The Zippity Zinger

[Editor's Note: The following is a combined review with DAY OF THE IGUANA.]--Life isn't perfect for Hank in THE ZIPPITY ZINGER--school is hard, his teacher is hard, even baseball is hard. However, when he accidentally puts on his sister's "magic" socks, magical things start to happen . . . Henry Winkler's books about Hank are wickedly funny, with outrageous, yet believable, situations relating to Hank's learning disabilities. Even more fun are Hank's lists, and the comments he directs at his audience. Winkler's narration is exceptional. He has the New York accent down pat, and his distinctive voices for all the major characters create wonderful visual images . . . but his Hank is the best. His tone, inflections, comic timing, and pacing all combine to create a fourth-grader who really tries but can't seem to get things right. In DAY OF THE IGUANA, we feel Hank's rising panic as he tries to set the VCR to tape Frankie's movie, but everything flashes by too fast. We understand his relief when he makes things right with Frankie. Elementary students will sympathize with Hank's problems, envy his friends, and cheer him on every stop of the way. Though the characters are somewhat stereotyped, and the messages not so subtle, they're just right for 8--12-year-olds, and Henry Winkler's narration makes a solid book into a gem. W.L.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine