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Ten year old Stanley was tired of listening to all of his parents’ warnings!

None of them ever seemed to come true! His face never froze, he never broke his head from jumping on the bed,and in spite of throwing away his vegetables when his mom wasn’t looking, he grew 3 inches taller! Boy, his parents sure didn’t know what they were talking about! Stanley decided that his parents were always wrong and that he was going to do as he pleased.

Then, after a hilarious series of misfortunes, Stanley learns that his mom and dad are usually right after all. A cleverly rhyming tale introducing Stanley, his friends and family, and the importance of trusting your parents.

Ten year old Stanley was tired of listening to all of his parents’ warnings!

None of them ever seemed to come true! His face never froze, he never broke his head from jumping on the bed,and in spite of throwing away his vegetables when his mom wasn’t looking, he grew 3 inches taller! Boy, his parents sure didn’t know what they were talking about! Stanley decided that his parents were always wrong and that he was going to do as he pleased.

Then, after a hilarious series of misfortunes, Stanley learns that his mom and dad are usually right after all. A cleverly rhyming tale introducing Stanley, his friends and family, and the importance of trusting your parents.

Stanley’s got some lessons to learn, and parents who just want to keep him safe. In a light-hearted, entertaining format this beautifully illustrated book for the elementary school set will make you and your kids chuckle with recognition. It gives new meaning to the phrase “because I said so!”

-- Dr. Judi Bloom Psychotherapist, TV/radio personality, Parent of 2 great kids who listened to their Mom!

This is a smart, quirky, very original and fun book! Kids and parents will have a great time reading and discussing the central question that Stanley asks — that essential and eternal question asked in allfamily homes—Who is right, parents or kids? I heartily recommend this first book in the Stanley! series and am looking forward to more of Stanley’s revelations in upcoming titles! -- Etan Boritzer Author, What Is? series of children’s books

Whether you’re a kid or a parent, you will recognize the generational baton of wisdom that gets passed down through families in the first story of this clever series. When Stanley questions the logic of hisparents’ advice, his own logic leaves us questioning his parents, too! Stanley! is sure to leave you laughing and musing about your family’s pearls of wisdom.

-- Jena Collins Ventura County Literacy Advocate

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Copyright 2010 by Lauren Alexander Schmitt

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by anymeans, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwisewithout the written permission of the publisher.

Email: whitejackalopepub@gmail.com2440 Fitzgerald Road, Simi Valley Ca 93065 USATel. 805 791-0080

Alexander-Schmitt, Lauren, 1961Schmitt, Justine, 1999Stanley Other kids are starvingin Japan by Lauren Alexander Schmitt,Justine Leah SchmittIllustrated by Jeff Vernon - 1st Edition

SUMMARY: A mischievous boy refuses to listen to his parents’ admonishments, only to realize the hard way that while their cliche’s are not 100% accurate, they are usually right.Audience: Grades 1-6

ISBN: 978-0-9834380-0-7 (HB)ISBN: 978-0-9834380-1-4 (Pbk)

Special Thanks to Steven D. Koehler, and Shelly Hill, MD, for their everlasting support.

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With Gratitude for my late Mother, Marsha Alexander for passing the torch:For My Sister, Kim Priebe for her tireless support,

and finally, to Dr. Shelly Hill for the red pencil and the nudge....

My mashed potatoes rose WAY up highThey seemed to grow right to the skyMy mom, she said, “you eat them Stan

Other kids are starving in Japan!”

My teacher - whose opinion was quite another,sighed, “Stanley I won’t argue with

your mother, but the starving kids are in Haiti, Sudan and Iraq.”I guess poor Mom just wasn’t on track.

The rain came down, the day was lost.I waggled my tongue, my eyes were crossed.

My parents frowned and turned to say,“Don’t make that face, it’ll freeze that way”.

The joker on the TV screenMade the silliest faces ever seen,

but after all was said and donehis face remained the exact same one.

What did my parents say that for?I’d keep making faces forever more!

The principal called and WAS she mad!I could hear her on the phone to Dad!

I knew I was in great big troublewhen Dad yelled, “STANLEY GET DOWN HERE ON THE DOUBLE!

WHY ON EARTH WOULD YOU GET A TATOO?”“Well...” I sputtered “Bradley got one tool!”

Dad yelled, “If Bradley jumped off a cliff - would you?”

I washed my arm with the garden hose.The tatoo disappeared, the name and the rose.

That Bradley he did many things - He rang doorbells and stood on swings.I never went along with all that he did.My dad was wrong - I was a good kid!

I was jumping on my bed.Dad said that I’d crack my head.Mom cried with an angry shout,

“IT’S ALL FUN AND GAMES ‘TILL YOU POKE YOUR EYE OUT!”

As they walked away down the hallI continued to jump - didn’t even bump the wall.

Then when I finished it wasn’t trueMy eyes were still there and even still blue!

The drive to the theme park felt like years.The baby’s whining hurt my ears.

“Are we there yet?” I sighed again.Mom said, “You’re acting two instead of ten!

You kiids are being very spoiled - A watched pot has never boiled.”

When we got home it was very late.As my parents went to bed, I stood in wait.

I snuck to the kitchen and found a large pot.I filled it with water and watched it turn hot.

So again my mom was wrong,The pot was boiling good and strong.

YUCK! - broccoli - spinach too!Mom says to eat it - “it’s good for you”

“But I HATE it - I TOLD you so.”“Well then,”, mom said, “you’ll never grow.”

I trashed my veggies while she read her book.

That month I grew one inch, the next another:so much for listening to my mother.

What’s with my parents, they’re always wrong!Without them I can grow big and strong!

They’re too cautious - they’re on the brink!I can take care of myself don’t you think?

My school bus rumbled right on bywithout meon it I started to cry

Mom had warned me, “Don’t be late”Your bus always leaves at quarter to eight.”

I forgot my lunch and had nothing to eat.Those yucky mashed potatoes now seemed like a treat.

Those veggies wouldn’t have been so bad.I should have listened to mom and dad.

I was bored and just my luck,when I rolled my eyes, my lids got stuck.

Getting them unstuck was a chore.I don’t know what I did that for.

Making faces is really bad,Next time I’ll listen to mom and dad.

I got home late and walked into the house.It was empty - quiet as a mouse.

Mom must have been out searching for me.The house was all mine, I’d have fun - YIPPEE!

Bradley came by and asked, “What should we do?”I said, “maybe we should make another tattoo!”

We got busy with markers I found in the drawer.Bradley had food coloring fresh from the store.

Those tattoss wouldn’t come off - what a mess!I should have listened to my parents I guess.

Next thing we did was we jumped on the bed.I jumped higher and higher - then fell on my head!

My folks finding out just filled me with dread.

I should have listened to what mom had said.

OK - I’ll admit it my parents are bright.The things they came up with are usually right.

The times that they scold me are for my own good.They do it because every good parent should.

I’m going to listen as much as I can and hey - maybe kids ARE starving in Japan!

Lauren (Mom) and 12 year old Justine Schmitt share a unique bond that reaches beyond a mother-daughter relationship. The two of them are literary “partners in crime”, having created the ‘Stanley’ character together. “Stanley Other Kids Are Starving in Japan’ is the first of a ten part “Stanley” series. It is their first book.

Jeff Vernon is a graphic designer and illustratorliving in South Pasadena, CA. He has worked for numerous well-known ad agencies and designstudios creating innovative artwork and layouts. He has also illustrated promotional art for movies and television, acted in film and on stage, as well as create two musical children’s books. Stanley Other Children Are Starving in Japan! is Jeff’s first collabo-ration with Lauren and Justine.