Niagara Falls, or Does it? Zipzer writes stories on “does not live up to potential”
Written by Steven R. McEvoy on May 30, 2009 – 12:51 pmHank Zipzer Books Great Source for Stories on Dyslexia
May 30, 2009 (Catholic Education, Catholic schools)
By Steve McEvoy
Niagara Falls, or Does it?
Hank Zipzer Book1
Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver
Penguin Canada
ISBN 9780448431628
I read the first six books in this series back in 2004 and was completely blown away by them. Having a dual form of dyslexia, reading these books was like a flashback to childhood and my own early school struggles. Henry Winkler in an interview talks about his own struggles with dyslexia. The books tout Hank as the world’s best underachiever. These books capture the essence of struggling with a 
learning disability. Almost all my report cards up to high school say “does not live up to potential” or “marks do not reflect ability”. It was always hard, being considered dumb, or having to leave class for special education. That is what happens in this book.
Hank must write a report on his summer vacation, yet he lacks the skills to do this in the required way, so he comes up with the creative solution of building a model of Niagara Falls and showing his class his vacation. Yet like so many other good intentions this too goes awry, and Hank once again ends up in trouble at school and at home.
These books are great for anyone who struggles with a learning disability to know that they are not alone. It is also good for parents of such a person so they can understand better. Or for educators who in this day and age are dealing with more and more students with diagnosed learning disabilities. Or just an awesome book to read with some younger people in your life.
Hank Zipzer Books:
1. Niagara Falls, or Does It?
2. I Got a “D” in Salami
3. Day of the Iguana
4. My Secret Life as a Ping-Pong Wizard
5. The Night I Flunked My Field Trip
6. Holy Enchilada!
7. Help! Somebody Get me out of Fourth Grade!
8. Summer School? What Genius thought That Up?
9. Zippety Zinger
10. My Dog’s a Scaredy-Cat: A Halloween Tail
11. The Curtain Went Up, My Pants Went Down
12. Barfing in the Backseat: How I Survived My Family Road Trip
13. Who Ordered This Baby? Definitely Not Me!
14. Life of Me
15. A Tail of Two Tails
Steven McEvoy works fulltime as an IT professional, but his passion is learning. As a result he is part time mature student at St. Jerome’s University at the University of Waterloo, in Waterloo Ontario in the Religious Studies Program.
His personal blog is http://bookreviewsandmore.ca/ This review was first posted on October 16, 2005.
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