Jeff Brown, 77; Author Created ‘Flat Stanley’ Series for Children

Jeff Brown, 77, author and creator of the children’s book series “Flat Stanley,” died Wednesday of a heart attack in New York City, according to his publisher, HarperCollins Children’s Books.

In 1964, Brown created the character Flat Stanley -- a boy with a thin, flat body -- inspired by a bedtime conversation with his sons, J.C. and Tony. “Flat Stanley” books have been published in many languages, including French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese and Hebrew.

“Flat Stanley” also has become a literacy and communications Web site project for children in schools all over the world. Children make their own paper “Flat Stanleys,” write a journal about the character’s adventures and then send them to others. Dale Hubert, a Canadian teacher, created and manages the project.

Brown was born and raised in New York City. As an actor in his teens, he performed on radio and in several Broadway shows. He was a graduate of the Professional Children’s School, and moved to Hollywood, where he became an associate of independent producer Samuel Goldwyn Jr., and later a story consultant for Pennebaker Productions, actor Marlon Brando’s company at Paramount.

He returned to New York, where he served on the editorial staffs of the New Yorker, Life, the Saturday Evening Post and Esquire.