12/02/2013
The authors of the Hank Zipzer books spotlight their hero as a second grader in this first installment of the Here’s Hank chapter-book series, in which Hank faces his learning disabilities with honesty, tenacity, and humor. When Hank’s teacher instructs her students to read the script for the upcoming class play, Hank worries that he won’t be up to that task or memorizing lines. Though his best friend Frankie helps him prepare, Hank’s audition for the role of comic-book superhero Aqua Fly is a disaster: he can’t recognize any of the words and resorts to buzzing (“I am saying the lines,” he tells Ms. Flowers. “I’m just doing it in fly language”). Worse, Hank’s nemesis lands the part, but Ms. Flowers creates a new character for Hank—a bookmark—which Hank uses to save the play. Amusing dialogue and a typeface designed to accommodate dyslexic readers adroitly target kids with reading difficulties of their own. Garrett’s cheery b&w cartoons bring additional energy to the story, matching that of Hank himself. Due simultaneously: A Short Tale About a Long Dog. Ages 6–8. (Feb.)

04/01/2014
Gr 1–3—Set two years before the first Hank Zipzer books (Penguin), this prequel tells the story of how Frankie, Ashley, and Hank came to be friends and introduces readers to Hank's family, neighbors, and classmates. As in the original series, Hank's impulsiveness, disorganization, and penchant for jokes get him into hot water. Only in the second grade, his learning difficulties have not yet been diagnosed, and he struggles with feeling like his brain is full of "soggy oatmeal." The book is set in a typeface Hank would appreciate: it was specifically designed to help readers with dyslexia differentiate letters. The plot and tone, as well as the short sentences, brief chapters, wide margins, and frequent spot art are typical of other early chapter book series. Give this to readers who enjoy the "Horrible Harry" and "George Brown, Class Clown" (both, Penguin) series.—Sarah Stone, San Francisco Public Library

2013-12-11
Hank Zipzer, poster boy for dyslexic middle graders everywhere, stars in a new prequel series highlighting second-grade trials and triumphs. Hank's hopes of playing Aqua Fly, a comic-book character, in the upcoming class play founder when, despite plenty of coaching and preparation, he freezes up during tryouts. He is not particularly comforted when his sympathetic teacher adds a nonspeaking role as a bookmark to the play just for him. Following the pattern laid down in his previous appearances as an older child, he gets plenty of help and support from understanding friends (including Ashley Wong, a new apartment-house neighbor). He even manages to turn lemons into lemonade with a quick bit of improv when Nick "the Tick" McKelty, the sneering classmate who took his preferred role, blanks on his lines during the performance. As the aforementioned bully not only chokes in the clutch and gets a demeaning nickname, but is fat, boastful and eats like a pig, the authors' sensitivity is rather one-sided. Still, Hank has a winning way of bouncing back from adversity, and like the frequent black-and-white line-and-wash drawings, the typeface is designed with easy legibility in mind. An uncomplicated opener, with some funny bits and a clear but not heavy agenda. (Fiction. 7-9)