In the author’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 J.C., 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.”
Jeff Brown was born January 1, 1926 and was busily working on more ideas for Flat Stanley books when he died suddenly December 3, 2003.
The Flat Stanley Project was started in 1995 by Dale Hubert, a third grade schoolteacher in London, Ontario, Canada, to facilitate letter-writing by schoolchildren to each other as they document where Flat Stanley has gone with them. 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 the character 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.
Flat Stanley first came to my attention when my granddaughter’s first grade class took part in the project this year. Then came the idea to send her own Flat Stanley to New York City to visit her Aunt, our daughter who lives in Queen. Flat Stanley lived with her for a few days and tagged along on several adventures throughout the city. Thus began Flat Stanley’s Adventures in New York City. I hope you’ll come back tomorrow to read a very educational version of a new Flat Stanley adventure. By the way, Jeff Brown went on to write several more Flat Stanley adventures, and the series continues with different authors and illustrators.
Now that you know the inspiration for this much-loved children’s book, think of the inspiration for similar stories you may have had in your own life. Do you have a story (idea) of your own?
My Wintersong 
What a great idea, Pitty i didn’t think to write Sammy Squirrel’s story. He was a small stuffed toy that went everywhere with Elly. I think he now resided in her bedside cupboard, well away for Buffy!
It’s never too late, Gmar! Consider this a bug in your ear! š
I love the idea of Flat Stanley. When I emerge from the morass of my unpacked boxes I’ll try to think of something wonderful and creative to make books about. Keep the ideas coming.
Thanks Ruthe. I know you create beautiful books without my inspiration, so I’ll look forward to seeing more.
I had never heard of Flat Stanley or author Jeff Brown till now. It is such a pleasant surprise that the origins of my unpublished work “The Adventures of the Poochi” are somewhat similar. I remember my younger daughter throwing tantrums and refusing to eat. After the usual advisories on need for nutrition, benefits of eating greens etc failed, I just told her to think of the hungry worms that lived in her stomach. They need to be fed, I told her. She said if she ate any more, there wouldn’t be enough space in her tummy to the worms to live and they would want to come out. And after that I pretty much made up one poochi story a night to get tantrum free dinner time. That was till she grew up a bit and the insect poochi had to make way for the dog. š
p.s : For an introduction to the poochi, please refer my comment on the earlier post addressed to Vim.
I love it, Raghu! I can just picture you telling this tale. That’s the first thing I learned about you even way back when you were barely past puberty; you LOVED telling funny stories! I appreciate that quality in people. š Btw, Papu used to tell me about the little girl that lived next door to him that sat on the front stoop wailing “Ama Poochi” she’d seen in her BM. Kids are such an inspiration!
I am a children’s book author with two grown sons. We used to bring Flat Stanley with us whenever we traveled. My newest book, Kayak Girl, is coming out this fall…another Alaskan adventure!
I’m so pleased have your comment, Monica. You seem to have quite a number of interesting books of your own available. I visited you at your blogsite “Between Two Rivers“, and I liked the world you write about and I absolutely loved the photograph that accompanied the “What If Everything Were Alive?” post. It’s the smooth flat river rocks (shaped roughly like feet) edged with the five smaller stones across the top to look like toes. I also like the world you write about–so much that I’ll be checking in on what’s new on a weekly basis.
Flat Stanley will be appearing in my library soon!
Don’t forget to take a picture! š