Previous Finalists

Stats:
Illustrations: 10/10
Story/Plot: 9/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Editing: 9/10

‘Written with a gold-tipped pen! A wonderfully fun and clever way for a dyslexic child to understand why learning can be difficult.’ A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review

REVIEW
Firstly, I must tell you I’m a teacher; a high school teacher in fact. So, understanding ‘dyslexia’ and how it effects a child’s ability to learn – in a good and a bad way – is an important part of my work. So, I settled down with There’s A Monkey In My Backpack with interest.
Now, this is a very clever book. For a start, it’s a superb tool for educators who wish to help a child understand how a learning disability can hinder and help them in the classroom. But it’s not only that; it’s also a lot of fun! I love the monkey; what a clever metaphor for dyslexia. I think a child, any child, will find the story enjoyable. You see, this book is superb for educators, but it’s also very sweet and funny. My child – who is not dyslexic – loved the way the monkey mixed up the girl’s letters and how he tricked her into going the wrong way. She also never ‘got it’; she never understood that the monkey is a metaphor for dyslexia. And that is the book’s strength. This book is a tool for understanding, but only if the educator wants it to be. For it’s also wonderfully illustrated and packed full of comical moments for a child to simply enjoy.
A child with dyslexia can, as the author says, find it ‘hard to sit still’. With this in mind, Don Winn keeps the story moving; there’s plenty of pace all the way till the end. He also knows how important it is to keep a sentence short and the vocabulary accessible. Most children aged 7 – 9 will find the text simple to follow.
Now to the pics. For my daughter (who also read the book), they were the best part of the story. Yes, she enjoyed the plot, characters and settings, but it was the colourful, even delightful drawings that kept her interest. There are plenty too, and they, along with the lightly written story, kept her enthralled all evening.
To sum up, yes, this is a wonderful tool for educators. But it’s also a very sweet story of a girl with a monkey in her backpack!

A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review
www.thewsa.co.uk