"Flat Stanley is a 1964 children's book written by Jeff Brown and illustrated by Tomi Ungerer. It is the first in a series of books featuring Stanley Lambchop, a completely flat boy."
"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. Stanley even helps catch some art museum thieves by posing as a painting on the wall. But one special advantage is that Flat Stanley can now visit his friends by being mailed in an envelope. Eventually Arthur reverts Stanley to his proper shape using an air pump used for footballs."
And this brings me to how I met Flat Stanley. I have been working at the publishing company that produces Flat Stanley, so over the past few weeks I have become well acquainted with Stanley. While visiting Arkansas earlier in March I ran into a long-time family friend, MC. Her daughter, Mary Jamison is in 1st grade. MC asked if I would be willing to help participate in Mary Jamison's class project on geography. Anything for this family!
Tuesday I received an adorable, handwritten letter from Mary Jamison along with Flat Stanley and a letter from her teacher. She had done her part by sending everything to me, so now it was my turn. The letter from her teacher explained that I needed to take Flat Stanley, which Mary Jamison had so beautifully colored, to interesting places unique to my city and take pictures with him. After work yesterday, I took a picture outside of my office, which is also where Flat Stanley is made! First place, check.
After meeting Casey for our usual Friday after work drink, we walked a few blocks to Times Square. It was so, so windy! I can't tell you how many times I was chasing after Stanley as he whipped through the wind and floated away from me. Thankfully, all appendages are still intact. For my final location I went to Central Park today and attempted to take a picture of me with Stanley. I was flying solo for this one and the wind was in full force!
Now, I'll print the pictures and drop them in the mail for Mary Jamison and her classmates to enjoy! I really hope you like the way it all turned out Mary Jamison! Thanks for letting me help you with your project, and I hope you learned more about New York City!
Stanley at HarperCollins on Fifth Avenue
Stanley in the heart of New York City, Times Square.
Me and Stanley in Central Park, right outside Sheeps Meadow (unfortunately the lawn is still closed for winter so I had to stand outside the gate).
Background info and synopsis of the children's book series is provided by Wikipedia and HarperCollins Publishing.
You and Flat Stanley make a fine looking pair. Did you know that Arkansas's First Lady is a HUGE Flat Stanley fan? She takes "Flat" with her everywhere, including The White House and on a trade trip to Paris and England and Germany. Who knows how many places he's been, people he's met traveling with Ginger Beebe. Very cool.
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