The Australian Boomerang Bonanza

Flat Stanley's Worldwide Adventures #8

by Josh Greenhut, Jeff Brown (Series Creator), Macky Pamintuan (Illustrator)

There’s no place on Earth a flat kid can’t go!
G’day, Stanley!
Stanley and his brother, Arthur, have just won a trip to Australia! They fly down under on a private jet and go diving in the Great Barrier Reef. But when Arthur launches him into the air for a game of boomerang, Stanley is accidentally sent spinning into an amazing adventure deep in the heart of the Australian outback!

Genres: Fiction, Childrens, Adventure, Travel, Juvenile

112 pages, Paperback

First published August 23, 2011

Reviews

[Alexza Beltre · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book because it talks about how important is to take care and protect a family member, especially if is smaller then you. one example is in page 3, when stanley and his brother arthur were walking to school and the wind was too strong and it was so cold that stanley could not walk and as the work of a older brother arthur help him. on page 43, arthur and stanley were on the beach and as stanley could not swim arthur help him. you would like this book if you like to be responsible and to be helpful, and if you like to have fun. because in this book is full of fun and adventures, where you learn and discover. one challenge of this book was when the 2 brothers that are always together are separate from each other and they have to get together again, because they promise to dad and mom and eve themselves to be always together and they are going to fulfill the promise. the setting changes in the story, sometimes the story is on australia, the beach, houses, rooms and streets.

[n · Rating 2 out of 5]

I remember reading the first of the Flat Stanley books forever ago; it was part of a class project when I was a child. I figured I'd like this, but I was sort of disappointed by it. It was hyper Australian stereotypes and adding things that I don't remember from my time living there.

In the beginning, Stanley's mom says something about how Australians talk in rhyming slang. I can't recall an Australian I knew that spoke in Cockney rhyming slang. They also use the phrase "prawn on the barbie," and again? Never heard that as a phrase. I'm sure someone says it, but I heard far more people say "shrimp on the barbie," if they said that at all. Also, one character's sole purpose is to say "Ace!" all the time. That's just more annoying.

The character names? Mr Wallaby, Ms Perth, Mr Billabong (Bongo), and a chef named Sheila. I swear.

One of the characters says that the US is "almost exactly on the opposite side of the planet from Australia (except the North Atlantic is antipodal to Australia), so I'm sort of picky on the phrasing because 'almost exactly' isn't at all true. He also continues by saying that the US and Australia are like brothers because they were 'settled by the British' and are related through their 'explorers and adventurers' (but hey, colonialism isn't a topic for a kids' book, is it?).

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last 3 I've read (this one, Boston, and France) are soooo much better than the earlier ones in this series.

[Brandon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay book. Interesting facts about Australia, but the entire premise is absurd. Plus the plot has been repeated in other Stanley books.

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stanley always gives the kids a wonderful adventure.

[Jenneffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very entertaining! Finished in 2 nights of storytime with 8 year old.

[Nieve · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decent easy to read enjoyable. And good for a quick read

[Nadia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a decent story for the early chapter book readers. I appreciate the author including aboriginal words for famous places.

[Fenco Chen]

Lexile®: 640L, 6214W, 70%, 6y4m

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arthur, Stanley's younger brother wins a trip to Australia. He decides to take Stanley with him, and so starts a great adventure.

This was a very cute and quick book.

[Kyron J · Rating 5 out of 5]

flat stanley got to go to Australia with his brother but when they want to throw boomerangs they getting stanley into a boomerang form and he goings flying and goes half way across Australia.In the book it says " there was a big storm ahead and stanley was going right throw it."

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

arthur wins a cereal box contest and the prize is a trip to australia. when they arrive there, arthur makes stanley into a boomerang and throws him into the australian outback. stanley meets a guy who helps him find his way home.

[Melody · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was ok. I did it as a read-aloud with my 2nd graders and they really weren't all that into it.

[Stacie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Arthur wins a contest to Australia and takes Stanley. Stanley is used as a boomerang and gets blown away! But it is ok, because he makes a friend and helps him find his long lost brother.

[Tisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Arthur gets to come with Stanley on this adventure. It's a bit far-fetched as usual, but did include my favorite chapter at the end that tells a little bit more about Australia.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is such a great children's series!