Amazon.com

Poor Stanley. He's a perfectly normal boy until one morning he wakes up flat. After his parents peel the incriminating bulletin board off of him, Stanley must adjust to life as a pancake. He is a boy who takes this kind of thing in stride, though, and soon he's enjoying the advantages of squashedness.Sliding under closed doors is fun, and it's gratifying to be of use to his mother when she drops her ring through a narrow metal grating. Expensive plane fare to California? No problem. Svelte Stanley folds comfortably into a brown paper envelope. There's even room left over in there for an egg-salad sandwich. But Stanley's true moment of glory comes when a gang of thieves begins stealing paintings from the Famous Museum of Art. The case seems hopeless--until our two-dimensional hero saves the day. Here is one boy who doesn't let his profile-challenged body stop him from living life fully--that is, until his brother finds a way to help him become well rounded again. Jeff Brown's matter-of-fact tone and Tomi Ungerer's witty and engaging drawings tickle the funny bone, making this 1964 classic a perennial favorite. (Ages 4 to 8) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (40)

Thrilled recipient of a "Flat Stanley"
I am not a teacher so cannot of course address how well this book can be used in a classroom. But just three days ago I received a wonderfully flat package from my little niece in California (I am in Ohio) which contained a "Flat Erik" (guess they named their own little guys). I am to keep Flat Erik for two weeks and chronicle his activities then return Flat Erik, my journal and pictures to my niece. All returned Flat characters will be displayed in their classroom's open house next month.

I am thrilled to be hanging out with Flat Erik; he has already played in the snow, slept in his own little bed, gone to work and gone shopping. Just today we went to the bookstore (sorry Amazon :) and purchased a copy of Flat Stanley so that I knew what my niece had read. Of course as an adult I found the story less than entertaining but can see the attraction for kids and teachers.

I look forward to the coming two weeks with my Flat Erik.

Flat Stanley
One morning Stanley woke up, and he was flat because a heavy bulletin board falls on him. The rest of the book tells about his adventures, like being mailed to California in an envelope, and pretending to be a picture in a museum to catch sneak thieves. Eventually, Stanley gets tired of being flat, even though he is famous for catching the thieves. It is his brother Arthur who uses a bicycle pump to blow him up. Then life can get back to normal. Follow up activities:Children do a craft and writing assignment which I call "I'm Flat and That's That." First, I give them a small ball of play dough and they make themselves and flatten it out on a piece of writing paper. They trace it and draw in the details and then remove the play dough. They write a story about themselves being flat and how they got like that, what happened, etc. They love this book and activity!

This book touched me and I haven't even read it
Today I recieved a letter in the mail from my little brothers class in school. I live in California, so his class decided to send a little flat Stanley to me so I could take him on adventures and send back pictures of what we did together. This book touched me and I haven't even read it. Just that my brother and his class would want to involve me in this, that it was that good of a book to them, makes it a 5* for me as well.

Flat Stanley
Flat Stanley is a really great book and I think it was really intresting and funny when you read it you will feel like your in the book

I'm Hooked
I had heard of Flat Stlanley before and although I thought the concept was cute I had never used this book in my second grade. At least not until this year. I am using it with one of my flexible reading groups. I'm absolutely hooked and the children are as well. We have posted the pros and cons of being flat and have joined in with the Flat Stanley project. This is providing so many enriching extension activities! We are now "hosting" Flat Stanleys from Ontario, Thailand, and Australia. The learning that is taking place (writing, reading, speaking, creating, geography, world cultures) is astounding. My students are constructing their own Stanleys who will be traveling around the world to be hosted in other states and countries. I will be buying more copies of this book so I can do this with my entire class next year. I purchased Stanley in Space for my reading group to move on to next. I can't believe I was not aware of how wonderful this book could be. I have been able to integrate it throughout my curriculum. HIGHLY recommended! ... Read more

Book Description

Rufus is a bat who dreams of seeing daytime and all its beautiful colors. Therefore, instead of going to sleep one morning, he decides to venture out to see this world where not everything is black and gray. But, there are many dangers ahead.

Description in Spanish:

Rufus es un murciélago que desea vivir el día con sus hermosos colores. Así que mañana, en lugar de irse a dormir, sale para conocer un mundo en el que no todo es gris y negro, sin imaginar los peligros que le aguardan. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Rufus:A lesson in acceptance of one's own self.
This was one of my favorite books to read to my daughter when she was small.We revelled to find it in the Monterey (CA) Public Library when she was a "cool" teenager.I had forgotten the exact title and the author's name.We've been looking for it for ages and are thrilled that we have now located it so that the next generation of our family can read and enjoy it (her almost five year old son)!It is, as I said, a simple but clear message that one should accept one's own limitations and love themselves in spite of and because of them.In fact, one should CELEBRATE his or her own individuality!

Gotta Have it!
This was my favorite book as a child.We named every gray cat we ever had "Rufus" because of this book. This story has stayed with me my entire life.I have to find a copy!

This is a wonderful children's story.
This was my favorite book as a child, and now I want to have a copy for my own children. ... Read more

Book Description

‘A highly diverting picture book about an agreeable pet boa constrictor that earns the affection and gratitude of a French village.’ —BL. ‘Children will love it.’ —H.

Notable Children's Books of 1940–1959 (ALA)
1959 Fanfare Honor List (The Horn Book)
A Reading Rainbow Selection
1958 Children's Spring Book Festival Prize (NY Herald Tribune) ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Wonderful memories!
Oh, I LOVE this book! It is from the 50's, and SO well written! Instead of dumbing children down, it uses words that are more sophisticated. The story is hilarious! It uses pen and ink type drawings, which brought back so many pleasant memories! As a child, I didn't remember the story too well, but the pictures stayed in my mind, particularly the one of Crictor in what looks like a 10-foot long bed and wearing a 10-foot long armless sweater!!

This elderly lady receives a gift of a snake from her son in Africa. She is a teacher and brings Crictor to school, where he becomes a jump rope and slide for the kids. He also forms letters and numbers. He captures a burglar and the locals name a park after him!

One of my favorite books of all time!

An old-fashioned, wonderfully charming children's book
This was one of my favorite books growing up--I must have checked it out of the school library a dozen times. It's the adorable story of an old French woman who relies on a friendly boa to see her around Paris. Not only does it teach children not to judge other people -- or reptiles -- but the charming illustrations offer fun glimpses into the city of Paris. If you loved Madeline, you'll love this book. Buy one copy for your kids and one for yourself! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The camel and the eye of the needle
Nope.I missed this one as a kid.It's funny, because though I clearly remember seeing images from this book on the walls of libraries, cut out in bookstores, and displayed proudly in textbooks, I never read it myself.And you know what?It's an absolutely wonderful book that I am repeatedly regretting and regretting not having read.This story is right up my alley, and it's an amazing tale.In effect, it is a book about the power of redemption and the simplicity of doing what is right, no matter how late in the game.Said author/illustrator Tomi Ungerer himself, "Whatever the color of money, it is never too late to make good use of it".For me, this book is the story of how to make the most of your goods while you've got `em.

The tale concerns itself with the doings of three fierce black-clad robbers.Outfitted with a blunderbuss, a pepper-blower, and a huge red axe, the three had a pretty good gig going.One robber would stop carriage horses with his pepper spray, another would stop the carriage completely by destroying the wheels with an axe, and the third would rob the passengers by holding them up with his blunderbuss.Honestly?I just like writing the word blunderbuss.That's a great word.Anyway, one day the men stop a carriage containing a small orphan on her way to live with a "wicked aunt".They rescue her and take her home to live with them.When the child asks them what they intend to do with all of their money, the men are stumped.Their solution is round up all the, "lost, unhappy, and abandoned children" they can find, buy a castle, and move in with all the children.In the end the kids grow up and build three tall high-roofed towers in honor of their foster fathers, the three robbers.The end.

I don't really know why I love this tale as much as I do.Partly I think it has to do with the illustrations.The robbers are black on blue, their white eyes floating in front of invisible blue faces.Their weapons, colorfully displayed against a sharp black background, are a beautiful mixture of oranges, blues, and swirling reds.Cheery and intense.After they move in with the children, however, the black and blue palette changes completely and suddenly it's all bright reds (as the children are wearing) and deep spring greens.Accompanying this adept change of pace is Ungerer's text.The book never really explains the robbers' change of heart.One suspects they robbed without entirely knowing why they did so.And isn't that the case of most rich robbers?It is apparent that their care for the children is true and tender.I was especially attached to the shot of the once malevolent robber cradling the sleepy orphan girl in his warm cape as he took her home to stay.

The tale has a moral that changes with every reading.Suffice to say, for me this book was about the human heart.Sometimes it takes very little to change behaviors that once seemed so cold and logical.Any picture book that can present such an interpretation deserves a close reading."The Three Robbers" fits that bill nicely.

The Three Robbers
The Three Robbers is a cute book about three robbers who transform into semi-respectable people. These robbers (like all robbers) robbed people for a living. This particular set of robbers robbed carriages.

One night the robbers make a mistake. Instead of stopping a carriage full of rich people with money or rich jewelry, they `stopped a carriage that had but one passenger, an orphan named Tiffany.' Well Tiffany was delighted, and since the robbers didn't know what else to do they took her home to their hide-out where she promptly turned their world upside down by asking them what they planned to do with their wealth.

Realizing that they were doing nothing with their horded wealth, and that this was really a waste, they decide to buy a castle and bring to it all the `lost, unhappy, and abandoned children they could find.' These children grow up and marry, but as a testament to their benefactors build three towers.

I realize that this summary doesn't make this book sound all that great, but I like it. Also this summary seems to completely conflict with the editorial review. The editorial review is not really one for this book. If you look closely it is really a review for `Crictor; Moon Man'. It only gives a passing mention to `The Three Robbers' at the very bottom. The illustrations are bold and more often than not the page is black and the writing white. The story is told in a style that endears the book to me.

Loggie-log-log-log

I loved this book as a child!
It's been years since I've read this book, but as I recall, it was one ofthe most popular childrens books in my entire elementary school (in theearly 80's).It was almost impossible to find it on the shelf due to itspopularity.The illustrations were wonderful and the book was fun.Irecommend it highly. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Tomi Ungerer, illustrator of Jeff Brown's original Flat Stanley and winner of the prestigious 1998 Hans Christian Andersen Illustrator Award, paints the man in the moon as a benevolent, soft-bodied man who curls up in "his shimmering seat in space." Most evenings, he looks over longingly at the happy, dancing earth people, until one night when he can't resist catching the fiery tail of a comet and hitching a ride to Earth. Ungerer, ever satirical, reports the resulting frenzy of authorities upon hearing the crash landing: "The noise brought hundreds of people from a nearby town. Soldiers sped to defend the earth. Firemen hastened to quench the flaming light. The ice cream man hurried to set up his stand for the spectators." Of course, when the crowd discovers the unidentified fallen object, "statesmen, scientists, and generals panicked." Moon Man is thrown in jail, facing criminal investigation! How will he ever return to his lunar dwelling? Kids will love this quirky "there's no place like home" tale, and Ungerer's gentle, funny mocking of "important people" won't be lost on anyone.(Ages 4 to 8) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Childhood classic
Thank God I bought this book before it went out of print. This was without a doubt one of my favorite books as a child. Never since has a book's illustrations so deftly captured the feel and character of the story. It is a book every child should experience and every adult should appreciate.

MOON MAN - Great Story!
Moon Man is a great book! It was my "favorite" book as a child. I discovered this book in my elementary library. I must have checked it out consecutively for two years. I filled many library check out cards.

I love this book because you really feel sorry for the Moon Man. He desperately wants to join us "earth people" but is not welcomed. He is constantly being chased for capture. Just a good vintage book with a great storyline!

Several years ago the school library was getting rid of the old books and my sister (a teacher there) brought this exact Moon Man book and gave it to me. In fact, till this day I still cherish this book and now share it with my two little daughters who also enjoy listening to me read it. ... Read more

Book Description

"Bunny Bunson Brittle goes fishing. He has no permit. Who cares? There are no fish." That's the first of Papa Snap's favorite "no such" stories, and there are plenty more to come. Unabashedly silly and often delightfully dark, these tales feature a host of fanciful characters -- from young Arson Twitch, who runs away with the family bathtub, to Uncle Rimsky, who finds that a dragon is the perfect cigar lighter. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

This Book Is A Wonderful Experience
Oh my, where to begin? Papa Snap. He is a saviour, my friends, a saviour for children. Never have I seen a book this clever, and silly, and never have I seen such witty characters or colourful, imaginative illustrations. Papa Snap has given me the power to live again. I ask you, where would you find the adventures of Mr Limpid and Mrs Lame? Where would you find little Arson Twitch, or keen fisherman Bunny Bunson Brittle? Nowhere, but in the creative mind of Tommy Ungerer which has been brought to life in "I Am Papa Snap, And These Are My Favorite No Such Stories". A wonderful experience for kids and adults alike, let Papa Snap run through your veins! Hail PSAS!

If i could give it more stars... I would.
As I child, I enjoyed the tales of Lido Rancid and Bunny Bunson Brittle. Now as an adult I've come to respect the creative genius that is Tomi Ungerer.
These stories are way beyond their time. Ungerer combines childrens fairy tales with 60's psycheadilea.
This is a must buy for the youth of today. In my generation it caused an almost cult following.
Must buy!!!
My copy's getting kinda battered.
maybe i might buy a new on...

Quirky warm tales with a secular non-didactic morality
As a child of five fed these tales in the 70s, I loved them for their shortness, their weirdness, the quirky drawings and unexpected outcomes.As an adult I see it as a collection of fairy tales for children who don't grow up but reach their 30s knowing what a critical perspective is.If anybody can come up with anything more delicately miniature and heartwarming than the story of the Limpids well I take my hat off to them.But I won't sit on that sofa. ... Read more

Book Description

For weeks now, all the children in town have been hiding in trunks, barrels, and basements to avoid becoming the hungry ogre's breakfast. All the children, that is, except one, Zeralda, who lives in a clearing in the woods and doesn't know much about ogres. But then this ogre doesn't know very much about Zeralda, either! When they finally come face to face, marvelously funny things begin to happen. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Scrumptious!
A grumpy pirate-like Ogre terrorizes a peasant village shutting down shops, markets and even schools because of his appetite for children. Zeralda, the daughter of a poor working man loves to cook. She cooks such great dishes that when her father falls ill and she is forced to go to market in his place she is able to save the day. Rescuing the hungry Ogre from his own clumsiness and his irrational appetite, Zeralda gives him tastes he never forgets. Soon all the Ogres want what's in Zeralda's kitchen. None want it as much as Zeralda's Ogre though. In a surprise and twisted ending, she marries him. If Disney can pull it off with Shrek, then author Tomi Ungerer should get accolades for her work too. I read this story to a large group of preschoolers and they really enjoyed it.

A good sitting on daddy's knee bed-time story
The subject is very Grimm's fairy tale, an ogre that eats children; the tone, and the illustrations, are not. The ogre is shown walking down the village street with a bag over his shoulder, a child's arm is sticking out! But the picture includes lots of other details - children being hidden in cellars, and a depessed looking teacher in gown and mortarboard; the text with this picture says that children went into hiding, schools shut and teachers were unemployed. The light tone fits the story-line, which is, that the ogre accidentally comes to taste young Zeralda's wonderful cooking, goes off eating children, and they have a long, happy, life, spent throwing extravagent dinner parties (a lavish sample menu is illustrated).

A real gem
This classic book is one of my childhood favorites. Growing up, it reached mythic proportions in my memory. I recently bought it for my 2-year-old daughter, and she loves it too. It's a memorable tale of a nasty ogre who craves little children until a guileless girl converts him with her prodigy-like culinary genius.

Zeralda's Ogre is great on a number of different levels. It has a scary element that I loved when I was a kid - kind of a Grimm's Fairy Tale aspect. Now that I'm a grown-up, I recognize a terrific sly sense of humor in it as well. The illustrations are great - filled with fun little details (bugs, lizards, etc.) that little ones like to seek out. And the descriptions of Zeralda's masterpieces are great.

I can't recommend this book strongly enough - I just wish the hardcover was still in print! ... Read more

Book Description

Tomi Ungerer's intrepid family of pigs faces new challenges in this delightful tale first published in 1958. Bad-tasting water from a woodland brook prompts Mr. Mellop to look for oil, a decision that leads to a gushing well promising great riches -- until a raging forest fire intervenes. But not to worry. By the end of the story, the Mellops are safely back home enjoying cake and ice cream. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Robber barons writing children's books?
I found this book to be appallingly outdated. The Mellopsdrill for oil in the forest while the mom cheerfully "practicesout door cooking" and then all must flee when a passing motorist carelessly sets a forest fire. This book, written in 1958 when Standard Oil was king and women were third class citizens, is 1950s pulp and remains in the past--not on any child's bookshelf. Although it could serve as a good example of how far society has come in understanding and environmental awareness.

"Adorable!"
This book was one of my sisters' and my favorites when we were kids about 30 years ago.

I particularly remember that in the illustrations, each pig in the family had a "gimmick" that carried throughout the book. (One little pig is always shown from the rear; one always has a flower in his mouth.) I also remember how clever each member of the family was, and how they stuck together through thick and thin.

The I can't wait until this one comes back in print so I can read it to my children. ... Read more

Book Description

Readers will go hog-wild for this rip-roaring adventure yarn starring Tomi Ungerer's beloved Mellop family. When Mr. Mellop finds clues to a sunken treasure in a dusty old trunk, he and his porcine family are soon embarked on a voyage that will have them donning scuba gear, exploring an undersea wreck, fending off a giant octopus, and getting shipwrecked on a desert island. First published in 1957, this charming tale showcases the wit, imagination, and captivating illustrations that make Ungerer one of the great children's storytellers. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Pigs Spelunking. Good v. Evil. Great Book.
Based on my memory of thisbook from 30(?) years ago, it concerns a pig family, the Mellops, who embark on an adventure into a cave. They face not only subterranean wonders, but also a band of robbers hiding their loot. I won't give away the ending because I don't remember it.

Hurray for the Mellops reprints! (Normally, I don't care for exclamation points, but it seemed suitable here. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Clever and surprising
My 3-year old son and daughter enjoy this book thoroughly as the pictures are delightful and the plot is simple and engaging.It ends rather unpredictably which makes it as much fun to read to them as it is for them to hear it.It also is sophisticated enough to keep an older child's interest. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

ahem
I once bought a book from a puffin For a sandwich and half of my muffin These rhymes are absurd You aquatic bird I'll tell you that much for nothin. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Cats will be cats
This little gem of a children's book addresses the sometimes difficult relationships between parents and children with a dark humor that is hard to ignore.I have owned my copy of this book for years, and it has enough complexity to provide new meaning each time I read it.I have always found Piper Paw's world somewhat grim--perhaps the smudgey, black and white illustrations have something to do with this.His relationship with his parents, teachers and schoolmates is so antagonistic that I begin to wonder what made him so incapable of love--this of course is a conclusion I have reached recently, and not when I first read the book as a pre-teen.But Piper comes around at the end, if not completely, at least to a level of compromise that he can live with, which includes no kissing.Because of Piper's antics and some of the more bizarre illustrations, I would recommend this book for kids 9 years and older.

Simply the Best!
This is my absolute favorite Children's book! Growing up as a child, I would read this several times each summer and would laugh for hours at the expressions and the illustrations. The illustrations are brilliant. I thinkthat deep down, we all share the desire to be as mischievous as Piper.

A Lot of Fun
My mother used to love to read this to me when I was a kid; we still have one of the earlier issues.

I'm glad it was re-released.It's a classic: recommended for adults as well as children.

Makes bedtime stories extra fun for the adult!
This book was very cleverly written! My six year-old daughter and I laughed all the way through it. The pictures are hilarious. I would have enjoyed reading this book just for myself.

A mischievous cat who does not like kisses from mother!
This is a delightfully naughty story (a favorite of my mine as a child) about a mischievous cat named Piper.What little boy doesn't want to play practical jokes in school, get dirty in the playground and take apartthings at home that shouldn't be taken apart at home?Well, Piper doesjust that and has no room for kisses from Mother!

This book is rated from4 to 8 years old.If you're an adult, read on.It's a hoot no matter howold you are. ... Read more