Frank’n'Stan

Frank is an only child and he is growing tired of his mother's continuous "We'll see" reply to his plea for a brother or sister. So he decides to take matters into his own hands and builds himself a brother, in the shape of a large Robot called Stan. Stan soon settles in and finds his own place within the family. Frank and Stan do everything together, but things change when a new, and real, baby arrives at the house. Where does Stan fit in now?

Frank'n'Stan, with its realistic and immensely detailed artwork, is a wonderful tale which will appeal to a wide variety of young readers, and will be particularly engaging for boys, whether they are budding inventors, adventurers or just after a good story.
The text and illustrations work wonderfully in unison, with the artwork complementing the text: observant young readers will delight in noticing the physical changes in the mother, realising before Frank that something is afoot and that with his unsteady feet and his leaking parts, Stan is not so unlike a baby after all. Adult readers, and slightly older children, will relish in the references to Mary Shelley and her famous creature.

This is an excellent tale about feeling lonely, but also finding one's place within the world. Stan is different and feels like an outsider within the family, despite being accepted as one of its members. The treacherous journey Frank undertakes to save his friend serves as a metaphor that one should work hard at friendship and always make sure people know that you care about them.

Frank’n’Stan will appeal to young readers aged 5-7, but the graphic novel type artwork will extend its readership well beyond that.