Its about a boy named donald zinkoff and he is not your average kid. Loser by jerry spinelli summary the book loser details the growth of donald zinkoff, an. Most adolescents feel an extreme need to fit in with their peers and do what is cool. The main plot of the story is that donald zinkoff has horrible handwriting, is clumsy, and is a loser to everyone else. Donald zinkoff is so enthusiastic about starting school that he frequently jumps up, pumps his fist in the air, and yells out yahoo. In the early grades, zinkoff may be a little odd but his peers have not yet learned how and why to exclude certain children. First day is a big day, and mothers know how scary it can be to a sixyearold. Jerry spenelli writes for children and juveniles, actuallyhis target audience are those in middle gradeyet teenagers, young adults, and adults could totally enjoy reading his books. Donald zinkoff is so enthusiastic about starting school that he frequently jumps.
He always looks on the bright side of life and is constantly trying his best. By maintaining a strong sense of self through his experiences, donald zinkoff teaches us all about important and unforgettable lessons of selfesteem and happiness. Loser by jerry spinelli growing up can be extremely difficult. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Donald zinkoff what happens in the book loser answers. Donald zinkoff is the star of loser and he goes to school but isnt really noticed until fifth grade, when everyone notices him as a loser. Loser is an unusual book, because it does not just describe the life of a boy, but reads like a case history. Explain the nature of competition and whether or not there is such a thing as healthy competition. Loser by jerry spinelli, character traits, donald zinkoff, character map, novel studyloser by jerry spinelli now has a character map for the main character, donald zinkoff. The loser in this book does not have these more commonly accepted gifts of athletic ability or great academic performance. Who in the book do you think believes that zinkoff is a loser. Until field day in the 4th grade, his fellow students dont really notice zinkoff s problems either. Any page references refer to a usa edition of the book, usually the trade. This study guide consists of approximately 38 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of loser.
Then it seems everyone has a new name for zinkoff, everyone seems to realize that he is a loser. So loser is basically about donald zinkoff, which is an exceptional and special kid. Oct 20, 2011 donald zinkoff from loser by jerry spinelli. Donald laughs over any strange word he hears, had horrible hand writing, and always raises his hand, but gets the answers all wrong.
The thought comes to her that donald zinkoff, in more ways. Zinkoff is discovered by these critical eyes that dont understand his humor or perspective. Loser is unique for being written in the second person. Loser by jerry spinelli by teacher julia teachers pay. It was a suspenseful book, we never knew what would happen next. Donald zinkoff isnt like other kids his age, but this isnt apparent until the end of elementary school. Donald zinkoff, the main character, is beginning first grade when the novel opens, and he is in sixth grade when it ends. Spinelli has written a number of childrens books and is a winner of the.
It details the growth of donald zinkoff, who is branded a loser by his classmates due to his clumsiness, poor performance in school and athletics, and sometimes clueless enthusiasm. When he wanted two, she said she would give one how and one when he is sad. The novel opens with a narrator noticing a kid in the distance. Because of his offbrand sense of humor and his lack of demonstrable ability in sports, academics, or social skills, hes an outcast at school. Zinkoff is one of the most unusual, endearing characters ever to grace the pages of a novel for young readers.
On the first day of first grade, donald shows himself to be a peculiar child. But as donald zinkoff gets older, the other kids realize what a loser he really is. Inside, he seems to carry his own sunshine with himhes a sunshine bottleeven into the closet, where sometimes he hides from polly without a twinge of fear. Until the 4th gradewhen his teacher seats him in the first row. Jerry spinellis novel, loser, chronicles the childhood of donald zinkoff. Donald zinkoff from loser by jerry spinelli book clubs, book club books. This chapter book starts off with zinkoff in the first grade where he appears a bit quirky but is a good hearted enthusiastic little boy who loves school. No matter what donald does, disaster seems to follow him. Yet, while his fellow students continuously point out his flaws and weaknesses, donald somehow remains positive and true to himself.
Book summary maybe a little kid can get away with wearing a giraffe hat, yelling yahoo. Who in the book do you think believes that zinkoff is. In the book loser by jerry spinelli, the main character is a young, strange boy named donald zinkoff. Loser quotes by jerry spinelli goodreads share book. By maintaining a strong sense of self through his experiences, donald zinkoff teaches us all about important and unforgettable lessons of self esteem and happiness. Zinkoff stands at the front window, looking at all the kids walking to school. Zinkoff as others know him possesses an inner joy that baffles most people.
Donald zinkoff is below average, a condition that most adults would like to pretend doesnt exist, and that far too many children think applies most. Loser, by jerry spinelli, is one of my favorite fiction novels. Donald zinkoff from loser by jerry spinelli elementary curriculum. After failing horribly in a track and field race, hes branded loser which kinda sticks with him for years, even into middle school.
This character is an old woman who lives on willow street, and uses a walker. Which character in the book is the author describing in the first chapter. Zinkoff wants to be like his dad when he grows up, a mailman. Donald zinkoff from loser by jerry spinelli elementary. Without being didactic the author shows how kindness, acceptance and the lack thereof affect donald and those around him. Everybody calls him a loser but he thinks hes pretty neat. In grade school, being successful may seem like having the most friends, buying the. The book starts with donald zinkoff in first grade, and. Donald doesnt really care what other people think about him because he is busy enjoying life. Donald zinkoff is below average, a condition that most adults would like to pretend doesnt exist, and that far too many children think applies most especially to themselves.
Jerry spinellis book loser is a comingofage tale about donald zinkoff, known to other kids simply as zinkoff. This is a must read for middle schoolers to get a glimpse of bullying from a different perspective. Jerry spinellis loser is the story of a young boy named donald zinkoff and his trials and tribulations through primary and secondary school. His father has told him that the stars are faraway suns, and the thought of all those suns up there gives zinkoff a warm and cozy feeling at night. What happens in the book loser when zinkoff is in the fifth grade. Donald zinkoff is a social outcast based off the fact that he is oblivious to everything around him, he runs off his creativity and happiness, and has a hard time understanding people, in his mind. Hewants to sit in that first seat in class, and yet his last namedooms him to the last seat in the last row. Fortunately, zinkoff is so wrapped up in the amazing world. Loser by jerry spinelli focuses on donald zinkoff and his travels through school. In my book there is a boy named donald zinkoff that is in school and he is different compared to other students zinkoff is not like the other kids raising his hand with all the wrong answers, tripping. What does claudias mother do to her daughter that surprise donald. Donald is a boy who pretty much lives in his own kind of world and unlike other kids hes not very good at sports and he likes to go to school except hes not the most intelligent kid in class. Loser is the story donald zinkoff as he moves from the first through the sixth grades.
Loser this story is about a boy named donald zinkoff and his family polly zinkoff, his little sisterand mr. Hes a little too enthusiastic and hes always laughing. Zinkoff his parents donald is a very outgoing and energetic kind of kid. In essence, it is the story of how winners and losers are created. What happens in the book loser when zinkoff is in the. Reading guide for loser by jerry spinelli discussion guide for book clubs. How old is donald zinkoff in the book called loser answers. Teachers and students all know that theres something different about zinkoff, but they arent sure exactly what it is. They think he is a loser for not being good at field day, for his clumsiness, for his average grades, and for his silliness pg. He is, in the callous summation of his classmates, a loser. What does the author mean when he says, not yet, on page 7 of. Beginning with donald zinkoff s early days of invisibility and ignorant bliss maybe it annoys you that he seems to be having even more fun than you, but its a onesecond thought and its over.
Loser is a coming of age young adult novel first published in 2002 by american author jerry spinelli. This book will make you and your child think deeply about how not every child will fit into the mold of what most kids and adults consider popular or successful such as the great athlete or the straight a student. Loser is a coming of age novel written by jerry spinelli about a boy named donald zinkoff, ostracized by his peers due to his clumsiness and clueless nature. Use this fun and engaging activity to get students thinking more deeply about character traits, motive and action. Donald zinkoff cant sit still, cant stop laughing, falls over his own feet, adores school and silly words and his family, is prone to throwing up due to a defective stomach valve, is impervious to peer pressure, and never frets about being perennially last in any competition just as hes last in the alphabet. His giraffe hat, his love for school, hisuncontrollable giggles, his belief that he runs so fast. It details the growth of donald zinkoff, who is branded a. Jerry spinelli is the author of maniac magee, winner of the 1991 newbery medal, and wringer, named a newbery honor book. The book follows zinkoff during his developmental years through elementary and middle school. The thing about zinkoff is that he doesnt realize those are problems.
Loser is a touching book about the human spirit, the importance of failure, and how any name can someday be replaced with hero. With a name like loser, i really expected to hate this book and feel sorry for the main. Donald zinkoff, the main character, doesnt know how special he is. Loser is a book by jerry spinelli about a kid named donald zinkoff but most people call him by his last name, zinkoff. This characters central trait in his personality is his kindness, which also could be described as his ability to love. Most of zinkoff s classmates believe he is a loser.
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