Books

Stanley's Stick

John Hegley, Author

Neal Layton, Illustrator

Paperback

Imprint: Hodder Children's Books

Publication date: April 5, 2012

Category: Picture storybooks

ISBN: 9780340988190

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Stanley’s Stick is a teaming-up of hefty talents – glorious poet John Hegley and award-winning illustrator Neal Layton. Stanley’s stick is not just a stick. With a stick in hand, Stanley’s options are endless – he flies to the moon, writes in the sand, goes fishing, plays a whistle and rides a dinosaur – and his imagination takes over and the magic begins.

Hegley’s lyrical prose captures the free-wheeling expressiveness of childhood, and Layton’s deceptively simple illustrations are full of wit and character. Sweet, magical and thoroughly entertaining, this is Hegley and Layton’s first collaboration.

Reviews

A simple stick becomes the key to Stanley's imagination as it provides endless opportunities for creativity, in this beautifully crafted story about outdoor play.

Baby Hampshire

Beautifully crafted story about outdoor play.

Baby London

'...wonderful rhythmic and a delightfully quirky text.'

The Bookseller

A book celebrating the power of imagination. Brilliant illustrations by Neal Layton.

Angels & Urchins

This book should guarantee hours of imaginative play.

Sunday Times

Everything a picture book should be.

Irish Times

Simply, a lovely book.

School Librarian

This lovely book is simply a 'must have' for all those who want to inspire children's imaginative play... beautifully written.

Early Years Educator

A must read ... delivers a very important message about material things ... this is, simply, a lovely book

School Librarian

This book should guarantee imaginative play

The Sunday Times

Beautifully written ... Stanley is a child many parents will recognise very well indeed

The Bookbag

A book celebrating the power of the imagination. Brilliant illustrations by Neal Layton

Angels & Urchins

Everything a picture book should be: funny, engaging, slightly odd and utterly original ... A delight from start to finish

The Irish Times

John Hegley

John Hegley is a popular English performance poet, comedian, musician and songwriter. He began his performing career at London’s Comedy Store in 1980. His television appearances include Wogan and Never Mind the Buzzcocks and he frequently performs live and is a regular at the Edinburgh Festival.

Neal Layton

Neal is an award-winning illustrator and author of children’s books. He has worked on more than 80 titles to date, working with authors such Cressida Cowell and Michael Rosen, and won several prizes including a Gold Award in the Nestle Children’s Book Prize for That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown. His books have also been shortlisted for the Red House Book Awards, the Blue Peter Book Awards, the Booktrust Early Years Award, Funfzig Jahre Deutcher Jugendliteraturpreis and New York Public Library’s annual list of Best Children’s Books.He also writes his own books, such as eco-picture book A Planet Full of Plastic and ‘The Invincible Tony Spears’ fiction series. His books are currently in print in more than 16 languages worldwide. He lives in Portsmouth with his wife and two daughters.