Customer Reviews

If You're So Smart, How Come You Can't Spell Mississippi? (The Adventures of Everyday Geniuses)

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Like one of the other reviewers of this series of books, I found that my dyslexic daughter was not particularly interested in my telling her stories about "famous dyslexics" or in having any kind of dialogue about the issue (she's 8 yrs old). However, she absolutely LOVED these books. They are non-threatening, not too "teachy", and the illustrations are wonderful. My daughter has enjoyed the entire series, but after reading this book in particular, she decided she wanted to go to the library (like the main character)and do some research on dyslexia. This is a huge step!

This is the only book in the series that specifically mentions a term - dyslexia. The other books deal more in generalities--trouble with timed math facts and memorization, poor handwriting and attention deficit. However, I think many children will see themselves in at least one of these stories, and a child like mine may see parts of herself (or himself) in every book. I like the fact that the books are non-specific. They don't spend word space on labels and diagnoses and symptomology. They simply discuss the challenges a child faces in the classroom from a child's point of view. And THAT is what makes them so accessible and wonderful for our kids. I highly, highly recommend this entire series of books for any child with learning differences.

My son received all the books in this series for Christmas. He loved them so much. I searched for the right book to give him for a few months, and I am so glad I picked these. He really seemed to connect with them. I think he is so used to everything being so formal when it comes to myself and his teachers talking about the way he learns. These are the first books that took him to a place all to himself, a place where he could connect as a kid. I love these books, and if you have a child with a different learning style these are the books for them!

The Adventures of Everyday Geniuses series by Barbara Esham

If You're So Smart, How Come You Can't Spell Mississippi?

From the back of the book: Katie always thought her dad was smart; he is one of the busiest attorneys in town! People are always asking him for advice! She has been a bit confused since asking him for help with her weekly spelling list. How can her very smart dad struggle with one of her spelling words? This definitely didn't make sense. the word Mississippi has changes everything...

This is one of four books in a series about children who learn differently. Each of the books explains different learning challenges (dyslexia, difficulty with timed tests, handwriting and ADD) in kid friendly lingo without talking down to the children.

What I liked about the book: It is a great book for explaining dyslexia to students who have been diagnosed with dyslexia or who may have classmates with it. I loved it when Katie's dad pointed out that " . . . dyslexia does not mean a person isn't smart. In fact some of the greatest scientists, doctors, and inventors struggled with symptoms of dyslexia." As an educator and librarian, my heart just swelled when Katie asked her mom to take her to the library so she could learn more. Young readers will be able to see themselves in this story, either as Mark Twingle, who can't spell anything or as Katie who had the wrong idea about Mark. At the end of the story, the author has included additional resources for parents and teachers.

What I didn't like about the book: I liked it all. I highly recommend this book for anyone who has a child who learns differently. It's a must addition to any school/classroom library.

Recommended for ages 6 and up.

AR Reading Level: Not listed on AR.

Mrs. Archer's Rating: 5 of 5!

How can you explain dyslexia to a dyslexic child?

It is a great idea to have a book where it is the dyslexic father who explains his daughter how dyslexia affected his childhood and how it affects his adulthood. All with a beautiful sense of humour.

Difficulty spelling Mississippi? Good Company you keep! From Thomas Edison to Carol Greider ( a molecular biologist at Johns Hopkins who this year became one of only 10 women to win the 2009 Nobel Prize in medicine)- This book, and the other three in the series, are written for the next generation of brilliant minds. Help place The Adventures of Everyday Geniuses in each and every U.S. classroom.

This is a great book to educate and bring awareness about dyslexia to readers. It is great to share with students who have been diagnosed with the reading disability as well as those who have heard of it. The character is reminded how her father struggled with dyslexia as a young boy and now is a smart, successful adult. She also realizes that a boy in her class seems to have the sames struggles as her father. She understands and empathizes with not her father but the boy in class and will look at him differently. It also presents famous people who have gone one is be succesful in their adulthood despite having dyslexia.

The other books in Esham's series titled The Adventures in Everyday Geniuses are a great resource to teacher and parents needing stories to share with children that show despite obstacles in learning to not give up!

I have an 8y/o child with a learning disability. So far I have gotten 4 of the books in this series. He was impressed when we read this one that so many "smart" people have a LD.

He is able to grasp the concepts very well, in this series of books, he sees similarities as well.

During national reading week, I will be reading these books to the kids at the local Elementary school. Perhaps than the teachers will also pick up the books for their classrooms and in turn help the children achieve their potential as well.