The Clever Stick is a quiet fable about a stick, who has always been clever and been able to think many wonderful thoughts. But the stick has one problem – he can’t speak. So he cannot share his thoughts with any of the forest creatures he meets.
In the tradition of A Froggy Fable, The Clever Stick follows the most unlikely of heroes on a journey of self-discovery, arriving at a place that will surprise and enchant readers of all ages. It is a story about creativity, about self-expression, and about finding your voice.
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Download a Clever Stick Classroom Guide
including activities and discussion questions
Purchase The Clever Stick from an independent bookseller.
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REVIEWS FOR THE CLEVER STICK:
“In this uplifting fable, a clever stick longs to express himself but, mute, can’t find a way to make his thoughts understood.”
– The Horn Book
“Our best gifts, Lechner seems to say, may not lie where we expect, but it is only in their pursuit that we find ourselves.”– Publisher’s Weekly
“Lechner keeps up the infectious good cheer even when it rains, for the happy stick now knows how to express himself.”
– Booklist
“I’m tempted to say that ‘The Clever Stick’ is a clever book, but it’s more than that. It’s insightful and inspirational as well, and it avoids the false echo of self-importance that so often crops up in books that deal with metaphor.”– Journal Inquirer
“A story about self expression, self discovery, finding your voice and making your mark. This is a story that speaks to children, encouraging and allowing them to experience free expression, enhance talents & gifts that will be mastered into adolescence and adulthood.”– Examiner
Illustration from The Clever Stick, ©2009 by John Lechner
TESTIMONIALS FROM TEACHERS:
“I read The Clever Stick as part of a unit related to nature. The other great thing about the book is that our school supports children with autism spectrum disorders, and reading and discussing The Clever Stick was a great opportunity for the children to connect to the many ways that people communicate. It also helped them understand how difficult it is for those who have a hard time communicating. So thanks for the great book!”
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“I’m in the Masters program for Speech Language Pathology at UW-Madison, and wanted to tell you how special I think The Clever Stick is. [...] its message of joyful self-expression by atypical means is very powerful to one who works with those who struggle to communicate in a typically-functioning world.”
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Inspired by how The Clever Stick finds his own talent, one elementary classroom drew pictures of their own talents, including art, making desserts, and skateboarding.
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