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Flat Stanley - I Can Read! (Level 2)
Flat Stanley and the Firehouse
Flat Stanley and the Firehouse (An I Can Read Picture Book)
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
About the author
Jeff Brown
329 books124 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Jeff Brown had worked in Hollywood and as an editor and writer in New York before creating Flat Stanley, a hero for the youngest readers whose adventures, with illustrations by Tomi Ungerer, were first published in 1964. Flat Stanley became the star of a series of perpetually popular books. The last, "Stanley, Flat Again!," was published the year he died. All together, Stanley's tales have sold nearly a million copies in the United States alone. The character's life extended further, as schoolchildren mailed cut-outs of him to their friends. In translation, he traveled to France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Japan and Israel, among other places.
Jeff Brown was born Richard Chester Brown. Originally a child actor, he became Jeff Brown because Actors Equity already had a Richard Brown as a member. A graduate of the Professional Children's School, he provided a child's voice in a radio drama and appeared onstage.
In Hollywood he worked for the producer Samuel Goldwyn Jr. and was a story consultant at Paramount. Preferring to write himself, he sold fiction and articles to national magazines while working at The New Yorker, Life, The Saturday Evening Post, Esquire and finally at Warner Books, where he was a senior editor until 1980. The idea for Stanley came to him one night at bedtime when his sons J. C. and Tony were young and stalling for time. One asked what would happen if the big bulletin board on the wall were to fall on J. C., and Mr. Brown said he would most likely wake up flat. That led to speculation about what such a life might be like. After writing "Flat Stanley, " Mr. Brown went on to "Stanley and the Magic Lamp," "Stanley in Space," "Stanley's Christmas Adventure," "Invisible Stanley" and finally "Stanley, Flat Again!"
The Flat Stanley Project was started in 1995 by Dale Hubert, a third grade schoolteacher in London, Ontario, Canada. It is meant to facilitate letter-writing by schoolchildren to each other as they document where Flat Stanley has gone with them. The Project provides an opportunity for students to make connections with students of other member schools who've signed up with the project. 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 Flat Stanley 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. In 2005, more than 6,500 classes from 48 countries took part in the Flat Stanley Project.
Jeff Brown had worked in Hollywood and as an editor and writer in New York before creating Flat Stanley, a hero for the youngest readers whose adventures, with illustrations by Tomi Ungerer, were first published in 1964. Flat Stanley became the star of a series of perpetually popular books. The last, "Stanley, Flat Again!," was published the year he died. All together, Stanley's tales have sold nearly a million copies in the United States alone. The character's life extended further, as schoolchildren mailed cut-outs of him to their friends. In translation, he traveled to France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Japan and Israel, among other places.
Jeff Brown was born Richard Chester Brown. Originally a child actor, he became Jeff Brown because Actors Equity already had a Richard Brown as a member. A graduate of the Professional Children's School, he provided a child's voice in a radio drama and appeared onstage.
In Hollywood he worked for the producer Samuel Goldwyn Jr. and was a story consultant at Paramount. Preferring to write himself, he sold fiction and articles to national magazines while working at The New Yorker, Life, The Saturday Evening Post, Esquire and finally at Warner Books, where he was a senior editor until 1980. The idea for Stanley came to him one night at bedtime when his sons J. C. and Tony were young and stalling for time. One asked what would happen if the big bulletin board on the wall were to fall on J. C., and Mr. Brown said he would most likely wake up flat. That led to speculation about what such a life might be like. After writing "Flat Stanley, " Mr. Brown went on to "Stanley and the Magic Lamp," "Stanley in Space," "Stanley's Christmas Adventure," "Invisible Stanley" and finally "Stanley, Flat Again!"
The Flat Stanley Project was started in 1995 by Dale Hubert, a third grade schoolteacher in London, Ontario, Canada. It is meant to facilitate letter-writing by schoolchildren to each other as they document where Flat Stanley has gone with them. The Project provides an opportunity for students to make connections with students of other member schools who've signed up with the project. 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 Flat Stanley 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. In 2005, more than 6,500 classes from 48 countries took part in the Flat Stanley Project.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
February 22, 2020
I keep reading these Flat Stanley books and find that I am enjoying each one. Stanley’s accident is the only things that makes him different than others, which he uses to his advantage sometimes. When Stanley and his brother, Arthur, win a fire safety contest, they are given the chance to tour the fire hall. While there, Stanley and the rest of the family see the ins and outs of what it is like to protect the town from fires and danger, including meeting a dog mascot. Stanley loves his time at the fire hall, but has one request that he would really like granted, if at all possible.
I love fire halls and everything to do with fire fighting. I had my birthday at one once, which was a lot of fun. In this book, the reader learns about fire safety and what goes on when the engines are not out with sirens. The story was pretty interesting and the pictures were cool too. I liked that the words were not too hard and think it would be good for young readers. I want to read the entire Flat Stanley series if I can. Off to the library to find them all!
I love fire halls and everything to do with fire fighting. I had my birthday at one once, which was a lot of fun. In this book, the reader learns about fire safety and what goes on when the engines are not out with sirens. The story was pretty interesting and the pictures were cool too. I liked that the words were not too hard and think it would be good for young readers. I want to read the entire Flat Stanley series if I can. Off to the library to find them all!
July 30, 2022
I didn’t really like the part where the mom yelled at her son, but it was kinda necessary to save the cat. You had to be there.
August 30, 2018
While this is good practice for kids learning to read, the characters and content of the book are beyond dreadful. Stanley is...one-dimensional and well - flat.
August 23, 2014
Horn Book (Spring 2012)
Written by Lori Haskins Houran. Flat Stanley and his family head to the fire station after Stanley and his brother win a fire safety poster contest. The digital illustrations are engagingly bright and cheerful, but the text is distractingly choppy; sentences don't always follow one another in a logical way. (And why must Mrs. Lambchop offer to "tidy up" for the firefighters?)
Written by Lori Haskins Houran. Flat Stanley and his family head to the fire station after Stanley and his brother win a fire safety poster contest. The digital illustrations are engagingly bright and cheerful, but the text is distractingly choppy; sentences don't always follow one another in a logical way. (And why must Mrs. Lambchop offer to "tidy up" for the firefighters?)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 19, 2021
I'm sure children love all of these little stories about Flat Stanley. I remember mailing Flat Stanley to Australia, when Jonathan's parents served a mission. My children always enjoyed Flat Stanley.
November 17, 2014
3.3 stars
June 24, 2019
Read with student
August 10, 2023
Flat Stanley is a favorite character of mine. When my children were young, they often had a Flat Stanley project at school and their Flat Stanley's traveled great distances when they shared them with family members and friends.
I am visiting my young nieces and nephew in Norman, OK and they selected Flat Stanley and the Firehouse at the amazing Norman public library. It is a Level 2 reading book.
Flat Stanley and his family visit the firehouse and get to go with the fireman on a call to rescue a cat at the top of a tree. My nieces and nephew enjoyed doing the Stop, Drop and Roll activity just like Stanley and his brother did it in the book.
Terrific illustrations and reading level appropriate words and context.
I am visiting my young nieces and nephew in Norman, OK and they selected Flat Stanley and the Firehouse at the amazing Norman public library. It is a Level 2 reading book.
Flat Stanley and his family visit the firehouse and get to go with the fireman on a call to rescue a cat at the top of a tree. My nieces and nephew enjoyed doing the Stop, Drop and Roll activity just like Stanley and his brother did it in the book.
Terrific illustrations and reading level appropriate words and context.
March 18, 2022
Rather a fun book. Apparently I had read this one before but really don't recollect doing so. Heck I didn't even recall having the book which apparently we do. This copy was one my wife borrowed from the library for our great nephew to read while his is at our place. Stanley and his family visit a fire station after his brother wins a contest. This gives them (and by extension the reader) a chance to find out the workings of a fire station. We don't call with the firefighters on a call to a fire, but we do go with them to rescue a cat caught up a tree. There is only one question to be answered. Does Stanley get to slide down the pole. You will have to read the book to find out. If you have young readers this will be a good book for them. It is fun and it also educates on firefighting to a certain degree. Recommended.
September 24, 2018
I thought the whole idea of how Flat Stanley helped the family around the house was super weird. I always enjoyed Flat Stanley as a child and I understand they allowed him to help to his advantage, but besides being an easy read I don't get the point of this story and I didn't like it.
May 2, 2022
This story is really fun in the way the main character gets to try something new. I also really like how this book encourages people to embrace their differences because you may be the only one who can help in certain situations.
September 22, 2018
This book is a level two reader for beginning readers! Flat Stanley is a kid that is as flat as a piece of paper and he has a lot of adventures, in this book, he goes to the fire station.
June 5, 2019
Logan: They were creative in rescuing the kitty without using the bucket on the firetruck. I liked it when Stanley's mom thought it was a mess in the firehouse, when all the boots were ready.
December 27, 2020
Great book love flat Stanley and all His adventures
June 20, 2023
Great Book! But I didn't like it when Ms.Lamchop yelled at Aurthur.
October 12, 2023
Finally, a book my first graders enjoyed and actually asked me to read again!
November 15, 2016
Summary:
Flat Stanley is on yet another adventure. This time he wins a poster drawing contest and wins a trip to the local fire station. All Stanley wants to do is slide down the pole at the fire station. However, on the tour at the fire station he does not get the opportunity to do so. At the end of the tour the fire fighters take Stanley with them on a call to rescue a cat from a tree. The cat decides to jump out of the tree and Stanley finds a way to save the day. Will he be rewarded with a trip down the fire pole?
Activity:
I think it would be fun to have the children make a Flat Stanley of themselves and have them dress it up as the profession they want to be when they grow up. Then I would have them list the different ways they would help people while doing their jobs.
Citation:
Houran, L. H., Pamintuan, M., & Brown, J. (2013). Flat Stanley and the Firehouse. New York, NY: Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins.
Flat Stanley is on yet another adventure. This time he wins a poster drawing contest and wins a trip to the local fire station. All Stanley wants to do is slide down the pole at the fire station. However, on the tour at the fire station he does not get the opportunity to do so. At the end of the tour the fire fighters take Stanley with them on a call to rescue a cat from a tree. The cat decides to jump out of the tree and Stanley finds a way to save the day. Will he be rewarded with a trip down the fire pole?
Activity:
I think it would be fun to have the children make a Flat Stanley of themselves and have them dress it up as the profession they want to be when they grow up. Then I would have them list the different ways they would help people while doing their jobs.
Citation:
Houran, L. H., Pamintuan, M., & Brown, J. (2013). Flat Stanley and the Firehouse. New York, NY: Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins.
Want to Read
February 10, 2017AR Quiz No. 146579 EN Fiction
Accelerated Reader Quiz Information IL: LG - BL: 2.4 - AR Pts: 0.5
Accelerated Reader Quiz Information IL: LG - BL: 2.4 - AR Pts: 0.5
December 26, 2014
Flat Stanley. His name is Stanley and he is flat, what more can I say? This books says he is flat because a bulletin board fell on him but I just don't know. At least his flatness comes in handy in clutch situation :-) Good early reader!
March 2, 2014
Stanley is elated. His Stop, Drop, and Roll poster won the Fire Safety Month contest.
Stanley's prize is a trip to the firehouse! When Chief Abbot invites him to climb onto a real fire truck, Stanley thinks things can't get any better, but the visit takes an even more exciting turn.
Stanley's prize is a trip to the firehouse! When Chief Abbot invites him to climb onto a real fire truck, Stanley thinks things can't get any better, but the visit takes an even more exciting turn.
January 28, 2016
The Lambchop boys win a poster contest at school and get a tour of the local firehouse. Stanley's flatness comes in handy there too.
Nice illustrations.
Asher (5 y.o.) read this aloud to me.
Nice illustrations.
Asher (5 y.o.) read this aloud to me.
Read
April 21, 2012This is a fun read to include information to kids about how a community works. It would be fun for kids to see a firehouse and relate it to their own and local firehouse.
November 15, 2013
a cat gets stuck in the tree and the firefighters are unable to reach it. arthur climbs up the tree and falls so they use stanley as a net to catch him.
September 16, 2014
Samyak enjoyed the book.
April 1, 2015
Stanley saves the day!
May 13, 2015
My nephew liked it even though he didn't understand how a bulletin board fell on a kid and made him flat...
February 17, 2016
I thought it was weird that they were driving fast and using the firetruck siren just to get a cat out of tree. Silly stuff!
December 13, 2020
Was a interesting read, great for emergent readers.
December 27, 2025
8 mins
July 12, 2015
Good book and series for four year old.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews