Sara Pennypacker

The first day of a new school year has arrived, and eight-year-old Stuart is already a bundle of nerves. He is a natural worrier, and his brain is working overtime. What if he accidentally gets locked inside the boys' bathroom? What if he cannot find anything good to share during show and tell? Worst of all, his mother is making him wear green plaid pants and a shirt covered in tiny cowboys. Stuart knows that on a high-stakes day where you have to make new friends, the only thing he truly needs to wear is his magical cape. Made from a bunch of his uncle's old ties, this special cape might just be the secret weapon he needs to survive the third grade. You will instantly connect with Stuart as he tries to navigate the scary but exciting halls of his new school. This hilarious chapter book perfectly captures those first-day jitters. Discover how a little bit of magic, a lot of imagination, and learning to face your fears can turn a worried kid into an everyday superhero.

Eight-year-old Stuart has just moved to a brand new town, and he is a complete bundle of nerves. He is worried about his strange new house, stressed about starting at a new school, and incredibly bored because he does not have any friends yet. To make matters worse, his favorite collection of Valuable Things vanished during the move. Stuart realizes that what he desperately needs is a real adventure. And everyone knows that to have a proper adventure, you absolutely must have a cape! Using a bunch of his uncle's old, colorful neckties, Stuart creates a magical cape of his very own. Suddenly, his boring new bedroom becomes the center of wild, unbelievable action. You will be thrilled to see what happens when Stuart ties on his handmade cape. This inventive and highly entertaining chapter book proves that a little imagination goes a long way. Join Stuart as he bravely entertains a gorilla, a wild horse, and even a dinosaur right inside his own house!