Famous cool-guy and motorcycle mechanic Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzerelli made it big as the cool, funny, popular guy, but as a dyslexic child he had it very differently, according to his new book. After a lifetime of dealing with his disability, he set out to write it all out in 2003 with co-author Lin Oliver. At age 61 the actor has done everything from writing to producing, but it’s his Hank Zipzer series, now on its 11th installment, that he takes the most pride in.

Henry Winkler said publicly, “One out of five kids in America have some kind of learning challenge. You never get over it but you learn to cope with it and these books point that it’s not so terrible as this kid is resourceful, funny and has great friends who don’t judge him… Hank Zipzer is my life. It is the building I was born in, it is the school I went to … and it is the frustration at trying to figure out how to cope.”

Fonzarelli spent ten years being cool on ABC from 1974 to 1984, but before that he was put down for his natural inability to learn by traditional methods. “I was called stupid and lazy and not living up to my potential. I was grounded for most of my school career and never saw the moon. The parents thought if I stayed at my desk I would learn geometry.”

For children with learning disabilities, the books are viewed as a good read that teaches sound values, though nothing about motorcycles, greasers or being cool in front of a young Ron Howard.

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