Flat Stanley Book

Flat Stanley has seen a resurgence of popularity as schools are using one of the initial stories of Stanley Lambchop being mailed to another location for a visit to family friends as a fun, creative associated activity to connect students to the story. Nash's updated illustrations on nearly every page bring out the imaginative qualities and opportunities the original premise of these stories has to offer young readers.


This first book of the Flat Stanley series describes how Stanley became flattened by a fallen bulletin board in the night and his experiences in the community being flat which include a mixture of praise for catching the "sneak thieves" stealing valuable artwork from the museum as well as ridicule for being different. As Stanley's mother says, "It is wrong to dislike people for their shapes. Or their religion, for that matter, or the color of their skin" and readers see how the community is educated through interactions with Stanley and his loving family.


Brown also explores the relationship between Stanley and his younger brother Arthur. Arthur is jealous of the attention Stanley receives at first and humorously tries to flatten himself with the family encyclopedias. Stanley tries to help Arthur by letting himself be flown like a kite, however, Arthur forgets Stanley in the air and creates further tension in the relationship. But Arthur catches Stanley crying one night after Stanley is called hurtful names because of his flatness, and the brothers share a caring moment that illuminates an important relationship in the book.