In this excerpt from Flat Stanley’s Worldwide Adventures, the protagonist is mailed to Mexico to discover a secret cooking ingredient for his mother. Stanley, who became only half an inch thick after an accident, uses his unique physical form to play the role of a matador’s cape and later survives a perilous dive off a Mayan temple. Along the way, he encounters a famous bullfighter named Carmen del Junco and evades a group of villainous French chefs attempting to steal the recipe. After a dangerous trek through the jungle and an underwater cave, Stanley finally reaches the secluded home of La Abuela, the elderly guardian of the secret. The story emphasizes courage and self-acceptance, illustrating how Stanley’s flat body allows him to achieve things others cannot. These chapters showcase his transition from a boastful storyteller to a truly brave explorer who embraces his unusual situation.