<blockquote><i><p>There are winners everywhere .... The sidewalks. The backyards. The alleyways. The playgrounds ...</p><p>Except for Zinkoff. Zinkoff never wins.</p><p>But Zinkoff doesn't notice. Neither do the other pups.</p><p>Not yet.</p></i></blockquote><p>Zinkoff is like all kids -- running, playing, riding his bike. Hoping for snow days, wanting to be his dad when he grows up.</p><p>Zinkoff is not like the other kids -- raising his hand with all the wrong answers, tripping over his own feet, falling down with laughter over a word like "Jabip." The kids have their own word to describe him, but Zinkoff is too busy to hear it.</p><p>Once again, Newbery Medal-winning author Jerry Spinelli uses great wit and humor to create the unique story of Zinkoff as he travels from first through sixth grades. <i>Loser</i> is a touching book about the human spirit, the importance of failure, and how any name can someday be replaced with "hero."</p>