Flat Stanley
Encyclopedia
Flat Stanley is a 1964 children's book written by Jeff Brown (January 1, 1926 – December 3, 2003) and originally illustrated by Tomi Ungerer
. It is the first in a series of books featuring Stanley Lambchop.
in an envelope. Stanley even helps catch some art museum thieves by posing as a painting on the wall. Eventually Arthur changes Stanley back to his proper shape with an air pump used for football.
At the time of his death, Brown was working on another Flat Stanley book. Further books in the series have since been written by other authors.
In addition, a series called Flat Stanley's Worldwide Adventures is being written by other authors, with nine books out so far:
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. Dale Hubert received the Prime Minister
's Award for Teaching Excellence in 2001 for the Flat Stanley Project.
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. The project has many similarities to the Travelling gnome prank
except, of course, for the Flat Stanley Project's focus on literacy.
Students may find it fun to plot Flat Stanley's travels on maps and share the contents of the journal. Often, a Flat Stanley returns with a photo or postcard from his visit. Some teachers may prefer to use e-mail
.
In 2005, more than 6,500 classes from 48 countries took part in the Flat Stanley Project.
The project was featured in a 2004 episode of the animated TV series King of the Hill
, in which Nancy Gribble received a Flat Stanley doll in the mail. Peggy Hill
and Luanne Platter photographed it in a number of dangerous situations, resulting in the school's Flat Stanley Project being cancelled.
According to the February 26, 2009 broadcast of Countdown with Keith Olbermann
, Flat Stanley was on board US Airways Flight 1549
which landed safely in the Hudson River. He was carried to safety in the briefcase of his traveling companion.
In 2010, St. Louis Cardinals fans were asked via the team website, to petition President Barack Obama to award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Hall of Famer Stan "The Man" Musial. A "Flat Stan" downloadable cutout figure was made available, to get Cardinals fans to take their pictures with Musial's caracature, and send them in as petitions.
The Flat Stanley Project has several blogs where teachers, parents and students can publish stories, describe local traditions and scenery, and post pictures. There are hundreds of Flat Stanley pictures in the blogs as well as in the archived Picture Gallery.
Tomi Ungerer
Jean-Thomas "Tomi" Ungerer is a French illustrator best known for his erotic and political illustrations as well as children's books.- Biography :...
. It is the first in a series of books featuring Stanley Lambchop.
Synopsis
Stanley Lambchop and his younger brother Arthur are given a big bulletin board by their Dad for displaying pictures and posters. He hangs it on the wall over Stanley's bed. During the night the board falls from the wall, flattening Stanley in his sleep. He survives and makes the best of his altered state, and soon he is entering locked rooms by sliding under the door, and playing with his younger brother by being used as a kite. One special advantage is that Flat Stanley can now visit his friends by being mailedHuman mail
Human mail is the transportation of a person through the postal system, usually as a stowaway. While rare, there have been some reported cases of people attempting to travel through the mail...
in an envelope. Stanley even helps catch some art museum thieves by posing as a painting on the wall. Eventually Arthur changes Stanley back to his proper shape with an air pump used for football.
Other books in the series
- Stanley and the Magic Lamp (1983)
- Stanley In Space (1985)
- Stanley's Christmas Adventure (1993)
- Invisible Stanley (1995)
- Stanley, Flat Again! (2003)
At the time of his death, Brown was working on another Flat Stanley book. Further books in the series have since been written by other authors.
In addition, a series called Flat Stanley's Worldwide Adventures is being written by other authors, with nine books out so far:
- The Mount Rushmore Calamity (2009) - author Sara Pennypacker
- The Great Egyptian Grave Robbery (2009) - author Sara Pennypacker
- The Japanese Ninja Surprise (2009) - author Sara Pennypacker
- The Intrepid Canadian Expedition (2010) - author Sara Pennypacker
- The Amazing Mexican Secret (2010) - author Josh Greenhut
- The African Safari Discovery (2011) - author Josh Greenhut
- The Flying Chinese Wonders (2011) - author Josh Greenhut
- The Australian Boomerang Bonanza (2010) - author Josh Greenhut
- The US Capitol Commotion (2011) - author Josh Greenhut
The Flat Stanley Project
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is meant to facilitate letter-writing by schoolchildren to each other as they document where Flat Stanley has gone with them. Dale Hubert received the Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
's Award for Teaching Excellence in 2001 for the Flat Stanley Project.
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
Diary
A diary is a record with discrete entries arranged by date reporting on what has happened over the course of a day or other period. A personal diary may include a person's experiences, and/or thoughts or feelings, including comment on current events outside the writer's direct experience. Someone...
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. The project has many similarities to the Travelling gnome prank
Travelling gnome prank
The travelling gnome prank is the practice of returning a garden gnome "to the wild". It involves stealing a gnome, taking it on a trip, and photographing it at famous landmarks, with the photos being returned to the owner....
except, of course, for the Flat Stanley Project's focus on literacy.
Students may find it fun to plot Flat Stanley's travels on maps and share the contents of the journal. Often, a Flat Stanley returns with a photo or postcard from his visit. Some teachers may prefer to use e-mail
E-mail
Electronic mail, commonly known as email or e-mail, is a method of exchanging digital messages from an author to one or more recipients. Modern email operates across the Internet or other computer networks. Some early email systems required that the author and the recipient both be online at the...
.
In 2005, more than 6,500 classes from 48 countries took part in the Flat Stanley Project.
The project was featured in a 2004 episode of the animated TV series King of the Hill
King of the Hill
King of the Hill is an American animated dramedy series created by Mike Judge and Greg Daniels, that ran from January 12, 1997, to May 6, 2010, on Fox network. It centers on the Hills, a working-class Methodist family in the fictional small town of Arlen, Texas...
, in which Nancy Gribble received a Flat Stanley doll in the mail. Peggy Hill
Peggy Hill
Margaret J. "Peggy" Hill is a fictional character in the American animated series King of the Hill.-Biography:Peggy is the matriarch of the Hill family, and the wife of series protagonist Hank Hill. She wears rimless glasses and is generally seen wearing cut-off blouses and culottes...
and Luanne Platter photographed it in a number of dangerous situations, resulting in the school's Flat Stanley Project being cancelled.
According to the February 26, 2009 broadcast of Countdown with Keith Olbermann
Countdown with Keith Olbermann
Countdown with Keith Olbermann is an hour-long weeknight news and political commentary program that airs on Current TV, where it began airing on June 20, 2011. The program was broadcast on MSNBC from March 31, 2003, to January 21, 2011. On MSNBC, the show presented five selected news stories of...
, Flat Stanley was on board US Airways Flight 1549
US Airways Flight 1549
US Airways Flight 1549 was US Airways' scheduled domestic commercial passenger flight from LaGuardia Airport in New York City to Charlotte/Douglas International Airport, Charlotte, North Carolina...
which landed safely in the Hudson River. He was carried to safety in the briefcase of his traveling companion.
In 2010, St. Louis Cardinals fans were asked via the team website, to petition President Barack Obama to award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Hall of Famer Stan "The Man" Musial. A "Flat Stan" downloadable cutout figure was made available, to get Cardinals fans to take their pictures with Musial's caracature, and send them in as petitions.
How it Works
One of the many advantages of sending "flat" visitors is that they can visit friends by traveling in an envelope. Students' written work goes to other places by conventional mail and e-mail. While it might at first glance seem similar to a pen-pal activity, it is actually much more. In a standard pen-pal exchange, students rarely know how to begin or what to write about; with a Flat Stanley or another "flat" character (such as the increasingly popular Flat Stella), it's as if the sender and the recipient have a mutual friend, and writing becomes easier and more creative for children.Arranging Exchanges
The best way of arranging exchanges is through the Flat Stanley Project Bulletin Board. There are always lots of teachers looking for exchange partners on the Bulletin Board.The Flat Stanley Project has several blogs where teachers, parents and students can publish stories, describe local traditions and scenery, and post pictures. There are hundreds of Flat Stanley pictures in the blogs as well as in the archived Picture Gallery.