To do stage 2 without losing a life you push the block ALMOST all the way in then jump up to the big block. Keep jumping and the block falls leading to the acorn, this can be done in at least 12 secs or if you want to kill your devoted little one push the small block all the way in, easy!
Re. for hero when you fling the plant click the toad then the 5 eyed monster comes, to defeat him fling something sharp near the toad, then when you enter the cave with Liam first get the K.Oed beaver and fill him with the honey then walk up to the "all knowing parasite" when the scavanger gets the beaver walk up to the cactus the go back to the cave's mouth to pick up the firery bug, then chuck it at the scavanger. The bird will drop the beaver then you can safely (well not perfectly safe) drop the beaver on the cliff's edge, misson solved!
To get Hero ranking first shake the plant at the bottom of the screen then fling the plant into the cave's mouth, for coward, lucky ranking just click the giant toad to hide inside