Loser

Just like other kids, Zinkoff rides his bike, hopes for snow days, and wants to be like his dad when he grows up. But Zinkoff also raises his hand with all the wrong answers, trips over his own feet, and falls down with laughter over a word like "Jabip."

Other kids have their own word to describe him, but Zinkoff is too busy to hear it. He doesn't know he's not like everyone else. And one winter night, Zinkoff's differences show that any name can someday become "hero."

With some of his finest writing to date and great wit and humor, Jerry Spinelli creates a story about a boy's individuality surpassing the need to fit in and the genuine importance of failure. As readers follow Zinkoff from first through sixth grade, it becomes impossible not to identify with and root for him through failures and triumphs. The perfect classroom read.

He might be the school “loser,” but what if Zinkoff is the only one who really knows how to win?

• A Story About Bullying: The other kids have a name for Zinkoff, but he’s too busy enjoying life to hear it. A powerful look at bullying and peer pressure from a unique perspective.
• The Courage to Be Different: From laughing at words like “Jabip” to his “atrocious” handwriting, Zinkoff never tries to be anyone but himself, even when he doesn’t fit in.
• Kindness and Empathy: When a little girl goes missing in a snowstorm, Zinkoff’s unique way of seeing the world might be the only thing that can bring her home.
• Social Emotional Learning: A perfect classroom and family read-aloud that opens up conversations about empathy, failure, and what it truly means to belong.