Sara Stanley author page

Sara Stanley biography

Sara Stanley is a UK children’s author and early years education consultant specialising in philosophical play and story-based enquiry. A long-standing trainer and keynote speaker, she has worked with schools and cultural organisations in the UK and internationally, developing “storyworlds” that use picture books and children’s own storytelling to spark discussion and critical thinking.

Stanley holds a BEd (Hons) from Homerton College, Cambridge (1997), where she specialised in drama and children’s literature, and later completed an MEd at Homerton with distinction (2018–2020). Her classroom practice has focused on enquiry-led role play and dialogic learning with the youngest pupils, and she has trained teachers through SAPERE’s Philosophy for Children programmes.

Her professional guides include Why Think?: Philosophical Play from 3–11 (Continuum/Bloomsbury) and Pocket PAL: Creating Enquiring Minds. She also created the “But Why?” resources that use classic stories to introduce philosophical questions in early years settings, with titles such as Pinocchio: The Cricket’s Tale and Jack and the Beanstalk, alongside teacher packs linked to picture-book favourites including Rosie’s Walk, Funnybones and Burglar Bill. Her children’s writing includes the picture book One Button and the Sea.

Beyond school projects, Stanley has contributed to initiatives supporting displaced families and has shared practice through articles, workshops and consultancy. Her work highlights the role of high-quality picture books, structured talk and play in building confident, enquiring young learners.

Selected works: Why Think?: Philosophical Play from 3–11; Pocket PAL: Creating Enquiring Minds; Pinocchio: The Cricket’s Tale; Jack and the Beanstalk; Burglar Bill Teacher Resource; One Button and the Sea.