A fantastic story of sticks and imaginative play.

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.

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

"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

"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