About the Author

Sara Pennypacker is a bestselling author whose title include the Clementine series (Clementine, The Talented Clementine, and Clementine's Letter), the Stuart series (Stuart's Cape and Stuart Goes to School), and the picture books Pierre in Love and Sparrow Girl. Sara lives on Cape Cod, in Massachusetts.
Martin Matje illustrated many books for children, including Harry and Lulu, Wallace Hoskins, The Boy Who Grew Down, Celeste: A Day in the Park, The Ink Drinker, and Do You Believe in Ghosts.

Reviews

The worrywart hero of Stuart's Cape faces his first day of classes in a new town in Stuart Goes to School by Sara Pennypacker, illus. by Martin Matje. What if Stuart forgets everything he learned in second grade? What if he can't find the bathroom? Luckily, Stuart's magic cape, made out of 100 ties stapled together, will help him out again in this wryly funny mix of the real and the magical, enhanced by Matje's quirky line art. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Gr 2-4-A sequel to Stuart's Cape (Orchard, 2002), this humorous fantasy perfectly captures the child's-eye view of elementary-school life. Stuart, who is "excellent at worrying," finds plenty to agonize over as he starts third grade at a new school. What if he gets stuck in the bathroom or throws up? Why does he have to wear his father's ugly cowboy shirt and green plaid pants? His only consolation is his magical cape. When he wears it, unexpected adventures happen. To impress his classmates, the boy decides to try controlling the cape's arcane powers. He wishes for the hideous hand-me-down outfit to disappear but suddenly finds himself standing in his underwear. Stuart is convinced that he will be the laughingstock of the third grade forever. The expressive cartoon drawings often become part of the text design. Young readers are sure to identify with Stuart's persistent quest to find his place in the classroom society.-Elaine E. Knight, Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.