Geography

I am not even going to divulge the name of the book that inspired this blog yet.  I am afraid it will be too 'ordinary' and nobody will read any further.  Let me start at the beginning.....
Our family has found a new passion for geography.  This isn't the first time this has happened.  We love to travel!  All of us have created our own personal map of the United States, coloring in the states we have each visited.  Even the little children are getting to have quite a beautiful map.  Our goal is to someday visit them all.  None of us has yet.  Benjamin, 8, and I are flying to South Carolina in May, and he cannot wait to color another state.  (He literally can't wait - he already colored it!)  Anyway, besides this, we have decided to learn more world geography by drawing and labeling maps everyday.  We only spend about 15 minutes doing it, but we are learning so many great things. 

Flat Stanley
by Jeff Brown

So....on to the book review.  Benjamin is required to read to me for at least 20 minutes every day.  Believe me, he loves books.  But, he would so rather be read to than read.  Sometimes we have a quandry finding something he will maintain interest in to the end.  "Frankie Pickle" by Eric Wight was a great little series, but it is only three long so far and didn't take us long.  His latest choice was "Flat Stanley" by Jeff Brown.  I know, I know.  You all know about Flat Stanley.  And he is cute, don't get me wrong.  How can you not laugh out loud at a little boy 1/2 inch thick being mailed in an envelope by his parents?  It really is a great book.  It has been around for several decades (since 1964) and thousands of children have enjoyed his antics.  However, did you know that he has had a recent come back?  Maybe many of you did.  Sara Pennypacker (favorite author of the "Clementine" book series) has revived Flat Stanley in a travel-themed series sending him around the world.  Now do you see the connection?  Considering Benjamin's current love of maps, this sounds like a perfect match.  Flat Stanley goes:
     #1 The Mount Rushmore Calamity
     #2 The Great Egyptian Grave Robbery
     #3 The Japanese Ninja Surprise
     #4  The Intrepid Canadian Expedition
     #5  The Amazing Mexican Secret
     #6  The African Safari Discovery
     #7  The Flying Chinese Wonders
     #8  The Australian Boomarang Bonanza
     #9  The US Captital Commotion

I am sure this is not the end for two reasons: #1 The last book was published in December 2011 and #2 Flat Stanley has yet to visit any place in Europe.  That can't be the end. 

The end (of the beginning) of the story is that Benjamin and I spent some time last night creating a four-page world map glued onto posterboard with all the places that Flat Stanley has (or will in our case) visit before he is done.  Benjamin is illustrating the edges as we read.  And most importantly, he is excited to read everyday!

Flat Stanley's Worldwide Adventure #1

The World of Flat Stanley according to Benjamin

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