Flat Stanley Gets Around

Over the years Flat Stanley has been everywhere—from Asia to Europe, from Australia to Asia, and from North America to South America, and for years students in East Brunswick elementary schools have been taking the storybook character with them on their own travels.

The East Brunswick Human Relations Council is hoping that residents in and out of elementary school will take their cue fro those lessons and share their own travels using Flat Stanley.

“I thought it would be a perfect vehicle for children, adults and seniors to share their stories about their culture, about how they celebrated, where they went on vacations, the places they visited, and the times they spent with family, so that we could learn the uniqueness of the families that live in East Brunswick.”

Flat Stanley was created 40 years ago by Jeff Brown as a bedtimre story told to his children. Since then, the character has appeared in a series of books and served as inspiration to elementary school students, who take the paper cut out with them on vacation or send him to relatives so that they can share their experiences with their classmates.

To participate, the Human Relations Council is asking families to download, print and cut out a figure of Flat Stanley, then send him to them with pictures of trips, celebrations and parties. The results will be posted on the township website (click here to see two entries already submitted).

“It’s a multicultural, multigenerational project because we live in a very diverse community,” she said.

For more information, contact the council at ebhrcfs@verizon.net. Submissions can be emailed or mailed to: EBHRC- Elayne Risley, Chair c/o Administration 1 Civic Center Drive East Brunswick, N.J. 08816.

To download a copy of Flat Stanley, click here.