CASSANDRA CAUTIUS, 35

School Rules! (2020)

Almost 30 years ago, Robert Munsch asked Cassandra Cautius what made her interesting. Her answer led to the story that became School Rules!, a book about a girl who happily stays in her classroom after the bell rings and the lights go out so she can keep reading and playing and learning.

WHEN I WAS IN GRADE 2 IN 1993, my aunt and uncle were Robert Munsch’s neighbours in Guelph. They knew I was a big reader and that I loved all of his books, so they arranged for Bob to surprise me when I went to visit them. We posed for a photo together in the foyer of my aunt’s house and he gave me an autograph. I was wearing one of those dorky outfits that my parents clearly dressed me in.

During our meet-and-greet, he asked me, “What is the most interesting thing about you?” It’s a pretty big question for a seven-year-old. I said that I loved school. Most kids don’t feel that way, so I decided that was what made me interesting. Soon after I met him, he wrote a transcript of School Rules! I guess he gave it to my aunt, who gave it to me.

I heard from Scholastic in 2019, when I was pregnant with my daughter, Annie. They emailed to say the story he wrote for me many years ago was going to be published in a book. It was scheduled to come out around Christmas, which was when my daughter was due. It felt like a birthday gift to her. It was overwhelming. I had met him a generation ago, and now the story was going to be published just in time for my own daughter to be born. I’ll get to flip through the pages and point out Mama and Oma. My daughter’s aunt, my sister, is the little blond baby in the book. When the book was published, Bob autographed a copy for me. He wrote “To Annie.”

‘Munsch asked me, “What is the most interesting thing about you?” It’s a pretty big question for a sevenyear-old. I said that I loved school.’