Stanley at Sea

Stanley

by Linda Bailey, Bill Slavin (Illustrator)

Stanley's thrown his party -- and braved his wild ride. Now Stanley and his pals embark on an adventure that makes sea?dogs of them all! It's picnic time in the park -- but not for Stanley. He knows he's not supposed to beg, but his people are always eating. And Stanley is always hungry! After he's told to "get," Stanley wanders down by the river where he runs into Alice, Nutsy and Gassy Jack. Soon their keen noses lead them to a delicious treat on a small boat with no people in sight. When the boat's mooring comes loose, they float away with the current down the river, under a bridge and then out to sea! It's a scary new world where the sky stretches in every direction and big waves crash. The dogs know that when you're Outside, sooner or later you always come to a fence. When suddenly through the mist they see what looks like a very tall fence, they know they've come to the End of Outside! But what kind of fence is this?

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Animals

32 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2008

About the author

I was born and grew up in Winnipeg —a daydreamer with her nose in a book. In my twenties, I traveled around the world, mostly by ship. Later, I moved to Vancouver, where I earned a B.A. and M.Ed. at the University of British Columbia. Among my jobs were travel agent, college teacher, instructional designer and editor.

For years, I dabbled with writing. But I didn't begin to write in earnest until I had two young daughters. My first book was published in 1992, and I have since written more than thirty others, including novels, picture books and non-fiction.

I live in Vancouver, a short walk from the sea. I write full-time and still love to travel, read and daydream.
- Source

Series:
* Stanley
* Stevie Diamond Mystery
* Good Times Travel Agency

Awards:
Arthur Ellis Award
◊ Best Juvenile (1997): How Can a Frozen Detective Stay Hot on the Trail?
◊ Best Juvenile (2000): How Can a Brilliant Detective Shine in the Dark?

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Neo thinks animals belong in the wild or a zoo, not in a boat.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

That adventurous dog Stanley winds up embarking upon a sea adventure, bringing along his pals Alice, Nutsy, and Gassy Jack.

This time they get swept out to sea.

What a thrilling adventure! Capped by a GREAT ending.

FIVE STARS to author Linda Bailey and artist Bill Slavin.

[Michael Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely love this funny little story! My son loved it too. Illustrations are awesome too.

[Klinton Saha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stanley,a dog, was hungry.His people didn't share picnic to him.He didn't want to beg.So he searched food here and there with friends.

[Lavonnia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stanley at Sea is a picture book that won the 2009 Blue Spruce Award. The book is intended for ages 4 through years old. This would extend from the (N) Nursery age from birth through 5 years old to the (P) Primary age 5 through 8 years old.

The story is about a dog, named Stanley who is taken on a family picnic with his family. Stanley knows that it is never proper to beg for food from the table and after doing so and being denied a bite of anything from the table, wonders off to find friends. Stanley and his friends are led far away from their families all in the hopes of them finding something to eat. Stanley and his friends return after their adventurous journey to their family.

I gave Stanley at Sea a 5 star rating, because I really enjoyed reading this book out loud in another class I am currently in. The words flow so nicely reading them out loud to a classroom full of future teachers. The illustration for this book was like the books we had in school when I was a child. The drawings are focused on the visual effects of the reader and those being read to. I like how the main characters are dogs. Dogs who have friends. Dog friends who will stick by you and go the distance(to the end of Outside)to help you accomplish your mission. The story lingers on as it is past around from one dog friend to another. Cozy story. Great read for young children and old, very appealing! I would use this book to teach children that you never wonder off alone or with friends without letting your parent(s) or guardian(s) know where you are going and receiving their approval.

This book was read aloud and reviewed in September 2013

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another humorous story about Stanley the dog. In this story, Stanley and his friends smell a ham sandwich so they go after it and eat it. But afterwards they realize they are in a rowboat in the middle of the water! They wonder if they are getting a bath but decide they must not be since they are not wet. They try to figure out where he could be going and come to the decision that they will come to a fence because every dog knows that if you go far enough you will come to a fence. Eventually they do come to a "fence" that is so tall they cannot see the top. A man comes down on a rope and takes them to the top of the "fence" where the men give them plate after plate of food! Readers can see in the illustrations that the "fence" is a large ship. A man from the ship rows them back to shore and they all go home, but word spreads about the huge fence and how if you are very lucky you will get to go to the top and eat as much as you want! It is a very humorous story (as are Stanley's other books!) and highly recommended as a read aloud to school age children.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stanley and his friends Lucy, Gassy Jack, and Nutsy accidently get swept to sea in a small boat. Where are they going? To the end of outside. And what is at the end of outside? A fence, because every dog will tell you that sooner or later you always come to a fence. But what a fence it is!

One of my absolute favorite children's books, and my favorite in the Stanley series. There is just something about this book that tickles me, and the illustrations are beautiful.

[Karla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stanley and his buddies just want to find something to eat. But when they jump on a boat in search of a sandwich and the boat gets loose, instead they find an adventure to the "end of Outside." Told entirely from the doggie point of view, I laughed and laughed at the ending. A great read-a-loud for children and their adults. Or better yet, have the kids read it to their dogs!

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

A great line: "The dogs all barked in agreement. THey knew that wherever you go in the world, sooner or later you always come to a fence."
I love the Stanley series and this book doesn't disappoint, although it's probably not my favourite.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very cute story about 3 dogs who are looking for food and end up out at sea!

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though the early part of the story is a little slow, the building of an adventure that creates a canine myth is a lot of fun. Too long for storytime, but fun to share.

[Tricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

dogs told to "get" go on a sea adventure until they are found by a big gate which turns out to be a ship...and then returned to their owners. it was just okay.

[Denise · Rating 1 out of 5]

There's really not much to say about this book other than I wouldn't use it, ever. There's a disconnect in the middle of the book I can't reconcile, not to mention I just don't like the concept.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed Stanley at Sea. It is about friendship of dogs. It would be good to use to teach about point of view. It was fun to imagine life and the view of the world from a dog's perspective.

[Mckinley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as good as the book about his party. Read it instead.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

An okay book. It was cute how if you go far enough you'll find a fence.

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't think this was as funny as Stanley's Party.

[Hillvan]

AD440L

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stanley and his friends Alice, Nutsy, and Gassy Jack while searching for food jumps in a boat, and find themselves adrift at sea. Thinking they were headed to the end of outside where a fence would be, they all drifted for awhile, and were finally rescued, and what they discovered they still talk about to this day.