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Henry Winkler and Hank Zipzer: Dyslexia in children's books
21 June 2010
Henry Winkler, or to the forty something generation, more affectionately known as 'the Fonz 'from the US sitcom 'Happy Days', is on a UK book promotional tour with his best selling children's books about a dyslexic schoolboy, Hank Zipzer. Henry Winkler has written 17 books on the schoolboy character Hank Zipzer, who struggles with reading. The books have been engaging children who would otherwise avoid reading at all costs because they are humorous and exceptionally entertaining. Hank Zipzer, brought up in a New York suburb, is the 'world's greatest underachiever' and represents Winkler's deep insight into the world of learning difficulties.
Some fascinating characters are consistently involved in the plots which follow the usual experiences of childhood: Nick the Tick McNelty is the class bully; Mr Rock, the favoured music teacher; Ms Adolf, the humourless class teacher; plus, an array of family members including Papa Pete (granddad) and his sister Emily who has a passion for reptiles and owns an iguana.
Henry Winkler only discovered he was dyslexic when his son Jed was diagnosed, and realised the reason he has avoided reading all of his life was because he had the same problem. He was in his thirties when he read his first book. His clear insight into the experience of education when you have been labelled dumb, prompted him to turn from not reading at all to a prolific author. His books have been produced in collaboration with the author Lin Oliver.
Greater understanding of dyslexia has encouraged greater awareness. Some of the difficulties experienced by suffers include: alphabet learning; word retrieval; generating rhymes and counting syllables; hearing sounds in letters and words; association of words with correct meaning; confusion in word combinations; and language organisational skills. These difficulties are often manifesting in reading, spelling, writing and motor skills. Although no one specific type of dyslexia disorder exists, a test has been developed to aid diagnosis, but diagnosis is certainly not linked to any impairment in intellectual ability and often people with dyslexia are capable of high achievement.
This increased awareness has encouraged the presence of dyslexia to be depicted in the arts and more specifically in children's fiction. Jacqueline Wilson's Bad Girls series has a couple of appearances of Tanya, the main character Mandy's best friend, who has dyslexia. Tanya is a fourteen year old who is portrayed as developmentally immature and is sent away because she has been shoplifting. However she does reappear in the Dustbin Baby, later on in the series. Rick Riordan was a high achieving English teacher for fifteen years before he turned to writing. He has created a series of books about the character Percy Jackson, who is a demi-god, who also happens to be dyslexic. The aim of Rick's books was to depict a character with learning difficulties in a positive light. The series, like Henry Winkler's books, has a depth of understanding of the extent to which learning difficulties is unfairly disadvantaging achievement amongst bright, often gifted children.
All of Henry Winkler, Rick Riordan and Jacqueline Wilson books can be viewed by clicking the links and show a full range of prices, including the best price with delivery, using our price comparison service.
Henry Winkler's Hank Zipzer books are new to UK publication and have limited availability currently. However there are some available to buy from retailers with international presence and include package and postal costs. The Book Depository offers free international posting and is often significantly cheaper.
Additionally, if you use our price watch service you are able to express the price you are prepared to pay for your preferred titles, and you will be sent an email reminder when the book is available at the price you are willing to pay.
 A Brand-New Me! (Hank Zipzer; The World's Greatest Underachiever (Grosset Paperback)) Henry Winkler|Lin Oliver (Paperback)  |
 Dump Trucks and Dogsleds: I'm on My Way, Mom! (Hank Zipzer; The World's Greatest Underachiever (Grosset Paperback)) Henry Winkler|Lin Oliver (Paperback) |
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 Percy Jackson: The Ultimate Guide (Percy Jackson & the Olympians) Rick Riordan (Hardcover) |
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