Stick Man

Stick Man by Julia Donaldson
Illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Published by Arthru A. Levine Books
2008

Stick Man lives in the family tree

With his Stick Lady Love and their stick children three.

     One day, Stick Man decides to go for a jog and a dog catches him.  He carries Stick Man all the way back to his owner who uses him to play fetch over and over.

I'm no a stick! Why can't you see,

I'm Stick Man, I'm Stick Man,

I'm STICK MAN, that's me,

And I want to go home to the family tree!

     Unfortunately nobody seems to hear Stick Man's cries, and through a series of misfortunes he gets pass around. He's thrown into a river, becomes part of swan's nest, a flag pole of a sand castle, a sword for play fights, a hook for a bag, a pen, a bow, a bat, a boomerang, a snowman arm.

Stick Man is lonely, Stick Man is lost.

Stick Man is frozen and covered in frost.

Stick Man is weary. His eyes start to close.

He stretches and yawns and lies down for a doze.

     In his slumber, Stick Man doesn't realize he's been picked up as kindling. As he lays in the chimney he's awaken by Santa who's gotten stuck. Stick Man saves the day and joins Santa on his sleigh all the way back to his family tree.

     If you've followed this blog for a while, you'll know by now that we're big fans of Donaldson. I'm not easy to please when it comes to rhyming books, but Donaldson makes the rhymes flow with such ease, they just sound musical and never, ever, forced.  Scheffler's illustrations are always a treat. Stick Man is a fantastic read aloud, sure to please and entertain readers of all ages.  Great story, great pacing, smooth rhymes. What else can you want of a Holiday story?