The present invention provides humanized antibodies that bind to IL13Rα2, an interleukin-13 receptor that is overexpressed by the majority of glioblastoma tumors and not expressed at significant levels in normal brain tissue. Also provided are bispecific T cell engagers that bind to both IL13Rα2 and to the T cell co-receptor CD3 as well as methods for treating cancer, in which these humanized antibodies are used to target tumors.