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It is the first day of school for Stuart and he is quite nervous. Stuart has a little help to deal with his first say though. He owns a magical cape that he thinks will help him make new friends and have a great school year. Stuart and his cape do not end up making friends by using magic but, it does lead Stuart into having some pretty funny adventures.

This book would be a great read aloud book to do as a whole class. Students could pick out what is real and what is fantasy in the book. ( )

A good example of fantasy because Stuart finds himself in a tough situation, starting attendance at a new school, and finds that his cape causes magical things to occur. While much of the story could very well happen, involving the dilemma of how to make friends at a new school and trying to impress peers into friendship, it becomes fantasy when the cape causes one magical event to occur every day. He digs hundreds of holes and even has a hole that he can place on a wall and see through the wall. Another day, anything he draws becomes true, just as he drew it. This book portrays accurately the anxiety involved with making new friends and trying to gain acceptance in an unfamiliar place.

Media: pencil ( )