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Hank Zipzer #11
The Curtain Went Up, My Pants Fell Down
Hank Zipzer is failing math, so he has to work with Heather Payne, resident class brain, to help get his grades up. At the same time, Hank’s school is putting on a production of The King and I. As coincidence would have it, Hank is cast as the King, and Heather as Anna. But when Hank’s dad tells him he can only appear in the play if he gets a B on his next math test, Hank knows he has to hit the books. Can Hank pull through in time for the show?
160 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2007
23 people are currently reading
186 people want to read
About the author
Henry Winkler
117 books560 followersHenry Winkler is instantly recognizable and admired by audiences of all ages for his role as the Fonz on the long-running series, Happy Days. In addition, he is an award-winning producer and director of family and children's programming. He is also the author of the critically-acclaimed Hank Zipzer series, which follows the everyday adventures of a bright boy with learning challenges.
Mr. Winkler has also continued his acting career on the big screen, including a Golden Globe nomination for his performance in Nightshift, a starring role in the box-office hit Scream, and co-starring roles in The Water Boy, and Holes. On television, he has guest-starred on ABC's The Practice and NBC's Law & Order: SVU. He recently starred on Broadway for nine months in Neil Simon's play The Dinner Party.
Mr. Winkler is deeply committed to children's welfare and works with numerous children's groups. He is involved with The MacLaren Children's Center (a facility for abused children), The National Committee for Arts for the Handicapped, The Special Olympics, and The Los Angeles Music Center's Very Special Arts Festival, as well as numerous teenage alcohol and drug abuse programs. He is a founding member of the Children's Action Network, a non-profit organization that sponsors informational briefings for writers, producers and directors on children's issues and serves as a clearing-house for the entertainment industry on children's issues.
Mr. Winkler has also continued his acting career on the big screen, including a Golden Globe nomination for his performance in Nightshift, a starring role in the box-office hit Scream, and co-starring roles in The Water Boy, and Holes. On television, he has guest-starred on ABC's The Practice and NBC's Law & Order: SVU. He recently starred on Broadway for nine months in Neil Simon's play The Dinner Party.
Mr. Winkler is deeply committed to children's welfare and works with numerous children's groups. He is involved with The MacLaren Children's Center (a facility for abused children), The National Committee for Arts for the Handicapped, The Special Olympics, and The Los Angeles Music Center's Very Special Arts Festival, as well as numerous teenage alcohol and drug abuse programs. He is a founding member of the Children's Action Network, a non-profit organization that sponsors informational briefings for writers, producers and directors on children's issues and serves as a clearing-house for the entertainment industry on children's issues.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
February 2, 2015
10 stars from us
My son went crazy over this book. Loved it so much he ran around the room screaming at the end.
My son went crazy over this book. Loved it so much he ran around the room screaming at the end.
July 10, 2021
My first endeavour into this series.
Hank Zipzer is partially based on Henry Winkler and the challenges he faced as a child with dyslexia. The world is more aware of the condition now but it is still misunderstood by many.
The themes here include overcoming difficulties and helping others to overcome their own difficulties. Which is always a good theme for a book aimed at 8-13 year olds (or to read to a younger child).
There are some good supporting characters (not all of them helpful) and an iguana. I will always recommend things with iguanas. I will read more of the series given the chance and think that reading books like this would help a lot of children in their own lives.
Hank Zipzer is partially based on Henry Winkler and the challenges he faced as a child with dyslexia. The world is more aware of the condition now but it is still misunderstood by many.
The themes here include overcoming difficulties and helping others to overcome their own difficulties. Which is always a good theme for a book aimed at 8-13 year olds (or to read to a younger child).
There are some good supporting characters (not all of them helpful) and an iguana. I will always recommend things with iguanas. I will read more of the series given the chance and think that reading books like this would help a lot of children in their own lives.
June 20, 2010
This book was quite a humorous one. I truly enjoyed the freshly packed excitement and adventure and new properties you don't find in any other Hank Zipzers. The new jokes are great and you kind of get used to Hank's habit of swapping from one thing to the next. After all, he has learning challenges. Another quick read but definitely something enjoyable. I doubt fans of Junie B. or other funny young series won't grow up to enjoy Hank Zipzers.
October 12, 2008
This is a great book for beginning readers that feel comfortable with lengthier books. Hank is finding himself stuck with a peer tutor who just happens to be the stiffest student in his class. Filled with humor and true situations for the underachiever in all of us, I think just about anybody would love this series of books. A great read.
August 31, 2011
Again, it was really a good story. Especially I liked that Hank found another good friend in Heather Payne! I've been always wondering if Nick might turn out to be a good guy, but the possibilities are getting thinner and thinner...
December 11, 2013
This book was recommended and loaned to me by my fourth grader's classmate. I may have loved it only for that reason, but Hank is just so darned likable and funny and flawed. A very good read for boys!
April 11, 2008
I know my selections are a little childish, but i'm reading them with Steven, for his school's Book Club. So far this book is very funny just think that Henry Winkler "wrote it".
July 19, 2008
FUNNY!!!!!!!!makes you pee your pants...
October 6, 2009
It was really funny and something I never would have expected from Hank.
January 17, 2010
Hank Zipzer is great.
Read
January 18, 2010I read this and it was funny!!!! :D :D :D :D
January 29, 2010
A cute book in the Hank Zipzer series. Not recommended for NYRA 2011,
October 23, 2010
Great book-encouraging for young readers with learning challenges.
May 17, 2011
Funny book geared toward 4th or 5th grade boys. 2011 NYRA nominee.
October 4, 2012
This book was a good story about how Hank got into the school play and what happened during the play.
November 26, 2012
We read this one with my 8yo recently. He loved it, as did we.
July 30, 2013
Jenny loves these books!
February 26, 2014
2011.12.30 27135words
May 25, 2014
Guest review by my 4th grade son: I think this book is very funny and deserves to be read, as well as other books in the series. The characters, setting, and plot are all good.
October 28, 2015
this was really really funny.
January 8, 2023
This is a great series, it does an amazing job of capturing the experience of living and growing up with learning disabilities. Henry Winkler admits that he himself has a form of dyslexia. However this is the second book with a glaring continuity error, and it is beginning to bother me. In Book 10 My Dog's a Scaredy-Cat: A Halloween Tail it states that Hank never got above C's he says that his "grades have only ever traveled to C-ville and parts south". In this book on p.3 Hank states that "A C-Minus was a step up for me. I usually live in D-Ville." Yet in book 8 Summer School? What Genius Thought That Up? He got an A+ on his oral presentation. There is also a second incident in this book whwre he states he never got A's. The continuity error being missed a second time by editors and proof readers is disappointing. However setting that aside this is another wonderful adventure for Hank and his friends at PS 87(Public School 87).
In this story Hank wants' to try out for the role of the King of Siam, in the school's adaptation of the play Anna and the King, but he has just flunked a math test and started peer tutoring. His father only allows him to try out for the play if he agrees he will get a B+ on his next math test. If he does not achieve this mark and has got a spot in the play, he will have to drop out. As we can tell from the title it sounds like he made it but how many trials does he have to overcome to make it. Follow Hank as he get's to know Heather Payne as both a peer tutor and friend, and maybe Hank can teach Heather a thing or two, read and find out.
In this story Hank wants' to try out for the role of the King of Siam, in the school's adaptation of the play Anna and the King, but he has just flunked a math test and started peer tutoring. His father only allows him to try out for the play if he agrees he will get a B+ on his next math test. If he does not achieve this mark and has got a spot in the play, he will have to drop out. As we can tell from the title it sounds like he made it but how many trials does he have to overcome to make it. Follow Hank as he get's to know Heather Payne as both a peer tutor and friend, and maybe Hank can teach Heather a thing or two, read and find out.
August 16, 2020
I am still enjoying the Hank Zipzer stories as I move along in the 17-book series of this zany young man who faces honest challenge with his learning abilities. While much of the stories are often exaggerated in finding himself in the pickles he is in, each book seems to emphasize a different quality that highlights Hank's unique qualities that truly make him clever and witty. In this installment, Hank is selected to play the leading role in a school play, a role that involves much reading and memorizing, things he is known to struggle with, as well as only being able to have this opportunity if he can pass his upcoming long division test with at least a B+. While this book definitely finds over-the-top scenarios in his successes and challenges, what I appreciate is how Hank uses what I feel are real-life solutions and situations to enact his success. For example, he is able to get close to what he needs, although his attention challenges cause him to lose points for not remembering to write his name correctly. He also does not read well, much less memorize, and so comes up with alternative methods by which to memorize his lines for the play. In addition, he is set up with the class brain to tutor him in learning kong division. while initially cringing over this requirement, he finds that she can help him more than he ever realized in approaching these problems in a new way and understanding them differently. Similarly, he is able to use his own self-confidence and style to help this girl succeed in her own struggles; namely, letting her hair down and performing well for the role she is also given. I think I particularly appreciated this book for the give-and-take aspect of how both these two characters came together to help one another inadvertently. I have 6 more books left in this series and looking forward to seeing in what other ways Hank, and those around him, find their supports and strengths through taking different perspectives and helping one another.
June 20, 2023
This is the second time a barcode on a book has given me a completely different title. The book i actually read was A medal for murder by Frances Brody. Couldn’t get rid of this book so here we are. Great book, especially if you like a murder mystery set in times gone by ( 1920’s )
January 21, 2024
IOne of the things that I love about this series (besides the fact that it was written by the wonderful Henry Winkler) is that the books can be read fairly quickly. Granted they are for readers much younger than mid-fifties, but they are compelling, have amazing characters, are really funny and sometimes even emotional.
Such is the case with this book.
I read this on a four hour flight home from my home state and it made the trip so much more pleasant.
I won't reiterate the storyline, but this is now one of my favorite Hank Zipzer books. I can't attest to this, but I'm fairly certain that Henry Winkler used his knowledge of doing plays and auditioning as well as his learning challenges in shaping this story. Hank Zipzer has all of these.
As in the other books, I really felt for him at times, but this one more than ever. His teacher Ms. Adolph is a horrible woman and his parents seemed to not really sympathize with him. The jest of the story is Hank's quest to get a B+ on a math test in order to be in a play. The attitude of his teacher and the fact that his dad was so hard on him really burned me up. If I got anything higher than a D on a math test, I'd be in heaven.
I have SERIOUS math "anxiety" and I absolutely panic whenever I think about doing any kind of math, so I sympathized with Hank's plight.
I could keep going on and on but I won't spoil anything for anyone. I will say that while I was reading, I had a whole range of emotions going on inside. I was furious at the way Hank was treated by his classmates, his parents and his teacher and I just wanted to hug him to pieces for what he went through.
I'm so looking forward to reading more (or all!) of Henry's books (Hank Zipzer and otherwise).
Such is the case with this book.
I read this on a four hour flight home from my home state and it made the trip so much more pleasant.
I won't reiterate the storyline, but this is now one of my favorite Hank Zipzer books. I can't attest to this, but I'm fairly certain that Henry Winkler used his knowledge of doing plays and auditioning as well as his learning challenges in shaping this story. Hank Zipzer has all of these.
As in the other books, I really felt for him at times, but this one more than ever. His teacher Ms. Adolph is a horrible woman and his parents seemed to not really sympathize with him. The jest of the story is Hank's quest to get a B+ on a math test in order to be in a play. The attitude of his teacher and the fact that his dad was so hard on him really burned me up. If I got anything higher than a D on a math test, I'd be in heaven.
I have SERIOUS math "anxiety" and I absolutely panic whenever I think about doing any kind of math, so I sympathized with Hank's plight.
I could keep going on and on but I won't spoil anything for anyone. I will say that while I was reading, I had a whole range of emotions going on inside. I was furious at the way Hank was treated by his classmates, his parents and his teacher and I just wanted to hug him to pieces for what he went through.
I'm so looking forward to reading more (or all!) of Henry's books (Hank Zipzer and otherwise).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2012
This book was about how Hank got into the school play and what happened during the play.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews