By Sue Meikle (author) , Denis Angelov (illustrator)
"A funny story with lots to discuss with young readers"
Paperback In Stock £7.99 £7.19
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July 2026 Debut of the Month
Written by Early Years expert Sue Meikle, there’s an instantly recognisable premise at the heart of this laugh-out-loud picture book: a small child who just can’t stop saying, “No!”.
Adults and children alike will recognise young Stanley who is having one of those days. He won’t stop ringing the bell on the bus, he won’t hold onto his mum’s hand, he won’t even look at the dinosaurs in the museum, he just shouts, “No!” when asked. Finally though, he meets someone else who won’t do as they’re asked, a huge purple monster who eats him.
Luckily for Stanley the monster coughs him up again and, after Stanley has reasserted his control and got the monster to help him clear up, his equilibrium is restored and he finds he can say “Yes” to something after all.
With shades of Not Now, Bernard , it’s a story that develops out of behaviour and feelings familiar to all little children and those that live with them. It provides lots to discuss and explore within the confines of a fun, reassuring story. One to recommend to fans of Tom Percival’s Big Bright Feelings series.
A laugh-out-loud story about the perils of always saying 'no', brings together a brilliant new picture book duo, Sue Meikle and Denis Angelov.
Read the full description
Stanley is a boy who loves to say 'NO!' And once he starts, he just can't stop. He doesn't want to sit sensibly on the bus. . . He doesn't want to hold his mum's hand. . . And 'NO!', he doesn't want to wait in line! But one day on a trip to a museum, Stanley discovers that saying no can have monstrous consequences. Can Stanley find his way out of a sticky situation, or will he bite off more than he can chew?
Sue Meikle has always been obsessed with picture books, and after working as an Early Years Specialist for over 25 years, she has read stories to children from Stockport to South Africa. In schools, in early years centres, while on forest school adventures... Sue has even read stories on a travelling play bus! So, perhaps it was always in the stars for Sue to not just read books, but write them, too! When she's not reading or writing stories, Sue can be found walking her dog or chauffeuring her teenagers around the Greater Manchester area (because that's where they live… in a home that they made from a derelict barn!)
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A laugh-out-loud story about the perils of always saying 'no', brings together a brilliant new picture book duo, Sue Meikle and Denis Angelov. Stanley is a boy who loves to say 'NO!' And once he starts, he just can't stop.He doesn't want to sit sensibly on the bus. . .
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Stanley Said No! and determined it is suitable for children aged 3-4 years old
Stanley Said No! features in the following genres: Featured Books for 3+ readers, Debuts of the Month, Recommendations, Adventure Stories, Stories about Family and Friends, Funny, Children’s picture books, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Children’s: picture books, activity books, early learning concepts
Paperback. £7.19, down from the £7.99 cover price. In Stock.
Stanley Said No! was written by Sue Meikle and published by Ladybird Books an imprint of Penguin Random House Children's UK
Stanley Said No! has 32 pages
£7.19, reduced from £7.99. In Stock.
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