| During library class in January, the students listened to the story, Flat Stanley, by Jeff Brown. One night while Stanley was sleeping, his bulletin board fell on top of him and made him flat. He was OK, though. He was able to do lots of things, for example, slide under closed doors, fly like a kite, hang on the wall as a painting and capture art thieves in a famous museum. One of the best things was that he was able to travel to far away places in an envelope. His parents liked this because airfare was so expensive. In addition to the story, the students learned some things about the author.
| In Jeff Brown's own words, here's how the Flat Stanley story came about:
"More than thirty years ago, I was saying goodnight to my now grown-up sons, J.C. and Tony (Flat Stanley is dedicated to them), and JC stalling for my chat time, asked me not to leave the bedroom. He was scared, he claimed, and when I asked him what he was afraid of he couldn't think of anything. As I started out again, he had an inspiration. 'I'm afraid my big bulletin board will fall on me,' he said. I told him that that was ridiculous; the big board on the wall above his bed had been securely mounted by me, and even if it got loose it would do so so slowly that he wouldn't even notice it, just go off to sleep, and by the time it rested fully upon him he'd be sound asleep and wouldn't wake, so the board would just lie there all night. Then I thought of small joke and said: 'Of course, when you wake up in the morning, you'll probably be flat.' Both boys thought that was a hoot and many evenings after that one, we'd make up stories about adventures you could have if you were flat. Best idea I ever had, and I didn't even know I'd had it. Not for many months, until a friend in the kid-book business, who knew about the flat stories, suggested I make them into a book."
All the students created their own Flat Stanleys to mail to distant relatives and friends. I received so many responses from 30 states and 9 countries. Flat Stanley had an adventure with a Hollywood star and from a dancer from the show, So You Think You Can Dance. He traveled to Eypgt and hopefully made it home safely. He also stayed with a family in the Philippines.
I am still receiving emails with Flat Stanley adventures. I have responded to all that I have received and have met some wonderful people through gmail. All that participated shared enthusiatic letters regarding Flat Stanley's adventures with them.
My plan is to laminate each display and create a binder for the library so that the students can read and look at all of the Flat Stanley adventures. I will also be reading as many letters as I can during the students' library class.
Thank you to all who helped make this a success.
Ms. Mary Miller
St. Patrick School Library Teacher
February 3, 2011
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PREPARING FLAT STANLEY FOR HIS ADVENTURE: |
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FLAT STANLEY'S ADVENTURE! |
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