Don M. Winn

OK
About Don M. Winn
Don M. Winn is an award-winning author, speaker, and dyslexia advocate. As a dyslexic, who well knows the challenge of learning to love to read, Don's goal is to write books for children that are so engaging they will entice even the most reluctant or struggling reader. Don's articles on dyslexia have been featured in TODAY Parenting, Costco Connection Magazine, MD Monthly, Latin Times, and many others. Don's award-winning books include the Sir Kaye the Boy Knight series of children's chapter books and 13 Cardboard Box Adventures picture books.
Parents and educators know that when stories are fun and engaging, kids spend more time reading. But what if the books you choose for your children or students not only entertain but also teach? Imagine finding stories that combine the life lessons of Aesop's Fables with the appealing characters and compelling adventures of beloved classics. Don Winn's award-winning picture books are just such a find.
Don Winn’s Sir Kaye the Boy Knight series, starring the young knight Sir Kaye Balfour, is full of fun, exciting adventures that appeal to even the most reluctant reader. Kaye's beloved but absent father is his inspiration, and he strives to meet challenges with the values his chivalrous father taught him. His best pal, Reggie, who is dyslexic and also struggles with low self-esteem, often surprises himself by his ability to make meaningful contributions to those around him. The Sir Kaye series is unique because it features characters learning to meet life's challenges without magic or superpowers. These young heroes deal with internal questions and uncertainty as they work through the events they face, and each one finds his own way. The books are fun and enjoyed by any reader, but they are particular favorites of kids who need heroes dealing with difficulties like their own: dyslexia, learning challenges, absentee parents, being targets of bullying, or struggling with low self-esteem.
Don has been writing for over 20 years. A dyslexic reader and writer himself, Don works tirelessly to encourage struggling young readers to embrace their love of stories and to keep on reading!
Don Winn lives in Round Rock, Texas with his wife.
Find out more at www.donwinn.com
Customers Also Bought Items By
Are you an author?
Author Updates
-
-
-
Blog postThe Power of Self-Limiting Beliefs A man in India was once passing a group of elephants, when he suddenly stopped in his tracks. Here were these giant animals, all docilely standing near one another, each one tied by a length of rope to small sticks poked in the ground. How could such massive, strong creatures…
The post The Power of Self-Limiting Beliefs appeared first on Author Don Winn's Blog.
1 week ago Read more -
Blog postDay Trip to Presidio de San Saba, Menard, TX
You can listen to this blog. This is part of my A Trip in Time series. In this episode, I’m taking a day trip to Presidio de San Saba in Menard, Texas, because I like to focus on appreciating the present by exploring the past. All photos by Elizabeth Winn
History is full of surprises, upsets, and sudden turns on the path. One such historical surprise is that, despite a meteoric and successful campaign to colonize the Americas, Spain3 weeks ago Read more -
Blog postDyslexia and Relationships.
It’s a fact: many folks struggle with their relationships, especially in marriage. All too often, couples split up or divorce. As a child from a broken home, I was determined never to let that happen when I got married.
You can listen to this blog. And then real life hit, and marriage was much more difficult than I thought it would be. Things were rocky for both of us because there was so much we didn’t know. We didn’t know how to communicate effect2 months ago Read more -
-
Blog postAudiobooks, Dyslexia, and the Brain Some people wonder if audiobooks are a “legit” way for dyslexic students to read? A recent conversation with a frustrated parent led me to look for a way to help. The parent’s question was about the “legitimacy” of using audiobooks for school assignments versus reading the material. Their school district…
The post Audiobooks, Dyslexia, and the Brain appeared first on Author Don Winn's Blog.
2 months ago Read more -
Blog postHow Reading Shapes the Brain The other day I came across a quote that stopped me in my tracks. It read, “Reading is everything, and saying so is more than an inspirational slogan. It’s now a definitive research conclusion.” Well, as you can imagine, I couldn’t just let that little nugget sit there. I needed…
The post How Reading Shapes the Brain appeared first on Author Don Winn's Blog.
2 months ago Read more -
Blog postAdult Dyslexia and Reading In both the fields of research and education there is a tremendous focus on diagnosing dyslexia in children and developing reading remediation programs to help them learn to read. This is very important. By helping children with early diagnosis, they can be helped to learn to read effectively. Through proper academic…
The post Adult Dyslexia and Reading appeared first on Author Don Winn's Blog.
3 months ago Read more -
Blog postDyslexia Is Like Black-and-White Photography Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about all the ways a person can live with a limitation. Sometimes limitations are imposed upon us by others—a curfew for a teen, HOA standards, social unrest, or work deadlines, to name a few. At other times, limitations come from within, like gluten intolerance,…
The post Dyslexia Is Like Black-and-White Photography appeared first on Author Don Winn's Blog.
4 months ago Read more -
Blog postWebinar: Nurturing Creativity in Dyslexic Learners
Description: Every child has something they love to do. Nurturing creativity in dyslexic learners plays an important part in their academic achievement. As a parent or educator, how can you discover and then amplify children’s innate abilities to help them realize their potential? In this webinar you will learn the following:
How a child’s innate abilities are a doorway through which they can reach their academic potentialHow4 months ago Read more -
Blog postEarly Signs of Reading Difficulties: Interview with reading specialist Faith Borkowsky One of the most dynamic, energetic people I know is fellow author Faith Borkowsky. Faith has decades of training and experience as a specialist in reading instruction and has helped countless students overcome obstacles to reach their potential. So when I noticed that she…
The post Early Signs of Reading Difficulties appeared first on Author Don Winn's Blog.
4 months ago Read more -
Blog postReading Teacher Challenge: Dyslexia 2022 ALTA Summit Part 2
You can listen to this blog. Welcome back to the continued discussion as reading specialists responded to my question, “What are your greatest challenges when working with children with dyslexia?”
Reading Teacher Challenge 1: “Dealing with the urgency of the work. I put a lot of pressure on myself to help them as much as I can as quickly as I can because I was this child.”
Suggestions: This one really touched4 months ago Read more
Titles By Don M. Winn
Topics include signs of dyslexia parents can watch for at various ages, symptoms that warrant diagnosis by a professional, what to expect during the testing process, tips on working with the school to create an optimal learning environment, how to offer a safe, encouraging space where children can learn to manage the emotional fallout of the dyslexic struggle, and how to help children with dyslexia develop vital personal qualities and coping strategies that will enable them to approach life with courage, determination, perseverance, and joy.
The World of Sir Kaye stories are short, easy-to-read chapter books featuring beloved characters from the award-winning Sir Kaye the Boy Knight series in their own standalone adventures.
Wicked knights roam the land of Knox since the death of the king-they go where they want, do what they want, take what they want, and never help anyone but themselves.
The new young queen dreams of a band of chivalrous knights who will protect her people from danger.
Meanwhile, in a village on the edge of a distant forest, twelve-year-old Kaye dreams of one day becoming a heroic knight like his father.
A good deed, a daring rescue, and a queen's risky plan change everything for Kaye. Now newly knighted, he and his best friend Reggie must face his father's oldest enemy-the mighty Sir Melchor. Can they triumph over him in the castle tournament, or will they disgrace the queen forever?
Perfect for fans and graduates of the Magic Treehouse The Knight at Dawn, the Magic Treehouse the Merlin Missions books, and The Boxcar Children books. Also ideal for fans of Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. Winner of six book awards, including best series, this chapter book for ages 8-12 reminds readers that there's more to being a knight than being an adult. Kindness, courage, and valor know no age. Filled with humor, heart, fun, and adventure, this book makes a perfect gift! Instill a life-long love of reading in your child with this tale of courage, friendship, and kindness.
"Fortitude, good will, and friendship triumph over pettiness in this enjoyable story." -Publishers Weekly
Also available: The Sir Kaye study guide contains teaching materials for all four Sir Kaye books, focusing on reading comprehension, vocabulary, and writing skills while exploring themes from each book. Also includes fascinating supplemental historical material about life in the Middle Ages.
When Kaye and Reggie move to the queen's castle, the other knights make fun of him, play mean pranks on him, and even threaten his life. As Kaye tries to earn their respect, an unexpected betrayal leaves him in danger of losing his knighthood forever.
A dead man's secret, a beloved servant's quest for vengeance, an empty treasure house, and the danger of war combine to challenge Kaye, Reggie, and Beau as shadows and secrets lurk down long passages and friends and foes alike cross their path.
Now the only thing that can save Kaye is finding the lost castle treasure. Once again, Kaye must stand up and fight for good, even if it means losing his dream of being a royal knight.
Perfect for fans and graduates of the Magic Treehouse The Knight at Dawn, the Magic Treehouse the Merlin Missions books, and The Boxcar Children books. Also ideal for fans of Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. This chapter book for ages 8-12 reminds readers that there's more to being a knight than being an adult. Kindness, courage, and valor know no age. Filled with humor, heart, fun, and adventure, this book makes a perfect gift! Instill a life-long love of reading in your child with this tale of courage, friendship, and kindness.
"A fun and easy way to teach kids about loyalty, trust, perseverance, patience, and other important life values." - Faridah Nassozi for Readers' Favorite
This book is designed for parents and educators to read with their dyslexic children and students to help them understand both the difficulties and the benefits (their monkey) that accompany dyslexia and other learning difficulties. Reading and discussing this book together will encourage children to vocalize their own feelings about having a learning difference.
When Kaye learns that his father's life is in danger, he runs afoul of the ruthless Baron Thomas, a man who believes that he alone has the right to rule the kingdom of Eldridge. Baron Thomas will do anything it takes to make that happen-anything.
To save his father, Kaye must find and convince the baron's most trusted advisor to reveal the details of the horrible plan, all the while dodging attempts by the baron's henchmen to capture him and his friends. Riddled with self-doubt, Kaye faces a terrifying time of uncertainty as he, Reggie, and Beau race against the clock to save his father. Is he a capable enough knight to save his father-and the kingdom?
Perfect for fans and graduates of the Magic Treehouse The Knight at Dawn, the Magic Treehouse the Merlin Missions books, and The Boxcar Children books. Also ideal for fans of Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. Winner of six book awards, including best series, this chapter book for ages 8-12 reminds readers that there's more to being a knight than being an adult. Kindness, courage, and valor know no age. Filled with humor, heart, fun, and adventure, this book makes a perfect gift! Instill a life-long love of reading in your child with this tale of courage, friendship, and kindness.
"This set of books just gets better and better. Yes, it's a non-stop adventure, packed full of nasty barons and battling knights. But it's also a story which is strongly-themed and where the bond between the characters is highly prized." -Wishing Shelf Book Awards
"Books of adventure and challenge that still offer an emotional component are hard to come by for middle-grade readers-and even more so for middle-grade boys-yet Don M. Winn hits the mark dead center." -Patricia Reding for Readers' Favorite
This Readers' Favorite Book Award winner, Mom's Choice Award gold medalist, and Royal Dragonfly Award for best series winner is great for reading aloud.
The search for Kaye's missing tutor leads him to a sinister manor at the edge of a dark forest. Villagers living nearby are terrified of a monstrous beast and rumors fly about other men who have also disappeared-taken by the beast, the villagers whisper to each other.
Meanwhile, the rebel knight Bragwayne lives locked away in his manor house behind an enormous wall. No one goes in or comes out, until Kaye, Reggie, Beau, and their stubborn new friend Layla find a way to infiltrate Bragwayne's domain. Once inside, they discover a horrifying secret that puts the entire nation of Knox in danger. Can they ruin Bragwayne's plans and save their country? When there's no one to turn to for help, can they even save themselves?
Perfect for fans and graduates of the Magic Treehouse The Knight at Dawn, the Magic Treehouse the Merlin Missions books, and The Boxcar Children books. Also ideal for fans of Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. Winner of five book awards, including best series, this chapter book for ages 8-12 reminds readers that there's more to being a knight than being an adult. Kindness, courage, and valor know no age. Filled with humor, heart, fun, and adventure, this book makes a perfect gift! Instill a life-long love of reading in your child with this tale of courage, friendship, and kindness.
"Captures colorful adventures, fun characters, and inspirational thoughts in a quick and easy read for children." -IndieReader Review
"A cracking, fun-filled adventure. Highly recommended!"-Wishing Shelf Book Awards
"Books of adventure and challenge that still offer an emotional component are hard to come by for middle-grade readers-and even more so for middle-grade boys-yet Don M. Winn hits the mark dead center." -Patricia Reding for Readers' Favorite
This Wishing Shelf Book Award finalist, Readers' Favorite Book Award finalist, Moonbeam Children's Book Award winner, Mom's Choice Award Gold medalist, and Royal Dragonfly Award winner for best series is great for reading aloud.
When his parents tell him never to cross an old broken rope bridge across a deep, dark ravine, he doesn’t understand why. He can do anything! And there’s a tree full of nuts just across the bridge! In this story, Twitch learns the importance of respecting his parents’ rules.
- ←Previous Page
- 1
- 2
- Next Page→