Flat Stanley, Mango Monkey, & What Now?

I first met Flat Stanley many years ago while living in Hawai’i.

My neighbor opened her mailbox and pulled out a manila envelope, sent by her niece.

According to the directions, Flat Stanley was visiting the world and would like to spend a week with her.

Her simple task: take Flat Stanley around and photograph him in different spots.

My neighbor groaned.

But, she then composed a story, included pictures, and mailed Flat Stanley back to her niece.

I was envious.

I could have SO much fun with such an invitation.

Flat Stanley comes to my house!

Several years later my niece mailed me a Flat Stanley and my kindergartener and I went to work

Stanley had a very busy week at our house.

We photographed him overseeing dinner preparation, visiting the yard, enjoying the tire swing.

He joined me at Walmart, the library (where he accidentally got shelved!), and the grocery store.

My daughter introduced him to her class and escorted him to visit her grandfather at a nursing home.

My father-in-law had seen many mysterious things in his time, but  Flat Stanley confused him.

The nurses in the nursing home, however, stopped to pose with our guest.

We had so much fun writing up Flat Stanley’s adventures!

We mailed back four typed pages detailing his experiences–told from his point of view.

When my niece turned in her project, the teacher looked it over and said, “You must have a very imaginative aunt.”

Well? What do you expect when Flat Stanley visits a novelist?

Mango Monkey

Unfortunately, I never had a chance with another Flat Stanley but then I met Mango Monkey!

When I picked up my Adorable kindergartener and her sister, we discovered L had been chosen “Superstar of the Week!”

(“Great,” her mother said. “Now I have homework.”)

Since we’d already planned a trip to Baskin Robbins, I thought I’d help.

It had been so long since I had such an imaginative adventure thrust into my hands!

Mango Monkey isn’t flat

Of course, this new generation of the experience wasn’t quite the same.

Unlike Flat Stanley, Mango Monkey was three-dimensional and came with his own matching backpack and assorted paraphernalia.

L wanted to change his clothes immediately, but I explained he’d need a sweater before we were done with him.

The girls eyed me–but went along with the game.

We stopped at the grocery store, where Mango got his picture taken lounging among the pumpkins.

He sat in a grocery cart and stopped to smell the flowers.

He wasn’t much interested in ice cream but did examine himself in a mirror.

Inside the grocery store

Inside the grocery store, Mango Monkey “went a little wild,” when we introduced him to mangoes and bananas.

He probably was a little warm with his sweater on, so I suggested he cool off in the freezer.

The girls shrieked with laughter.

As we stood in line to check out, I suggested my Adorable show the cashier the monkey on her back. (Mango rides in his backpack.)

The cashier loved it.

By the time we got home–and L finally could change Mango’s clothes–we had plenty of photos for the project.

Mango came with a composition book telling of his adventures with other students.

We read of his adventures with a girl we knew from last year.

I printed out my pictures and handed them to Mango’s surrogate caregiver. “Do you have enough to write a story about Mango Monkey?”

The Adorable kindergartner nodded yes.

“Great,” her mother said. “Now, all I have to do is help her make a poster for Monday.”

Tweetables

Got a Flat Stanley? Now what? Click to Tweet

Ideas for dealing with Flat Stanley or even Mango Monkey! Click to Tweet

Spurring imagination in a kindergartner–using a silly prop. Click to Tweet