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Summary
Summary
Inspired by the true life experiences of Henry Winkler, whose undiagnosed dyslexia made him a classic childhood underachiever, the Hank Zipzer series is about the high-spirited and funny adventures of a boy with learning differences.
It's science project time in Ms. Adolf's class. This is good news and bad news for Hank-he loves science, but he hates the report part. So Hank turns to TV to take his mind off things. But when the program directory scrolls by too quickly for Hank to know what's on, he decides to take apart the cable box to try to slow down the crawl. Great! Now Hank has found the perfect science project! But what he wasn't counting on was his sister's pet iguana laying eighteen eggs in the disassembled cable box. How is Hank going to get out of this one?
Illustrated by Carol Heyer.
Author Notes
Born in Manhattan, NY in 1945, Henry Winkler rose to fame as television's "The Fonz" on the 1970's sitcom, Happy Days. In 1970, Winkler graduated from the Yale School of Drama and went on to act in various commercials before being cast as Arthur Fonzarelli. After Happy Days, Winkler went on to produce and direct various television shows, as well as continue acting in co-starring roles in movies such as "Scream" and "The Waterboy". Along with his acting and directing career, Henry Winkler is a children's advocate who helped to found the Children's Action Network which helps to provide immunization to children at no charge. He is also involved with several other children's charities and began writing the Hank Zipzer series in 2003 which centers around an adventurous boy with dyslexia.
Reviews (5)
Publisher's Weekly Review
A new series-Hank Zipzer: The Mostly True Confessions of the World's Best Underachiever-starts off with a bang, thanks to these two misadventures of a fourth-grader with "learning challenges." Hank addresses readers directly with a deadpan voice. He lives in New York City with his crossword puzzle-addicted father, a mother who produces such dubious treats as vegetarian bologna at her deli ("Unfortunately for me, my lunch is her laboratory," says Hank), and his sister ("Emily the Perfect") and her pet iguana. When his teacher, Ms. Adolf, assigns a five-paragraph essay on what they did over the summer, Hank feels stymied until he decides to "build" his essay instead-a working model of Niagara Falls-and the plan backfires spectacularly. In the second book, Hank's report card (straight D's) winds up in the grinder for the soy salami that his mother hopes will attract the attention of the city's biggest supermarket chain. It's up to Hank to remedy the disaster. Both tales deftly blend comedy and pathos, and the exploration of Hank's academic struggles is never heavy-handed. The characters are well-drawn, from the endearingly hapless but determined Hank himself to a solid supporting cast that includes Hank's pals, his sympathetic grandfather and his arch-enemy, Nick McKelty (a bully with a head "the size of Rhode Island"). With snappy timing, pitch-perfect dialogue and a wise-cracking delivery, these two tales should attract an enthusiastic readership-not limited to, but certainly including, reluctant readers. Ages 8-12. (May) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book Review
Imaginative fourth-grader Hank Zipzer has trouble with schoolwork. Rather than write a report about his summer vacation, Hank creates a working model of Niagara Falls, which results in a slapstick classroom scene. In this superficial novel marred by stock characterizations and sitcom-style dialogue, a sympathetic teacher ultimately suggests that Hank's academic problems may stem from a learning disability. From HORN BOOK Fall 2003, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
Gr. 3^-5. Actor-director Winkler joins the growing list of celebrities writing children's books with this humorous novel, coauthored by Oliver. Fourth-grade underachiever Hank claims he wants to do the right thing, but somehow he always messes up. Take the assignment Hank's teacher doles out on the first day of school: write a five-paragraph essay, "What I did on my summer vacation." Since writing is hard for him, Hank does a visual presentation on his visit to Niagara Falls instead--and winds up flooding the classroom. Some of the characters are stereotypes, such as buffoonish Principal Love and Hank's overly strict teacher, Ms. Adolf, but others, including Hank, are believable and sympathetic. When the school's music teacher befriends Hank while supervising his detention, he begins to suspect that Hank has a learning problem and suggests that he be tested. At the end, Hank realistically relates his fears about what the test may reveal. Boys who struggle in school will especially appreciate the story, but this enjoyable, fast-paced novel will draw other children as well. --Lauren Peterson
School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-5-On the first day of fourth grade, Hank's teacher assigns a five-paragraph essay, "What I did on my summer vacation," and he knows he's in trouble. It has always been difficult for him to read, write, and spell so he decides to "build" his assignment instead-to "-bring Niagara Falls into the classroom, water and all." With the help of his friends, he creates a working model, complete with water pump, Saran-wrapped tubing, and a papier-mch mountain. Predictably, his "living essay" comes to an unfortunate end when a leak leads to a flood and chaos in the classroom. Hank's creativity is rewarded with two weeks' detention and grounding, but his friends are counting on his help for their upcoming magic show. Just when the boy's self-esteem is at its lowest, the new music teacher suspects that he has "learning differences" and suggests that he be tested. Eventually, the misunderstood protagonist convinces his parents to let him perform in the show, which is a big hit, largely thanks to Hank's ingenuity. Less dysfunctional and outrageous than Joey Pigza, Hank Zipzer is the kid next door. Humor, magic, a school bully, a pet dachshund named Cheerio, and a pet iguana that slurps soup at dinner add up to a fun novel with something for everyone.-Barbara Auerbach, New York City Public Schools (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
A clunky but well-meant series kickoff featuring, as the subtitle has it, "The World's Best Underachiever." Already in hot water for being tardy on his first day, Hank digs himself a deeper hole by presenting his "summer vacation" report not as a written essay (writing being torture for him), but a model of Niagara Falls--which proceeds to flood the classroom. He gets zero slack from teacher, Principal, or even his parents--until the music teacher with whom he spends his lengthy detention suggests that he be tested for "learning differences." Aha! Strongly assured that doesn't mean he's stupid, Hank shows his creative flair again at the end, by helping his multiethnic circle of friends put on a magic show for seniors. Thoroughly typecast characters, plus Hank's tendency to overexplain, make the earnestness outshine the plot. There's no actual note to parents, but there might as well be, as this is plainly meant to be a consciousness-raiser about learning disabilities for both children and adults. The celebrity co-author may draw some of the former. (Fiction. 9-11) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
