Somebody Swallowed Stanley

Author: Sarah Roberts

Illustrator: Hannah Peck

Summary

Swept into the sea and at the mercy of the currents, Stanley is tossed recklessly through the ocean, and accidentally collides with its inhabitants along the way. Is he a jellyfish with too few tentacles? Or perhaps something else that doesn’t quite belong? Though Stanley has no control over his chaotic journey through the waters, it seems that wherever he drifts and whomever he encounters, harm follows in his wake. Can these creatures be saved? And will Stanley ever find where he truly belongs?

Review

I was captivated by the vivid language in this story. The creatures cough, splutter, squawk, and gasp as they’re caught in Stanley’s helpless whirlwind through the sea. The narrative evokes a deep sense of compassion for the animals harmed in his wake. And yet, as a reader you feel just as sorry for Stanley, the discarded trash bag himself, which cleverly sets the stage for a true moment of relief in the resolution of his rescue. The story is both heartwarming and powerful, with a clear message: what we carelessly cast aside causes harm to others, and the most vulnerable of Earth’s creatures are the ones who need our protection the most.

Language Facilitation Targets:

• “who” and “where” questions (where’s Stanley?, who does Stanley see?, where will Stanley go next?)

• modeling prepositions “in” and “out”

• identifying feelings (scared, hurt, surprised)

• descriptive language (rough, slimy, scruffy, wrinkly)