Mount Rushmore: Flat Stanley Takes on the World

FAMILY TRAVEL

By Jennifer Close

Mount Rushmore, South Dakota
Mount Rushmore, South Dakota


Destination: Mount Rushmore, South Dakota

Book: Flat Stanley’s Worldwide Adventures, The Mount Rushmore Calamity (2009) by Jeff Brown and Macky Pamintuan

If you have young children in your life, you might have received a letter from them with a flat piece of paper that resembled a gingerbread man. Along with this flattened gingerbread man, you probably got a letter asking for a postcard or pictures of your location. When we went to Mt. Rushmore, this guy helped with our trip.

Flat Stanley in Colorado
Flat Stanley in Colorado

This little guy is named Flat Stanley. Flat Stanley was flattened by his bulletin board in the middle of the night. That hasn’t stopped him on all of his adventures. Schools around the U. S. have used Flat Stanley as a way to learn more about the different cities and attractions around the world. We have had a number of Flat Stanley characters sent to us and we have brought him all over the world. Our most recent adventure with Flat Stanley was here in Denver. He arrived from Pensacola, Florida just in time for some snow and skiing adventures with us as well as some hiking.

Flat Stanley’s Worldwide Adventures: The Mount Rushmore Calamity was a great way to help us plan our own Mount Rushmore adventure, which we are took last week. I love to introduce new books to my children that get them excited about adventures in which we will soon be embarking.

Flat Stanley and his family visit Mount Rushmore National Memorial where they see those gigantic faces all in a row. While there, they meet the tour guide’s daughter, Calamity Jasper, and they make plans to meet up the next day. Stanley and his brother learn about Custer State Park, gold mining, and more. When they were finished with their adventure, Flat Stanley’s parents mailed him home.

After reading The Mount Rushmore Calamity, both of my children couldn’t wait to pan for gold on our trip though my son has said that he definitely did not want to go down in a gold mine. You’ll have to read the book to find out why!

Mount Rushmore
Avenue of Flags at Mount Rushmore

Flat Stanley has been on many adventures. He has a whole series that shares his adventures and misadventures. Flat Stanley goes to British Columbia, Canada, Africa, the Alamo and more.

You don’t have to wait and see if one of your kids will bring home a Flat Stanley from school. You can make a Flat Stanley of your own (or print one from the Flat Stanley website) and bring him on your summer travels. The website has some travel tips like sending yourself a postcard or keeping a map of all the places that you visit with Flat Stanley. You can even upload pictures of your adventures with Flat Stanley to the site, or download an app for a smart phone.

Note: All photos are used by permission of Jennifer Close, please ask before copying. Links to Amazon are affiliate links, meaning that even though it costs no more, you will be supporting A Traveler’s Library when you purchase anything  by using our links. Thanks for your support.

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About Vera Marie Badertscher

A freelance writer who loves to travel. When she is not traveling she is reading about travel. When she is not reading or traveling, she is sharing with the readers of A Traveler's Library, or recreating her family's past at Ancestors In Aprons . She has written for Reel Life With Jane, Life is a Trip and other websites. Also co-author of a biography, Quincy Tahoma, The Life and Legacy of a Navajo Artist. Contact Vera Marie by e-mail.

One thought on “Mount Rushmore: Flat Stanley Takes on the World

  1. I didn’t know there was a whole new series of Flat Stanley books! I read the original in the 70s and I adored Flat Stanley, and my kids did too. We never had to take a Stanley with us anywhere, but I know other kids are given that assignment. And Mount Rushmore is on my bucket list!

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