What do you think?
Rate this book
And I Mean It, Stanley
Is there someone behind the fence? Or is the little girl talking to herself? Does she care about the great thing she is building? Or is she really trying to get someone to play with her? All the answers are here, in words and pictures filled with suspense and surprises. Crosby Bonsall has once again made a book that beginning readers will love, all the way through to its delightfully satisfying conclusion.
32 pages, Library Binding
First published May 15, 1974
5 people are currently reading
156 people want to read
About the author
Crosby Newell Bonsall
73 books11 followersCrosby Barbara Newell Bonsall, b. Jan. 2, 1921; d. Jan. 10, 1995 was an American artist and children's book author and illustrator. She wrote and illustrated more than 40 children's books.
Bonsall began writing and illustrating for juvenile readers after working for advertising firms.
Born Crosby Barbara Newell, she married George Bonsall.
Works were published as Crosby Newell, Crosby Bonsall, and Crosby Newell Bonsall.
Bonsall began writing and illustrating for juvenile readers after working for advertising firms.
Born Crosby Barbara Newell, she married George Bonsall.
Works were published as Crosby Newell, Crosby Bonsall, and Crosby Newell Bonsall.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
July 25, 2016
I see appealing similarities to the works of Mercer Mayer and Ezra Jack Keats in And I Mean It, Stanley, and that's a positive for any children's book. Featuring two narratives occupying the frame at the same time (a girl talking to her unseen friend, and an alley cat stalking an elusive bird), this book is a celebration of hurt feelings mended, lingering bitterness overridden by the unrestrained affection of a good friend. It warms the heart to see.
The girl has no interest in making nice with Stanley at first. He's out of sight on the opposite side of the fence, and the girl loudly insists she doesn't want that to change. While she plays on her own in this section of the alley, constructing a work of art she can take pride in, she reminds Stanley over and over that he isn't invited to the party. She can have fun and build something really great without him. But of course the girl doth protest too much; she wants Stanley to see what she's making even if her pride won't let her say so. And Stanley knows that, so it's no wonder he bounds across the fence dividing them once she's finished her sculpture, eager to reconcile with his friend. Who can resist an energetic, winsome companion when he runs happily to greet you and let you know he loves you? Not this girl. No, a little resentment can't turn her against Stanley for long.
Feeling estranged from a dear friend isn't fun, and we empathize with the girl's struggle as she orders Stanley to stay away right when she really wants him around. Creating a masterpiece out of trash is less exciting without one's best friend onboard as consultant, but when we're mad at that friend, we don't want to embrace them in spite of our hard feelings, so more often than not we start erecting a wall between us. But true friendship won't let the wall get too high before one half or the other leaps over the divide and reestablishes contact. That's one of the sweetest times of any close friendship: making up after a period of conflict. We realize anew how much we care about each other, that no bone of contention could break our bond irreparably. The celebration of that assuring truth is what I like best about this book.
While the main story takes place, a subtle action sequence unfolds in the background. A black cat chases a bird who's smart enough to stay a few steps ahead at every turn, cleverly using the girl and the contraption she's putting together as a shield against its feline pursuer. This is all very Mercer Mayer, and enhances the story's charm. Kids can follow the wordless exploits of the two animals in addition to or instead of the main narrative, widening the book's appeal. Crosby Bonsall is one of the better author-illustrators of easy readers, and I'm definitely giving And I Mean It, Stanley two and a half stars. I put some real thought into rounding that up to three. No matter your age or reading level, you'll enjoy this story.
The girl has no interest in making nice with Stanley at first. He's out of sight on the opposite side of the fence, and the girl loudly insists she doesn't want that to change. While she plays on her own in this section of the alley, constructing a work of art she can take pride in, she reminds Stanley over and over that he isn't invited to the party. She can have fun and build something really great without him. But of course the girl doth protest too much; she wants Stanley to see what she's making even if her pride won't let her say so. And Stanley knows that, so it's no wonder he bounds across the fence dividing them once she's finished her sculpture, eager to reconcile with his friend. Who can resist an energetic, winsome companion when he runs happily to greet you and let you know he loves you? Not this girl. No, a little resentment can't turn her against Stanley for long.
Feeling estranged from a dear friend isn't fun, and we empathize with the girl's struggle as she orders Stanley to stay away right when she really wants him around. Creating a masterpiece out of trash is less exciting without one's best friend onboard as consultant, but when we're mad at that friend, we don't want to embrace them in spite of our hard feelings, so more often than not we start erecting a wall between us. But true friendship won't let the wall get too high before one half or the other leaps over the divide and reestablishes contact. That's one of the sweetest times of any close friendship: making up after a period of conflict. We realize anew how much we care about each other, that no bone of contention could break our bond irreparably. The celebration of that assuring truth is what I like best about this book.
While the main story takes place, a subtle action sequence unfolds in the background. A black cat chases a bird who's smart enough to stay a few steps ahead at every turn, cleverly using the girl and the contraption she's putting together as a shield against its feline pursuer. This is all very Mercer Mayer, and enhances the story's charm. Kids can follow the wordless exploits of the two animals in addition to or instead of the main narrative, widening the book's appeal. Crosby Bonsall is one of the better author-illustrators of easy readers, and I'm definitely giving And I Mean It, Stanley two and a half stars. I put some real thought into rounding that up to three. No matter your age or reading level, you'll enjoy this story.
May 2, 2014
A sweet story of play pretend. It seems like the poor girl is talkin' to herself but stay with it 'cos it's really cleve and nice.
September 13, 2017
One of my favorite childhood classics!
April 5, 2014
My seven-year-old is a timid reader and wasn't too convinced she would like this book I picked out for her. So we read it together as a team and by the end, she loved it.
Stanley is a winner. The little girl had a cute reverse-psychology attack to her play and her friend. Her imagination and play depicted in the illustrations are hilarious. I love her. My daughter loves the little girl and Stanley.
Stanley is a winner. The little girl had a cute reverse-psychology attack to her play and her friend. Her imagination and play depicted in the illustrations are hilarious. I love her. My daughter loves the little girl and Stanley.
July 17, 2012
Good amount of white space, text size, pictures etc, but the story felt a bit forced. Controlled vocabulary, but the "great thing" isn't really that great. Biggest draw is waiting to see who Stanley is. Not terrible by any means, but not incredibly compelling either.
February 10, 2013
And I Mean It, Stanley is a fun story that is good for beginning readers. Short, easy sentences and big illustrations add to the easy read for beginners. The little girl builds a " truly great thing", but her fired Stanley is nowhere to see it. All that changes when it is time to play.
May 10, 2021
"And I Mean It, Stanley" is another one of those young children's books that look to bring a sense of suspense to the reader. Even rereading this story as an adult, I remembered back to the times when I would say the words on the next page before my mom even flipped the page (or I flipped it for her). Much like "Curious George," Crosby Bonsall's book features illustrations that play off of negative space, drawing the reader to the simple, yet descriptive illustrations. The colors are very intriguing from a child's point of view and very easy to remember. After reading this time and time again with my mom, I started noticing exactly how the child in the book was behaving, or the articles of clothing he was wearing. Another reason why I enjoyed this story growing up is that I always wanted a cat, but I am allergic. Rereading the story now, I remember seeing the cute illustration of the cat and the way it acted. Another reason why I see this story as so interesting for younger kids is the "peril" that the main character goes through. He has so many goofy flops that the reader starts laughing along. The best part is seeing what happens at the end when Stanley, who the main character has been yelling to behind the fence the entire time, comes barging through and knocks everything over. Even as an adult, I remember waiting for it and laughing because everything looked so silly but so loving. This is a fun story with excellent illustrations that engage and captivate the reader.
March 1, 2018
a fun little book that is relatable. the narrator seems to be in a fight with Stanley. and the fight goes as many children's fights go with a loud narration of how much fun the kid is having. I love that Stanley ends up being a dog.
February 24, 2018
So simple. So perfect!
August 2, 2018
It was really funny and I loved the ending.
December 27, 2020
A favorite book from my childhood with a surprise ending!
January 7, 2022
Good kids book
May 29, 2023
Super cute book
May 22, 2017
A young street urchin is trying to convincingly tell an unseen “Stanley” that he is not wanted or needed while assembling a sculpture of garbage, only for the sculpture to be destroyed when an enormous dog (the aforementioned Stanley) bounds through the fence and attempts to clean the urchin’s grimy face with his tongue in And I Mean It, Stanley, by Crosby Bonsall.
Using softly colored ink drawings, Bonsall builds the story and the suspense, allowing the reader to question what the street-child is building and who is Stanley. The child’s stubborn insistence that playtime can be for one will resonate with young readers, as will the familiar use of unlikely items being used as play props (i.e., a shattered bathtub becoming a boat with a scraggly old mop as the oar).The clean, clear language is simple enough for the earliest readers and repetitive enough to allow recognition of unfamiliar words.
The use of an ambiguously-gendered child may be confusing or distracting for some readers, as will be the lack of parental/caretaker oversight, the layer of filth on the child, and that the child is clearly playing with garbage, including the aforementioned shattered bathtub, paint cans, broken picture frame and wire hangers. Perhaps these elements emphasize the datedness of the book, but it is doubtful that these concerns won’t raise questions with inquisitive and observant little ones.
Using softly colored ink drawings, Bonsall builds the story and the suspense, allowing the reader to question what the street-child is building and who is Stanley. The child’s stubborn insistence that playtime can be for one will resonate with young readers, as will the familiar use of unlikely items being used as play props (i.e., a shattered bathtub becoming a boat with a scraggly old mop as the oar).The clean, clear language is simple enough for the earliest readers and repetitive enough to allow recognition of unfamiliar words.
The use of an ambiguously-gendered child may be confusing or distracting for some readers, as will be the lack of parental/caretaker oversight, the layer of filth on the child, and that the child is clearly playing with garbage, including the aforementioned shattered bathtub, paint cans, broken picture frame and wire hangers. Perhaps these elements emphasize the datedness of the book, but it is doubtful that these concerns won’t raise questions with inquisitive and observant little ones.
July 1, 2016
The pictures in this "An I Can Read Book" series tell the story. The cat is charming throughout the book as the child yells through the fence to Stanley not to look at the creation the child is making from found trash. The surprise is that when Stanley comes crashing through the fence, he is a dog!
The child in the pictures can be either a boy or a girl. The child forgives and hugs Stanley even though he wrecks the creation that was just finished. I especially liked that making something from found items was shown as a positive throughout the book. The story could be used to model making things for the youngsters who read the book.
The child in the pictures can be either a boy or a girl. The child forgives and hugs Stanley even though he wrecks the creation that was just finished. I especially liked that making something from found items was shown as a positive throughout the book. The story could be used to model making things for the youngsters who read the book.
Read
August 22, 2020I don't 'get' it, I guess. I mean, for starters, I thought the character was a boy, not a girl. But I do like that she's building a big outdoor contraption out of junk, which is usually something done in older children's books by boys. I think the "great thing" is pretty great, but I can see how some readers wouldn't recognize it as such. The details of the pictures are unclear. The punch line seems, to me, to be anti-climatic. I think I'd give it three stars, but I feel I'm overlooking something special....
Reread two years later... still don't get it, still don't see the child as a girl. :shrug:
Reread two years later... still don't get it, still don't see the child as a girl. :shrug:
January 28, 2015
My daughter got to check out her first library book at school today. She said a boy in her class recommended this book to her because it's funny. This book is funny and had unexpected surprise at the end, It was exciting watching her read and I can't wait to see what she picks next. As far as Easy Readers go, this book is spot on. Very easy read for kindergartners.
September 1, 2015
This book was an okay read. It is a very easy read for a child who is ready to start reading chapter books. The story line is pretty plain, but it is easy to follow and the pictures are well illustrated. I would not say that there is much of a point to this story and I would probably recommend another story to a child instead of this one.
March 24, 2019
This book could potentially communicate something negative: the little girl is being kinda a boastful little brat, or at the very least, she's not dealing with her emotions in a healthy way. But when you find out the recipient of all of that is a dog, it just feels very cute and sweet -- especially, of course, because it's clear in the end that she loves Stanley no matter what.
June 26, 2015
A little girl builds a "truly great thing" out of junk. Her friend Stanley is nowhere to be found. But who is Stanley anyway? What a mystery! Until the great thing is almost complete, that is. Then, it's playtime, and there's just no stopping Stanley.
January 15, 2013
Been a Crosby Bonsall fan since I was little. Had no idea she was a woman until a few months ago. Cool.
January 23, 2020
This is a silly story that is fun to read aloud. The little girl is creative and imaginative and is having fun in an area that is full of "junk."
November 14, 2010
this book was in one of our first graders book boxes. A great beginner book I think it could be a great read aloud in kindergarten also.
May 4, 2011
This is a FABULOUS beginning reader!!! Funny funny--and the pictures are priceless. I hear all my little girls saying "Ah Stanley!!!" in their play.
November 6, 2014
Love this book!
June 24, 2016
I think this is a very cute book of the Stanley series. Children can interpret why the little boy did not want Stanley to be part of his neat project. It is a great"Early ICan Read Book".
April 7, 2017
This was the first book I remember reading on my own. I probably read it 100 times. Its a really cute story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews