Niagara Falls, Or Does It? #1 (Hank Zipzer)

"Hank Zipzer: Niagra Falls, Or Does It?" (2006) written by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver is a humorous fiction book, which is the first in the series of books featuring Hank. It follows the life of fourth grader Hank and his friends. School for Hank is not as easy for him, self-admittedly, as compared to his friends and classmates. His struggles with reading affect many aspects of his life, and eventually a teacher suggests Hank be tested for a learning disability (LD). The characters in the book are believable, and each character has a distinct voice, role, and purpose in each other's lives. More and more is revealed about each character as the plot is developed. In my opinion, Hank and his friends are three-dimensional and are as real as fourth graders as there ever could be. Mr. Winkler, of the famed Arthur `Fonzi' Fonzarelli role on the television series "Happy Days," is also a producer, director, and public speaker. The creation of the character Hank Zipzer was partly autobiographical. Mrs. Oliver, co-author, is a producer of movies and countless television shows, mostly based on children's books. She is also a co-founder and director of The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (Prater & Dyches, 2008). We join in on Hank Zipzer's beginning of his fourth grade year, and it starts off grandly as Hank is called to the principal's office. Throughout the book we learn about Hank's feelings about his struggles with reading, and it is evident that a lot of drama, antics, and even comical moments are related to his shortcomings. Although the book is somewhat predictable, it is a book in which a reader roots for the "underdog" of the story and secretly relishes when the antagonist gets what he deserves. However there is much more going on in this book as Mr. Winkler and Mrs. Oliver reveal the theme that being different is okay, because, according to Papa Pete, "That's what makes us great" (pg 132). Hank Zipzer is an intermediate-level enjoyable read, and is hard to put down. I highly recommend reading it. As a teacher in a classroom, this book is a solid piece of authentic literature to use in perhaps a literature circle. Character development, plot, setting, and theme can be examined. And since this book has relatable characters such as Hank, students can discuss the impact his learning disability has and how it affects the many aspects of his life. Reference: Prater, M., & Dyches, T. (2008). Books that portray characters with disabilities: A top 25 list for children and young adults. Teaching Exceptional Children, 40(4), 32-38.

Have you ever had a teacher that was really, really mean and gave you a five paragraph assignment on the first day of school? Well Hank Zipzer did. Her name was Mrs. Adolf. Instead of an 5 paragraph essay, he did something very creative and very wrong. Boy, was Mrs. Adolf mad. I am not going to tell you what the creative kid (Hank) did. I am just going to say it was creative and a problem. Some of the characters are Frankie, Ashley, and Hank, And I better also mention the nerdy guy, Robert. These characters are characters you will find in many Hank Zipzer books. They are great characters because we can relate to them as kids. I really enjoyed the book, Niagara Falls or Does It? is the first of the Zipzer books. I liked it because it had cool parts like when Frankie, Ashley and Hank started the Magik 3. The Magik 3 was a way cool magic group that the three kids were part of. But even their magic couldn't help them when disaster strikes. And the disaster was so funny. I guess that's why I like this book so much. It makes me laugh a lot. It is the kind of humor a third or fourth grader would appreciate.If you want to find out the disaster, read this awesomely cool book. You won't be disappointed. I promise you.

Bought this for my grandson and he enjoyed it.

My daughter really enjoyed reading this book. The font was large, the chapters were short and the story line was exciting. I will be ordering her more chapter books.

I enjoyed this book. I would recommend this book to teachers, parents, and students with and with learning challenges. This story shows pieces of everyone.

This book is well written and really keeps the interest of kiddos. I am a dyslexia teacher and my kids could relate to the main character. His good and bad characteristics. They were engaged while I was reading it and always wanted me to read more when it was time to stop. The main character is funny and sincere. I read it to kiddos in grades 3-5.

I am tutoring with Reading Partners and found these books by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver. This book and all the others in both the Hank Zipzer and Here's Hank series are full of life lessons presented in a kid friendly adventure which happens in a normal school day. If you have or know of a with learning disabilities these books present a positive view of life. Yes, school is hard, yes, learning is hard (or impossible ), yes, people think you are dumb, but there are people who think you are brilliant and friends who know you can help them. Hank and his best friend, Frankie, live in an apartment building in New York. They become friends with Ashley who moves into their building. Frankie and Ashley are learners who thrive in a school situation. Hank is very creative and can figure out ways out of and sometimes into trouble. Hank has trouble with spelling, reading, and math. In this book they are in fourth grade and are assigned a five paragraph essay on How I Spent My Summer Vacation. Hank can't write one sentence . Hank decides to build a Niagara Falls modee that actually works. The design is beautiful. His friends help him build it. They hook it up to a sink in school with a hose. It works! It is made of cardboard. Read to find out what happens.

This is a great book for reluctant readers(or any readers for that matter)! We introduced this book to our 5th grade struggling readers, and they loved it! We heard them laughing out loud as they read, and they needed no "encouragement" from us teachers to keep reading the book. Others students in the class noticed the popularity of the book and wanted to read the book, too. When students finished this book, they wanted to read the next books in the series. (It's a rare book indeed that entices struggling or reluctant readers to want to read more.) The writing is clever and funny, and the vocabulary is accessible for 4th and 5th grade struggling readers. I think many of our students identified with Hank's struggles. I highly recommend this book!

Got my nephew hooked on a new series. I like fact that Winkler wrote it as well.

Kids love it

I have purchased the first 8 for my grandson and he loves them!!!!

I'm disappointed that the font is not in the dyslexie font like the others books we've read from this series.

The book was OK. Seemed to have a lot of "fill" in it. The last part of it was good though. Gave it to my grandson who has the same problem. He has not read it yet so i cannot give his opinion.