other people who are asked to treat the figure as a visiting guest and add to his journal, then return them both after a period of time. In 2005, more than 6,500 classes from 48 countries took part in the Flat Stanley Project.

Reviews

[Babak]

خیلی اتفاقی یادم افتاد که این کتابو تو دوران کودکی خونده بودم و خاطرات خوشی ازش تو ذهنم مونده و الانم حس خوبی نسبت بهش دارم :)
گفتم اضافه‌اش کنم به لیست کتابای گودریدزم که یادم نره این کتابو و شاید دوباره اینجا ببینمش و بازم یه لبخند به اون دوران بزنم...
چه خوب میشه اگه بتونم کتابو پیدا کنم و یرای خواهرزاده‌ام بخرمش و به این بهونه خودمم یه بار دیگه بخونمش :)

آپدیت: کتاب رو از انتشارات قدیانی پیدا کردم و به همراه چند جلد دیگه از این مجموعه خریدم. فکر کنم سیاه و سفید بودن کتاب یا تغییر سلیقه‌ی کودک و نوجوان یا کلی دلیل دیگه‌ باعث شده کتاب فروش چندانی نداشته باشه!‌ چون کتابی که من خریدم چاپ سال 1391 هست و قیمتش به طرز عجیبی ارزونه :)

هشتگ: چرا انقدر بی‌رحمانه رفتار می‌کنید با نوستالژی‌های من؟! :)

[Akhu Pierce · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think it is cool that Stanley is only 1 inch thick. It must be fun to slide under a door or be flown as a kite. He had to bring a sandwich with him when he was mailed. The envelope had to be very big. It cost Mr. Lambchop a whole sheet of stamps to mail Stanley. I hope he doesn't get into any. trouble being flat.You should read it to find out. I recommend this book and I look forward to reading more Stanley books. Ahku

[Stace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com

I remember reading Flat Stanley as a child, I think it was part of a class read at primary school if I’m remembering correctly – It was a long time ago! This book actually isn’t anything like the story I remember because it has been written for younger children from 3 years onward so that they can enjoy the story of Flat Stanley too.

After a pinboard falls on Stanley he is flattened to just 1/2 an inch thick. His parents take him to the doctor who tells them he is fine. Stanley decides he can have lots of fun being this flat and so he allows his brother Arthur to use him like a kite.

However, when the local art museum is robbed Stanley is used to hide as a painting and alert the authorities if the thieves return. Though it isn’t all fun being so thin, as Stanley soon learns that some people can be cruel about how he now looks.

This new version of Flat Stanley for younger children is just adorable. It is bright and colourful and the story plays out in the pictures as well as in the writing, meaning that this is the perfect book for those learning to read.

I can see little children giggling along with Stanley and his brother, especially when Stanley is flying high, or stuck in a tree.

This is a story that has been around for generations and it is wonderful to see that a book for younger readers has been created. It really is a great introduction to the world of Flat Stanley. I can imagine little ones reading this book with a parent or guardian or even at school and then as they get slightly older wanting to read the ‘bigger’ books too.

[Lindsay Duncan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flat Stanley was a book I recall reading in Primary School. There is a quote from the mother ‘People should think twice about making rude remarks’ Mrs Lambchop said ‘and then not make them at all.’ I find that a good quote as an adult to have in a book, but as a child I just wanted to climb into an envelope and be posted all around the world.

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was surprised at how appealing I found this silly story of a boy who is squished flat one day and makes the best of it. Maybe it's that all the adults -- doctors, parents, police, museum directors -- are all so consistently incompetent, so of course the kids have to step up when it comes to saving money, rescuing lost rings, stopping thieves, resolving sibling rivalry, and finding a cure.

Fun.

My only critique: I dislike stories where every member of the family gets a first name except the mother. Free Mrs. Lambchop from the patriarchy!

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

For Stanley, being dressed as a girl is more horrifying than being flat, getting stuffed in an envelope and mailed across the country, or standing still on pegs for hours while staking out villains.

Both my daughter and my son deserve better than some dumb flat kid who disparages girl-stuff.

Maybe this was updated in later versions?

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stanley woke up flat as a pancake. He loved slipping under doors and going from room to room. He was caught up in an unexpected adventure by sneak thieves. It is a great story with really great illustrations.
I will be reading more Stanley books with my grandchildren. He is a hit!

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

at this point i'm just retracing the steps of my childhood lol

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't think I ever read this as a kid, though I later heard about Flat Stanley and his adventures globetrotting around from classroom to classroom in an envelope. It was fun to read his original adventure with my kids. I might have been more into it when I was a kid as, while I appreciated a lot about it, it didn't totally wow me now (and, admittedly, while my kids seemed attentive during our read-aloud, neither of my kids asked for a reread, and they always do if they really like a book). Still, it has a lot of fun and humor and creativity. Some readers used to Flat Stanley's popularity in the 2000s might be surprised to know that this first book was published in 1964. So, there's a bit that dates it to that time, like the gender roles and some of the colloquialisms. Still, Stanley's little adventures that feel pretty timeless. (Do note, there's one part where some thieves mention if they catch the person spying on them they will kill him. I thought that was a little severe for a children's book as otherwise everything is pretty fun and gentle.)

For awhile, I wondered if Stanley was supposed to represent children who are different because he struggles with being comfortable with being different, and his differences make him a hero. I liked that aspect as I was reading along. So, the ending was a little bit of a letdown for me because, while I appreciate the kindness his brother shows in trying to help Stanley get back to his usual dimensions, it also kind of surprised and disappointed me that Stanley doesn't stay flat. I guess he wasn't meant to represent children with physical or other challenges that cannot be quite so easily or fantastically overcome. Maybe I was just reading too much into it and had the wrong sort of expectations.*

Still, the book has this exchange, which is important in any generation, but really quite something in a children's book published in 1964:

Stanley told his parents how he felt. "It's the other kids I mostly mind," he said. "They don't like me anymore because I'm different. Flat."

"Shame on them," Mrs. Lambchop said. "It's wrong to dislike people for their shapes. Or their religion, for that matter, or the color of their skin."

"I know," Stanley said, "Only maybe it's impossible for everybody to like everybody."

"Perhaps," said Mrs. Lambchop, "But they can try."

----------
*ETA: So I got really curious whether anyone else saw Flat Stanley as a character with physical challenges or who could be a role model for children with physical challenges. I didn't find much, but I did find this post on the blog climbingeverymountain.com (which says it is "A Base Camp for Parents and Caregivers of People with Disabilities") so I thought I would post in case anyone is interested:

"Flat Stanley doing it right

[...] Stanley had an accident that resulted in some physical challenges. But Flat Stanley was also resilient, clever and he uses his unique physical condition to his advantage. Because he can now fit into an envelope he doesn’t have to worry about crowded flights and paying extra for luggage.

If you go to the Hall of Fame you will see Stanley has been in space, to the Academy Awards, to the White House and many exciting places.

In the picture we see Flat Stanley with a new friend in Kenya. Wouldn’t it be neat to have a pen pal from the other side of the world? Many teachers and school children think this personal connection is the best way to teach about different life styles and cultures.

The Flat Stanley Project is an international literacy and community building activity for students of all ages, teachers and families.

Check out http://FlatStanley.com for student and teacher testimonials, a phone app, templates for Flat Stanley and other characters including Flat Pilgrim, Flat Santa and the newest Flat Mrs. Claus."

--https://climbingeverymountain.com/bui...

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Flat Stanley” by Jeff Brown was a painfully poignant commentary about the act of societal “other-ing”, masterfully juxtaposing the strengths of diversity with its challenges. Notably, while Stanley often uses his atypical body type to his advantage (e.g. becoming an ally to the arts and fostering his brother’s inclusion in an otherwise inaccessible recreational activity), it comes at the expense of his community— “They don’t like me anymore because I’m different. Flat.” [Chapter 5: Arthur’s Good Idea]).

Though undeniably a sharp, witty, and timeless parable, “Flat Stanley” is not a slam dunk. Read with a feminist lens, the book disappoints. There are very few female characters, let alone heroes. Damningly, the most prominent female character, Stanley’s mother, doesn’t even have a name. The first sentences of the book make her inferior position clear:

“Breakfast was ready.
‘I will go wake the boys,’ Mrs. Lambchop say to her husband, George.”

To me, this choice lacks the intentionality of other unnamed female characters in media such as Curley’s wife in “Of Mice and Men” or The Waitress in “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”. Instead, it cements Mrs. Lambchop’s position as wife and mother first, but fails to denounce these gender roles.

My final criticism of Flat Stanley lies in its tacit endorsement of child endangerment. Again and again throughout the book, Stanley is put in remarkably dangerous situations, like facing armed criminals and practically free falling through the sky. Again and again we ask, “why are his parents letting him do this?” The lack of serious long term consequences to Stanley’s wellbeing may tell the wrong story to an uncritical reader: that it is okay to be a bit careless with your child’s safety. This messaging is reckless; we mustn’t let any more heavy bulletin boards flatten our children while they sleep.

Overall, Flat Stanley was a quick read that still managed to pull my heartstrings and make me reflect on my position in the world, though it was not without its flaws. I think it would do us all some good to be Flat for a while, but the next best thing is to put ourselves in Stanley’s shoes. Four stars.

[Josiah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the original 1964 version of Flat Stanley, illustrated by French artist Tomi Ungerer, and what fun it is. The adventure starts when Mr. and Mrs. Lambchop discover that last night, a bulletin board fell off the wall of their son's bedroom and crushed the kid flat. This would be a tragedy outside the literary world, but here it's the beginning of something wonderful. Stanley is unharmed apart from the fact that he's now only half an inch thick, and he soon finds there are advantages to being flat. His new life could be fun.

Stanley can squeeze through the crack under most doors, a feat no other human could attempt. He slips through a sewer grate to retrieve a ring his mother lost, visits a friend in California by mailing himself in an oversized envelope, and volunteers to act as a kite so his little brother Arthur can fly him high above the trees. Arthur was jealous of the attention Stanley received after the accident that squashed him, but he's happier after his brother agrees to be his kite. The Lambchops have adjusted admirably to Stanley's changed physique.

What more can a flat child accomplish? When a string of thefts occur at the Famous Museum of Art, Stanley hides inside a picture frame in the art gallery to catch the criminals in the act. Stanley is lauded as a hero afterward, and he's sure that being flat will never get old...until it does. Eventually people mock him, and he wishes he could regain the physical dimensions of a typical boy his age. Is it too late for Stanley to have a normal life, all because a heavy bulletin board turned him into a pancake?

Flat Stanley is silly and fantastical, but author Jeff Brown is good with humor. I must have laughed out loud half a dozen times throughout the book. Tomi Ungerer's illustrations are appealing and expressive; I like how he contrasts reds and greens, reminiscent of Květa Pacovská's work. Flat Stanley is the book Jeff Brown will always be known for, and one could do worse than to be linked with such a good-humored story.

[Jaksen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of a cute book, def. written in the 1960's (when I was a child.) But the story is rather shallow. (See how I didn't say 'flat'?) More of a series of little vignettes in which Stanley gets flat, then can slide under doors, becomes a kite, and later is 'blown back up' with a bicycle pump. I think I expected more.

I'd taken this book from the library to read to my five-year old grandson, but I'm afraid he'd miss the point, too. And I think the point was this: sheer cleverness...

Though the mother does make one very good statement about it being wrong to dislike people for their shapes, religion or color of their skin. It's brief, but it's there.

Anyhow, a ho-hum 2.5 rounded up to 3.

[Josiah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would give this book two and a half stars.

Flat Stanley is an inventively humorous story with a light touch to even the suspenseful scenes. Even while dealing in a strange world that clearly does not adhere to normal laws of physics, author Jeff Brown doesn't let the story get too silly, which might have muted the effect of the more tender moments. Reading Flat Stanley has me interested in the sequels about the Lambchop family.

[Rossy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this book as much as the Mexican Adventure I just read, but I was curious to find out more about how Stanley became flat! The plot was not so great but there were important messages along the book, for instance not jumping to conclusions (based on first looks or what some situation looks like), not judging people for their "shapes, religion, or the color of their skin", the importance of family and working as a team.

[Irene · Rating 5 out of 5]

When my husband and I left our dear "grand girl" Marlee at a very young age, as her "step" grandmother I was pleasantly surprised to learn (for she came from a very large and very loving extended family), that she chose me to send "Flat Stanley", 750 miles away. It was early December, and I was in the midst of Christmas preparations; gifts to be chosen and sent far and wide. It was a delightful respite to delve into the children's section of our local library to find out who this "Flat Stanley" was. So, I read about him through my youthful, wondrous, and adventurous eyes, but when he arrived, I treated him as I would a child. It was a wonderful adventure for me because it was a gift from a dear, darling girl named Marlee. As I prepare to leave this house that without my husband is no longer a home, I came across a copy of Flat Stanley's adventures while he visited us. It was a grand time. Now, a mother to a young daughter and son, I recently asked my niece, "Do you remember when Flat Stanley came to visit?" "Yes, I remember, we took him to see the movie, "The Grinch That Stole Christmas."

[Robert Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

It should be noted that my review is for the original Flat Stanley with illustrations by Tomi Ungerer, not the revised (and much inferior) editions by Scott Nash. The original will always be superior.

This is a much loved book from my youth, one of the very first I learned to read. The story is whimsical and the pictures delightful. What I remember best was the imaginative idea of sending Stanley through the mail, and having him return from many far away places. This book not only was a stepping stone in reading, but also sparked my own imagination, like a good book should.

Truly one of my all time favorites, it is a shame that today's children will not see the original form of this book, but the dismal modern editions instead. Please bring back the original edition, it is so much better.

[Philip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dad: So Eleanor, what did you think about the book?

Eleanor: I thought the book was awesome.

Dad: what do you think about the voice reviews?

E: I would give the book 5 stars.

Dad: but what do you think about the voice reviews?

E: I think the voice reviews are amazing.

D: This book was on the shelf at piano. So we just read it while we were waiting for Gwen. We've been reading it for the past three or four weeks. Since we don't have a computer here, we are recording a review into the phone.

So, what did you think about the book tell me your favorite parts.

E: I my favorite parts were when the bulletin board fell on him and when Arthur pump him up.

And I also like it when he was put in the picture frame.

Dad: Anything else? Never mind. Dr. Mary's here. :)

Have a nice lesson!

[Stan Lambchop · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unfortunately I was disappointed by this rendition of my childhood years, it's crude and the story lacked a sense of my determination to get through the difficult time. I shall overlook the lack of the ensuing lawsuit against the makers of the bulletin board, whose poorly fitted screws and bolts led to my horrific accident, as I understand that it would have taken up most of the book. I feel that the book misses the importance of my heroic and courageous actions when faced with the jewellery heist. This was overlooked in the book and I believe this is rather unjust. In addition, I feel that society has not yet fully appreciated my ability to fly.
I hope that Jeff Brown never writes me a biography again.

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just happened to see this because of Goodreads; I’d never heard of it before. I’m glad that the library gave me the edition they did.

This is a hoot. This is quirky, offbeat, clever, creative, and seemingly unique. I just loved it. And it’s another great museum story and sibling story too.

The illustrations fit the story wonderfully.

This has a much longer (text) story than the average picture book.

[Katja Labonté · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars & 4/10 hearts. I remember reading this book as a little girl… and though since then I hadn’t seen or heard it again, it made such an impression on my family and I that we remembered it all the same. I randomly decided to look it up the other day and ended up reading it to my siblings in one sitting… we were all hooked!

For a children’s book, this was well done. I enjoyed the 1970s feel of the story, and the writing style, although super easy to read, was good—funny and very readable, even for older readers. The characters were also fun. Stanley’s parents were hilarious laidback about everything, and so was the doctor and everyone else involved, except the robbers. Arthur & Stanley were very realistic, and I was happy to see the bad feeling between them resolved.

The plot was also fun, reminding me of George Shrinks and Stuart Little. It was suspenseful at the end, and even very sweet at one point. But most of all it was funny. We were all laughing! There wasn’t a theme, unless it was about siblings working together; but I was kind of sad to see the solution to Stanley being teased about his looks was in fixing him. It was a funny chapter though.

Overall, this is a very funny, cute, well done children’s book and quite a classic, in my opinion!

Content: euphemisms.

A Favourite Humorous Quote: Two policemen came by and stared at Mrs. Lambchop as she stood holding the long lace that ran down through the grating. She pretended not to notice them.
“What’s the matter, lady?” the first policeman asked. “Is your yo-yo stuck?”
“I am not playing with a yo-yo!” Mrs. Lambchop said sharply. “My son is at the other end of this lace, if you must know.” … Mrs. Lambchop pulled [Stanley] up and saw that he had the ring….
The policemen apologized. “We didn’t get it, lady,” they said. “We have been hasty. We see that now.”
“People should think twice before making rude remarks,” said Mrs. Lambchop. “And then not make them at all.”
The policemen realized that was a good rule and said they would try to remember it.

[midnightfaerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

My 5 yr old loved this book. A great story about a boy who gets flat after something falls on him and the advantages to being flat has. (Such as sneaking under doors) A colorful story with bright illustrations, it's probably somewhere around a level 2 reading book. A little too long and involved for my twin 3 yr olds, it's better suited for older children, but still interesting enough for a family read, especially if you keep your kids engaged by asking them questions about the book. Overall a nice story.

[Hayley Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just read this with Lucas and he loved it. I know I read it as a child but could hardly remember it, it’s a bit of fun for young children and quite nonsenses which I like!

[human · Rating 3 out of 5]

i remember enjoying this when i was really little, but now that i look back at it...
...
this is so forking problematic. quite literally, in some cases.

[Alexis Caudill · Rating 5 out of 5]

1. Book summary, in your own words (3 pts)
Flat Stanley is about a boy who becomes flat when a bookshelf falls on top of him. He goes to the doctor; they do nothing. He likes being flat at first because he could do things like go to the beach through the mail and be a human kite. Towards the end of the book, though, he is made fun of and no longer wishes to be different.
2. Grade level, interest level, lexile (1 pt)
This book good probably be read by students from 2nd-5th grade. It is very interesting and the lexile is very moderate.
3. Appropriate classroom use (subject area) (1 pt)
Flat Stanley could be used as an example of creative writing for students. They could write stories about what they would do if they were flat.
4. Individual students who might benefit from reading (1 pt)
I think all students would benefit from reading this book. It is very fun and a great example of creative writing.
5. Small group use (literature circles) (1 pt)
This book would be good for helping students practice reading out loud. It would also be good for students to do in centers. Maybe one center could be reading the book together, the next could be drawing themselves if they were flat, and then write their own story (example: Flat Alexis).
6. Whole class use (read aloud) (1 pt)
I would probably read this book aloud to my class for story time.
7. Related books in genre/subject or content area (1 pt)
Flat Stanley On Ice by Jeff Brown
Flat Stanley’s Worldwide Adventures 4-Book Collection by Jeff Brown
Flat Stanley and the Firehouse by Jeff Brown
8. Multimedia connections (audio books, movie) available (1 pt)
There are audiobooks for this book. I also found that there are videos of people reading the different Flat Stanley books out loud.

[Victoria Stickland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flat Stanley is a classic, yet quirky children's book and one of my personal childhood favourites.

Stanley is a normal boy until one morning he wakes to find his notice board has fallen on him and he is now as flat as a pancake. As it turns out, things are not as bad as he first thought. So follows an entertaining and humorous adventure where he finds he is able to slide under doors, be sent on holiday through the post and even fly like a kite. However, his greatest moment comes when he manages to catch some thieves and save the day. This is a fantastic story, teaching that is ok to be 'different' with some comedy along the way. Favourite moments include Stanley's brother trying to make himself flat too with a pile of books and eventually pumping Stanley back to normal with a bicycle pump.

This book is great for 5-9 year olds. For younger classes, you could ask them to create a 'flat' picture of themselves and post to a relative to go on their own adventure. This will inspire storytelling (both written or oral) for older children who can let their imagination run wild in describing what they would do if they were flat like Stanley.

[Jennifer (JenIsNotaBookSnob) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book can be funny if you point out the ridiculousness of the situations to the child you are reading this too.

For instance, Stanley gets flattened by a bulletin board. His parents are a little bit upset, but, breakfast is already ready and they decide to go ahead and eat breakfast before bringing him to the doctor.

I mean, that's a bit ridiculous. Later in the book, his mother drops her ring down a storm drain and then lowers him through the grating to fetch her ring. I mean, sure, storm drains are totally safe for children to play in so long as they are flat children.. lol

Then there's that wonderful scene where he is stuffed in an envelope with an egg salad sandwich and told to wait at least an hour before eating it. Salmonella anyone? Especially since they just fold him into a hot metal mailbox and tell him to stay cool..

Anyways, the parenting throughout the book is the source of the humor as far as I'm concerned.

It's worth the gamble of reading. You will either like it despite the fact that it is outdated or because of the fact that it is outdated or, well, you just won't like it. At least it isn't overly long. :)

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

This children's book - first published in 1964 - is definitely not timeless. The writing style and dialogue seem pretty outdated throughout the whole story, which gives it an unbelievable (not fantastical) and boring quality. However, the scene in which Flat Stanley's parents mail him for a California visit has sparked the Flat Stanley Project in which people of all ages can make their own Stanleys and mail them around the world - great for classrooms and library programming. I'm interested in checking out the rest of the series and seeing how it has been updated from its stodgy origins.

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a few concerns over the physics of this book, a boy gets flattened by what looks like a cork board, he lives... that part makes sense to me, my concern is how he is used as a kite, where has all his weight gone? Also any clothes he puts on suddenly become flat? hmmmmm might explain why my clothes are always too tight.

My daughter said she liked this, but there wasn't any laughter and usually we end up discussing every page, not this time though, I think it didn't capture her imagination enough. So 3 stars only.

[Meera · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is an easy and fun read for early readers. It’s a sweet story of Stanley who becomes flat (when a bulletin board falls on him). He then has all kinds of adventures being flat until his younger brother fixes him back to being normal. Young children will enjoy this book; the bonus it has few pictorial representation!

[Benjamin Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to read. A nice stepping stone book in my opinion, moving children on to more difficult texts. Could discuss the fact that people are different. Flat Stanley is good at things others are not, everyone is good at something. Those sprts of ideas can be addressed, particularly in situations where children are feeling envious of others/have low self esteem.