Somebody Swallowed Stanley: questions to ask and activities to try
The sea creatures think Stanley is a jellyfish, but he's a plastic bag. Somebody Swallowed Stanley is a funny, powerful picture book about plastic pollution.
What age is it for? Somebody Swallowed Stanley is best for ages 3–6. Good for: Plastic pollution in the ocean.
Somebody Swallowed Stanley (Sarah Roberts and Hannah Peck)
- Age
- 3-6
- Best for
- Plastic pollution in the ocean
Read it and talk about why animals mistake plastic for food. Then make a plan to use fewer plastic bags.
What it helps with
- Plastic pollution
- Ocean animals
- Recycling and reusing
- Small actions that help
Comprehension and discussion questions
Pick two or three, not all of them. “I don’t know” is a fine answer, and you can always come back to it another day.
- “Who is Stanley?”
- “Which animals swallowed him?”
- “Why did they think he was food?”
- “What happened to them?”
- “Where did Stanley end up?”
- “How can we use less plastic?”
5-minute activities to try together
Plastic count
Count the plastic bags in your house and find a way to reuse them.
Beach clean
Next time you're by water, pick up any litter you see.
Free printables: Somebody Swallowed Stanley worksheet and activity pack
This book’s one-page worksheet with the questions and activities above, plus our activity pack: printable scenario cards, three 5-minute activities and a “What could I try?” page for practising everyday skills together. Enter your email and download them straight away.
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If your child liked this, try
Dinosaurs and All That Rubbish (Michael Foreman)
- Best for
- Pollution, rubbish and caring for the planet
- Age
- 4-8
Surprising Sharks (Nicola Davies and James Croft)
- Best for
- Real facts about sharks, and looking past first impressions
- Age
- 4-8
Under the Ocean (Anouck Boisrobert and Louis Rigaud)
- Best for
- A pop-up journey around the world's oceans
- Age
- 3-7
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By the Growing Wise team · Last reviewed: 10 October 2026
Growing Wise offers educational ideas for parents and carers. It is not a substitute for professional medical, developmental or mental-health advice. As an Amazon Associate, Growing Wise earns from qualifying purchases.