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The Amazing World of Stuart #1
Stuart's Cape
Stuart's got problems...It's raining. He's bored. And worst of all, he's new in town. So he's got a lot to worry about. But what does a kid like Stuart need in order to have an adventure?
A cape, of course.
A cape, of course.
Audio CD
First published January 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
January 9, 2022
So I've been reading more kids' books this year, for a couple reasons: I like to discover good books for my friends' kids; 2020 is awful and these books help me through; and also, kids' books are fun to read in general, no matter how old I am.
Stuart's Cape is one of those extra special treasures that make everything better for a little while. Stuart is worried about life, and his family is not very attentive to his troubles. But his wonderful imagination and heart save the day in the most hilarious and unexpected ways.
Sara Pennypacker has a real knack for telling a story just right. She conjures up some truly astounding and amusing situations. All the while it's obvious that she's not making fun of her protagonist, or talking down to her readers. I especially enjoyed the running gags that always pop up at the best possible moment.
Update: This book was a BIG hit with various kids I gave it to (ages 3, 5, and 6).
Stuart's Cape is one of those extra special treasures that make everything better for a little while. Stuart is worried about life, and his family is not very attentive to his troubles. But his wonderful imagination and heart save the day in the most hilarious and unexpected ways.
Sara Pennypacker has a real knack for telling a story just right. She conjures up some truly astounding and amusing situations. All the while it's obvious that she's not making fun of her protagonist, or talking down to her readers. I especially enjoyed the running gags that always pop up at the best possible moment.
Update: This book was a BIG hit with various kids I gave it to (ages 3, 5, and 6).
December 14, 2008
The Stuart books are funny and imaginative, but have a wonderful understated tone. Wish there were more of them.
April 30, 2018
Stuart’s Cape
Author: Sara Pennypacker
Illustrator: Martin Matje
Publisher: Scholastic
Copyright: 2002
Number of pages: 56
Genre: Fiction
Grade(s): 2-3
Lexile level: 500
Guided Reading level: L
Summary: Stuart is facing every child’s nightmare. He just moved to a new school, he is bored and of course it’s raining outside. He fears that he will not make new friends at school and no one is going to like him. Everything from his old house got picked up by a garbage truck on accident; so, he decides to make a cape. Stuart is under the impression he cannot have his much-needed adventure without a cape. Through humor and fantastic figurative language the young reader is taken on an adventure with Stuart and his cape.
Teaching Ideas: Stuart’s Cape is an excellent book to use when introducing figurative language (similes and metaphors). For a teaching idea, I would go over the different forms of figurative language and then have the students pick them out as we read the text together. In addition to hunting for the figurative language, also discuss what the author is trying to convey through the figurative language (R.4.4).
Author: Sara Pennypacker
Illustrator: Martin Matje
Publisher: Scholastic
Copyright: 2002
Number of pages: 56
Genre: Fiction
Grade(s): 2-3
Lexile level: 500
Guided Reading level: L
Summary: Stuart is facing every child’s nightmare. He just moved to a new school, he is bored and of course it’s raining outside. He fears that he will not make new friends at school and no one is going to like him. Everything from his old house got picked up by a garbage truck on accident; so, he decides to make a cape. Stuart is under the impression he cannot have his much-needed adventure without a cape. Through humor and fantastic figurative language the young reader is taken on an adventure with Stuart and his cape.
Teaching Ideas: Stuart’s Cape is an excellent book to use when introducing figurative language (similes and metaphors). For a teaching idea, I would go over the different forms of figurative language and then have the students pick them out as we read the text together. In addition to hunting for the figurative language, also discuss what the author is trying to convey through the figurative language (R.4.4).
December 30, 2020
A tribute to the power of imagination and to upcycling, and an inspiration to worrywarts. Might be great for creative types and some fretful children. But, for me, it's not helpful, as my imagination only serves to make my worries less manageable, and does not help me have adventures. If you & yours read this for fun, super, it's funny... but don't expect a biblio-therapeutic effect.
Also, I don't know how motivated I am to continue the series. So, sorry, not quite four stars.
Also, I don't know how motivated I am to continue the series. So, sorry, not quite four stars.
July 3, 2020
Absolute wonderful ridiculousness!
October 27, 2010
Hilarious and odd. Stuart moved to a new house and is going to start 3rd grade in a new school in a few days. He’s worried and bored. It occurs to him that only people with capes have adventures, so he staples together 100 old ties, adds a purple sock for a secret pocket, and proceeds to have several odd adventures, including flying (takes pound cake to bring him down), growing toast, and making a new friend (the trash man).
March 21, 2010
A really delightful little read, laugh out loud fare for young elementary kids, particularly boys. My only complaint is that it only took one night to read to my daughter (who also loved it), and I kinda wanted to spend more time with Stuart and his cape.
Sara Pennypacker is on my "Favorite Authors" list. Stuart's Cape reminded me why.
Sara Pennypacker is on my "Favorite Authors" list. Stuart's Cape reminded me why.
January 17, 2010
This book comes before Stuart Goes to School, which I read first. You probably should read this one first. I liked how Stuart told himself that whatever happened, he wouldn't act surprised. And he actually did that!
February 21, 2009
I could read Stuart books all day. I really think this is an overlooked gem for young middle grade readers!
June 4, 2013
My little guy who is 7 loves these books. He thinks Stuart is hilarious and creative. A great bedtime read in my opinion.
December 14, 2021
We adore the Clementine books, so we wanted to give this one by the same author a shot. I like that it’s also about an 8-year-old going into third grade. It was a cute and funny story, very imaginative, and also dealing a bit with worry, but my own 8-year-old wanted to know which parts were real and which were just Stuart’s imagination. ;) I think it would be better in a physical book so we could see the illustrations, and also because it’s rather short for an audiobook (less than 40 minutes). I would happily get this as a beginning chapter book for a second or third grader though!
March 25, 2017
Stuart is stranded at home on a rainy day without all his best stuff. Worse, he is in a new town where he will start at a new school in just a few days. What’s a bored boy to do? Make a cape! With his innovative cape, Stuart has all sorts of wacky adventures, from flying to growing toast, and he hardly has time to worry about his new school. Stuart’s imagination make this chapter book fun and funny for young readers, and Martin Matje’s black and white illustrations bring Stuart’s escapades to life.
April 5, 2020
This book is a little stranger than I remembered. Stuart has just moved to a new house - no friends- and all his good "stuff" got thrown out by mistake. School starts in two days, and while he's good at worrying, he's not good at waiting. He decides to make a cape, since that's how people have good adventure - by wearing a cape. He proceeds to have excellent adventures. I really liked it!
September 20, 2021
There’s nothing quite like a magic cape to turn a boring day into an adventure and transform first-day-of-school worries into a little bit of hope.
A delightful read for emerging chapter book readers.
A delightful read for emerging chapter book readers.
July 29, 2023
Agree with @LagoBond's review.
I've been reading children's books because I'm a children's book author myself. Sara Pennpacker is a gifted writer and this book is entertaining and quirky. The illustrations are great, too! This will be my go-to gift for all nieces and nephews this Christmas.
I've been reading children's books because I'm a children's book author myself. Sara Pennpacker is a gifted writer and this book is entertaining and quirky. The illustrations are great, too! This will be my go-to gift for all nieces and nephews this Christmas.
October 6, 2017
I read this with my 9-year-old and it kept her entertained, and lately that’s a high bar. I love Pennypacker’s sense of humor but Clementine is still my favorite.
May 30, 2018
Fun, quirky little book.
April 24, 2019
A clever and very funny story. I love Stuart. And his cape!
May 4, 2019
Stuart moves to a new town and worries a lot. He makes a cape and life is more interesting. His parents seem very disinterested in Stuart. Funny, imaginative and great illustrations.
September 11, 2019
A great transition from picture books to chapter books
August 13, 2023
I love the “Stuart books.
November 24, 2024
We should teach children not to worry. This book promotes too much of it. Teach children how to deal with life so they don’t worry like Stuart. CathyR
December 31, 2025
Too silly for my taste.
Not really anything to recommend.
Not really anything to recommend.
October 3, 2018
Genre: Fiction/Fantasy
Copyright Date: 2002
This book is all about using your imagination. This would be a good book for those who like to live in their own made up world.
Copyright Date: 2002
This book is all about using your imagination. This would be a good book for those who like to live in their own made up world.
February 23, 2017
Delightful, quirky, imaginative. Quick read.
September 13, 2007
The illustration on the cover pulled me into the book and The title caught my eye, "Stuart's Cape". I could only imagine what adventures Stuart would have with his cape.
This book was an easy read. The font and spacing are pleasing to the eye and the illustrations are zany. The author's tone reminds me of the narrator on the 1983 comedy movie "The Christmas Story". Stuart indeed has some fun and crazy adventures with his cape.
A lot of children have wonderful imaginations. They also are prone to worrying especially when it comes to moving, going to a new school and making friends. Stuart's Cape covers all these areas.
This book has enough similes to introduce childern to them. An extension of the book could be to introduce children to the concept of list making and checking off a list. Additionally, "junk" is raised to a higher level and students could brainstorm ideas in using junk as it ties in with recycling and protecting our earth. The story leads students to want to tie on a cape and join in on the fun. I definately am interested in reading more of Stuart's adventures.
This book was an easy read. The font and spacing are pleasing to the eye and the illustrations are zany. The author's tone reminds me of the narrator on the 1983 comedy movie "The Christmas Story". Stuart indeed has some fun and crazy adventures with his cape.
A lot of children have wonderful imaginations. They also are prone to worrying especially when it comes to moving, going to a new school and making friends. Stuart's Cape covers all these areas.
This book has enough similes to introduce childern to them. An extension of the book could be to introduce children to the concept of list making and checking off a list. Additionally, "junk" is raised to a higher level and students could brainstorm ideas in using junk as it ties in with recycling and protecting our earth. The story leads students to want to tie on a cape and join in on the fun. I definately am interested in reading more of Stuart's adventures.
January 14, 2015
This is a short early reader--just 55 pages--with funny, strange, what-kids-want illustrations on every page. It's a silly story about what every kid dreams of: Stuart makes a cape out of a bunch of ties and crazy cool things happen to him: a dinosaur, gorilla, and a horse show up on his doorstep to play with him; he can fly (he has to eat a heavy pound cake in order to come down...ha!); he grows his favorite food (toast) from the ground; he can have people/animals switch places.
In all, a fun read for kids. I can imagine kids who are just graduating to chapter books super happy to unravel the puzzle of a sentence and learn of another of Stuart's silly skills he now has because of his cape! My son Ben's kindergarten class listened to his teacher read this last week during rest time and he raved about it, so I thought I'd check it out so I could chuckle along with his jokes...
In all, a fun read for kids. I can imagine kids who are just graduating to chapter books super happy to unravel the puzzle of a sentence and learn of another of Stuart's silly skills he now has because of his cape! My son Ben's kindergarten class listened to his teacher read this last week during rest time and he raved about it, so I thought I'd check it out so I could chuckle along with his jokes...
February 16, 2014
Third-grader Stuart, his parents, and his Aunt Bubbles just moved to Punbury. Stuart's worrying is only matched by his imagination, and both are XXXL. What if there are man-eating spiders in his new closet? He worries about getting lost, finding new friends, not finding the school bathroom in time, or getting stuck once he's there. One rainy, boring day, Stuart finds a box of old ties. He staples them all together and makes a wondrous, magical cape which leads him from one adventure to another. A dinosaur, a horse, and a gorilla come to play. Stuart can't keep his feet on the ground as the cape flies him up into the sky. And, then, there's the toast seeds and the body switch between his cat and the garbage man.
September 3, 2019
I was mildly confused by this book. It is hard to tell if any of it is in reality, or if it is all make believe...including Aunt Bubbles. I'm sure my son will love it. It is a beginning reader. It is full of the worries of a third grader. I love when he has these worry thoughts, that the illustrations are black. It shows kids that these are not good thoughts. That is something we will discuss as my son reads!
July 1, 2019 Luisa: My favorite part was that Stuart thought that you could have an adventure with only a cape. But he learned that Aunt Bubbles had an adventure saving him from an adventure without a cape.
July 1, 2019 Luisa: My favorite part was that Stuart thought that you could have an adventure with only a cape. But he learned that Aunt Bubbles had an adventure saving him from an adventure without a cape.
July 30, 2011
Stuart is getting ready to start the third grade and is very nervous. Will he make any friends? He decides he needs a cape to make things better and makes one by stapling together his dad's ties (not recommended!). Stuart has several grand adventures and by the end of the book is all ready to start school. This is by the same author as the Clementine series. He's imaginative and uses his creativity wisely. This book has been re-released as "The Amazing World of Stuart." Recommended for 2nd-4th grade students.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews