Fourth-grader Hank, while on a field trip aboard "The Pilgrim Spirit," tries to learn knot tying in his own unique way, which causes unforeseen problems.

Fearing that he may be failing fourth grade, Hank enlists the help of his friends, and even his annoying younger sister, in an effort to prevent his parents from attending a parent-teacher conference. Inspired by the true life experiences of Henry Winkler, aka The Fonz, whose undiagnosed dyslexia made him a classic childhood underachiever, the Hank Zipzer series is about the high-spirited and funny adventures of a boy with learning differences.

Failing fifth grade math, Hank must depend on Heather, the class brain, to help him get a "B" on the next test in order for him to be eligible to play the lead in the school play, "The King and I."

Efforts to impress a visiting student from Japan cause Hank to hide his dyslexia while the gang makes enchiladas for a Multi-Cultural Day lunch, and Hank is afraid he was very wrong about the amount of chili powder called for in the recipe.

Fifth-grader Hank enters his dachshund Cheerio in a contest to choose a new mascot for his school, but doesn't count on his sister entering her pet iguana.