Day of the Iguana (Hank Zipzer: The World's Greatest Underachiever #3) (Paperback)

by Henry Winkler (Author), Lin Oliver (Author), Jesse Joshua Watson (Illustrator) "I HAVE GREAT NEWS," I said..." (more)
Key Phrases: mutant moth, new cable box, baby iguanas, Papa Pete, Aunt Maxine, Frankie Townsend (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
Grade 3-5--The third entry in the series explores friendship, forgiveness, understanding, and honesty. Hank promises to videotape an obscure science fiction movie for Frankie if the other boy will perform in his magic show. Unfortunately, the program guide on the television moves too quickly for Hank, and he accidentally tapes the wrong show, leaving his friend angry and disappointed. Hank must come up with a science experiment topic, and his mistake prompts him to try and invent a slow-scrolling TV channel guide for less-skilled readers. He dismantles his family's cable box and finds it difficult to reassemble. When he isn't paying attention, his sister's iguana moves into it and refuses to leave. In the end, Hank's increasingly elaborate schemes, his implied learning disability, and the iguana's eggs are all exposed. The wordy, first-person narration sometimes gets in the way of an already meandering story. Everything that happens is plausible enough, and Hank is a likable protagonist with good intentions. However, the authors frequently rely on his narrative role to take facile storytelling shortcuts and convey heavy-handed messages. "That's what you call true friendship," he unnecessarily explains after a simple gesture of kindness. Still, this child-friendly title is by no means the worst recent contribution to the celebrity children's book canon.--Catherine Threadgill, Charleston County Public Library, SC
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Description
Inspired by the true life experiences of Henry Winkler, whose undiagnosed dyslexia made him a classic childhood underachiever, the Hank Zipzer series is about the high-spirited and funny adventures of a boy with learning differences.

It's science project time in Ms. Adolf's class. This is good news and bad news for Hank-he loves science, but he hates the report part. So Hank turns to TV to take his mind off things. But when the program directory scrolls by too quickly for Hank to know what's on, he decides to take apart the cable box to try to slow down the crawl. Great! Now Hank has found the perfect science project! But what he wasn't counting on was his sister's pet iguana laying eighteen eggs in the disassembled cable box. How is Hank going to get out of this one?

Illustrated by Carol Heyer.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap (September 15, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0448432129
• ISBN-13: 978-0448432120
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #235,965 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great series for boys!, July 17, 2005

By	Carolyn Rampone "Carolyn D'Amico Rampone" (Plantation, FL USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

The way I see it, any book that can keep a 10 year old boy away from his video games, gets 5 stars and then some. "Day of the Iguana" and the other eight books will do for boys what "The Babysitters Club" did for girls. I've been waiting a long time for something boys can relate to other than "Yu Gi Oh" comic books and "Captain Underpants." Henry Winkler has done that with Hank Zipzer and his friends, he's made reading fun for boys. You can count on Hank getting himself in a situation that would be best handled being straightforward and you can count on him going out of his way being anything but. The best part is watching you kid choose Hank over the TV. Parents all over will understand just what an accomplishment that is.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Day of the Iguana, May 12, 2004

By A Customer

This is one of the best children's books I have read in a long time. I read it to my 4th grade class and they didn't want me to put it down. I don't know a kid that can't identify with Hank Zipzer in one way or another. It was very easy to read and quite enjoyable. My class gives it 44 thumbs up. Keep up the good work Henry Winkler.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Day of the Iguana, October 15, 2004

By	D the surfer - See all my reviews

When my mom gave me this book for Christmas I didn't really want to read it. Once I found it on my book shelf and started reading it I couldn't put it down. After I finished the book it was so funny and great that I wanted to read it again. I give this book five stars.