![]() Front cover of the first edition (1964) | |
Author | Jeff Brown (1964–2003; 2006) |
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Illustrator | Tomi Ungerer (1964) Tony Ross (1992) Steve Bjorkman (1998) Scott Nash (2003) Macky Pamintuan (2010) Jon Mitchell (2012) Rob Biddulph (2019) |
Language | English |
Genre | Children's literature |
Publisher | Harper & Row (1964–1985) HarperCollins (1990–2003) Scholastic (2006; 2009–present) Methuen Publishing (UK, 1964–1998)/Egmont Group (UK, 1998–present) |
Publication date | 1964–2003; 2006; 2009–present |
Publication place | United States |
Flat Stanley is an American children's book series written by author Jeff Brown (January 1, 1926 – December 3, 2003).[1] The idea for the book began as a bedtime story for Brown’s sons, which Brown turned into the first Flat Stanley book. The first book featured illustrations by Tomi Ungerer and was published in 1964.[2] Brown did not continue the series until more than two decades later, when he published five more books: Stanley and the Magic Lamp, Stanley in Space, Stanley’s Christmas Adventure, Invisible Stanley, and Stanley, Flat Again![3]
By 2003, the Flat Stanley series had sold almost one million copies in the United States, and the stories had been translated into French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, and Hebrew.[2]
Since Brown's death in 2003, other children's book authors, including Sara Pennypacker and Josh Greenhut, have continued the series under a new name, Flat Stanley's Worldwide Adventures.[4]
In 2009, a musical adaptation, also entitled Flat Stanley, opened at the Djanogly Theatre, Nottingham.[5] It featured a script by Mike Kenny and songs by Julian Butler. The musical was well received[6] and was revived in 2014 for a short tour.[7]