{"id":8510,"date":"2025-07-14T07:08:05","date_gmt":"2025-07-14T07:08:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/8510\/"},"modified":"2025-07-14T07:08:05","modified_gmt":"2025-07-14T07:08:05","slug":"making-magic-nine-year-old-publishes-first-book-about-a-girl-with-dyslexia-donates-proceeds-to-edgerton-elementary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/8510\/","title":{"rendered":"Making magic \u2014 Nine-year-old publishes first book about a girl with dyslexia, donates proceeds to Edgerton Elementary"},"content":{"rendered":"

Zoe Frank, 9, is the co-author of an inspiring children\u2019s book about a young girl with dyslexia titled \u201cZoe\u2019s Magical Mind.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

The book captures her personal experience discovering she has dyslexia and, \u201cThrough imagination, creativity, and a little bit of magic, Zoe learns to embrace her strengths and find new ways to learn,\u201d the book description reads.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When writing the book with her mother, Jennifer Frank, Zoe Frank, during an interview at Edgerton Elementary School in Kalispell, said she wanted to help people better understand dyslexia. \u00a0<\/p>\n

In the book, the character Zoe notices she\u2019s different from her classmates and learns from her mother that she has dyslexia, which is why reading and writing are more challenging. Whenever she feels down, family, friends and teachers remind her of the abilities she excels in and encourage her to share her talents of drawing and storytelling with the class.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is Zoe\u2019s story all the way down to Miss Baker, who works at Edgerton [Elementary]. She works in special education, and she’s been with Zoe since second grade and she has made a world of difference in our school life for Zoe, along with a community of other people,\u201d Jennifer Frank said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

According to the Mayo Clinic, \u201cDyslexia is a learning disorder that involves difficulty reading due to problems identifying speech sounds and learning how they relate to letters and words (decoding).\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cDyslexia is not due to problems with intelligence, hearing or vision. Most children with dyslexia can succeed in school with tutoring or a specialized education program. Emotional support also plays an important role.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Zoe Frank started noticing she was different from her peers around second grade when she saw her classmates could read and write and she couldn\u2019t yet. She was tested for and diagnosed with dyslexia.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“I used to feel left out whenever I wondered if another kid had dyslexia,” Zoe Frank said, hugging her stuffed sloth, Lottie. \u201cNot a lot of people used to talk about it, but I like to talk about it, but the thing is, I didn\u2019t know who I could talk to.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

Dyslexia is the most common learning disability and approximately 5 to 10% of the population has some sort of dyslexia, according to a Harvard Health article.\u00a0<\/p>\n

One of the book series Zoe Frank said she enjoys includes the \u201cDog Man\u201d graphic novels by author Dave Pilkey (creator of the award-winning \u201cCaptain Underpants\u201d series), who also has dyslexia.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When she learned that other people have dyslexia, she felt a bit better and hoped her book could help other children and start conversations. At the end of “Zoe\u2019s Magical Mind,\u201d there is a discussion guide to help start those conversations, along with tips and creative activities for parents and teachers.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Zoe Frank shared one of her favorite pages in the book and pointed out a recurring detail.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd the thing that not a lot of people notice, every single girl in the book has a heart on her shirt,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause Zoe has the biggest heart of any child I know,\u201d her mother said with a smile. \u00a0<\/p>\n

Proceeds from book sales will go to Edgerton\u2019s resource room. She has already made one donation.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThey decided to get a swing for the resource room, a new Lego table that you didn\u2019t have to sit on your knees for and a new thing of gel pens,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When the book was published and shared with her school, Zoe Frank felt differently for another reason.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople I never even knew [knew me] when they saw me because on the back of the book, it shows my name and face … whenever they see me, they say, did you write the book?\u201d Zoe Frank said and smiled shyly, giving her stuffed sloth a squeeze.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The young author, who loves gymnastics, already has her next book in mind. \u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cZoe\u2019s Magical Mind, gymnastics edition,\u201d she said, planning to tell the story of how the main character works hard to learn routines.\u00a0<\/p>\n

By encouraging her daughter to continue writing and providing support like tutoring, Jennifer Frank hoped to impart to her daughter that anything she wants to achieve is possible.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIf she wants to write a book, even though she\u2019s dyslexic … we can write a book,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“I just want her to believe in, as the book says, the magic within her… this doesn\u2019t set her back. She can do anything,\u201d she added.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt just takes a little more time,\u201d Zoe Frank added with a nod.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The book costs $12 and may be purchased at zoesmagicalmind.com.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0<\/a> \u00a0Zoe Frank, 9, shares a book she wrote titled “Zoe’s Magical Mind” at Edgerton Elementary School on June 10. Frank has decided to donate proceeds from book sales to the school’s resource room. (Hilary Matheson\/Daily Inter Lake)
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