SYNOPSIS:Did you know? One in five children in the United States has a learning difficulty such as dyslexia or ADHD. These challenges can make children feel inadequate, misunderstood, and frustrated in and out of the classroom, yet – if harnessed correctly – they can also be viewed as beneficial and consequently empower the kids who live with them.
In the clever and truly helpful new book There’s a Monkey in My Backpack! (September 2019), Winn explores how learning difficulties affect kids in a unique way that helps children and those who care for them to better understand their challenges. Winn writes from his personal experience as a lifelong dyslexic reader and writer.
There’s a Monkey in My Backpack! follows Anna, a third-grade student who has an unusual companion – a monkey in her backpack! Not everyone can see him, but he causes a whole lot of trouble for Anna by mixing up her spelling letters, distracting her in class, and making it hard for her to keep up with her schoolwork. He causes so many problems for Anna that she wonders if she will ever make it to the end of third grade with the other children. But she learns that her troublesome monkey can also be a big help to her if she learns to understand, accept, and appreciate her unique situation.
MY THOUGHTS: Written for the elementary school reader, ‘There’s A Monkey’ offers a unique perspective to learning disabilities. Instead of an invisible thing, the author portrays the issue as a physical thing that can be handled, seen, and communicated with. Third grader, Anna, our heroine, is given two choices: either fight the monkey or accept and deal with his antics. By showing children that they can regain control of their actions and learning path, Mr. Winn offers them options they may not have considered. It’s empowering.
Illustrator Dave Allred has done a wonderful job depicting Anna and her monkey. The colorful pictures will keep younger readers engaged while giving a great visual to older readers. This book may not be geared toward every child, but I believe it will be helpful to those who’ve been recently diagnosed, don’t understand their diagnosis or have a sibling with learning disabilities. These kids have a lot on their plates so anything we can do to help them is a plus.
Encouraging and engaging, I give it a 3 star rating.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Don M. Winn is a multiple award-winning children’s author of thirteen picture books and the Sir Kaye the Boy Knight® series of novels for independent readers. As a dyslexia advocate and a dyslexic himself, he frequently addresses parents and educators on how to maximize the value of shared reading time and how to help dyslexic and other struggling readers to learn to love to read. Winn lives and writes in Round Rock, Texas.
In addition to his latest picture book, Winn’s first nonfiction book, Raising a Child with Dyslexia: What Every Parent Needs to Know is forthcoming this fall. In October, Winn will be the keynote speaker at the Central Texas Dyslexia Conference.
Find out more at http://www.donwinn.com
I received the aforementioned title in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine. Pic & synopsis belong solely to the author/publisher.