Stick Man
Each new character mistakes Stick Man for an object—a fetch stick, flag mast, sword, hook or firewood—while his repeated self-description keeps his identity and family goal visible. The changing seasons give the accidental journey a clear duration before Santa provides the route home.
Stick Man by Julia Donaldson is estimated to take about 9 minutes to read aloud (731 words, 3 sentences a spread). Best for ages 3-6.
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- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 9 minutesEstimated read-aloud time
- Words
- 731Word count
- Sentences per spread
- 3Text density
- Re-read tolerance
- 4/5repeat friendly
- Vocabulary level
- 3/5a few new words
- Best for
- Ages 3-6Age range
Our review
Stick Man is repeatedly classified by use instead of identity: dog toy, flag mast, sword, hook and finally firewood. His recurring declaration about his family tree keeps the homeward goal intact while the settings and seasons change around him. Santa's arrival is therefore both a Christmas turn and the first transport that follows Stick Man's own destination.
The Snail and the Whale is the useful alternative for a journey chosen by its small protagonist and completed through a rescue plan. Stick Man's journey is forced, and most of the book sustains separation from his family. The fireplace sequence also makes the danger more immediate than the cheerful rhyme alone suggests.
Before you buy it
Separation from his family occupies most of the story, and the final mistaken use puts him beside a lit fireplace. The Snail and the Whale is a better counterpart when the desired journey is chosen rather than imposed.
Themes
- family
- seasons
- christmas
- rhyme
Books like Stick Man
More books with similar themes, formats, lengths and ways to join in.
The Gruffaloabout 8.5 minutes estimated · book review
Room on the Broomabout 10 minutes estimated · book review
Are You My Mother?about 8 minutes estimated · book review
The Little Engine That Couldabout 13 minutes estimated · book review
The Night Before Christmasabout 6.5 minutes estimated · book review
Lists Stick Man is on
- 20 booksBooks for 4 Year OldsThis shelf focuses on stories where the interesting work is noticing a reversal, following another viewpoint or connecting a picture with something the words leave unstated.
- 8 booksBooks Like The GruffaloThe Gruffalo combines rhyme, repeated encounters, threats and a trickster’s reversal.