Book Review: Did You Say Pasghetti?

“Did You Say Pasghetti?” by Tammy Fortune is a heartwarming short read that we recommend for parents who want a gentle, relatable story to share with a dyslexic learner. The book centers a young boy who struggles with reading, faces challenges at school, and experiences teasing from his peers—and it surrounds him with the kind of supportive relationships that help dyslexic children feel understood. We enjoyed reading it with our own children, and it pairs naturally with the structured help in our Dyslexia Intervention Curriculum.

What is “Did You Say Pasghetti?” about?

“Did You Say Pasghetti?” by Tammy Fortune is a heartwarming story that follows a young boy who struggles with reading, faces challenges at school, and experiences teasing from his peers. It is a short, accessible read—the kind you can finish together in a single sitting. This is a picture book that puts a child’s real, everyday reading struggles at the center of the story rather than off to the side. What makes the book truly special is its emphasis on supportive relationships: the main character has a loyal dog who provides emotional comfort, and his mother encourages him in his learning journey. Those positive connections are what give the story its warmth.

What makes this book special for dyslexic learners?

Many children with dyslexia carry a quiet belief that they are the only one who finds reading hard. A story like this one gently corrects that. The positive connections in the book—a loyal dog for comfort, a mom who keeps cheering the boy on—make the story especially meaningful for dyslexic learners. Here is what stands out:

• A main character kids recognize. Dyslexic children will see themselves in the boy who struggles with reading and gets teased at school.
• Supportive relationships at the center. The loyal dog offers emotional comfort, and the boy’s mother encourages him through his learning journey.
• Dyslexia in a positive, supportive light. The story does not treat the difference as a problem to hide—it treats the child as someone worth standing beside.
• A short, shareable length. It is an easy book to read together without overwhelming an emerging reader.

Seeing a character who shares your challenge—and is loved anyway—is one of the simplest, most powerful confidence builders a parent can offer.

Why do the discussion questions matter?

One of the book’s standout features is the discussion questions at the end. These prompts create opportunities for thoughtful conversations with young readers about dyslexia, helping them better understand their own experiences and emotions. That matters because talking openly about this learning difference is an important step in building confidence and self-advocacy. A child who can name what is hard—and say it out loud to a trusted adult—is a child learning to ask for what they need.

Use the questions as a starting point, not a quiz. Let your child lead, and be ready to share that struggling with reading says nothing about how smart or capable they are. If you want more language for these conversations, our reviews of Discovering My Dyslexia Superpowers and Thank You, Mr. Falker cover books that open the same kind of dialogue.

Who should read this book?

For parents of struggling readers, “Did You Say Pasghetti?” is a fantastic book to read together. It is a good fit if:

• Your child has recently been identified with dyslexia and you are looking for a gentle way to talk about it.
• Your child has been teased or feels different at school and needs to know they are not alone.
• You want a story that presents dyslexia in a positive and supportive light rather than as a deficit.
• You are building a home library of books where dyslexic children see themselves as the hero of the story.

It works as a read-aloud for emerging readers and as a confidence-builder for children who are old enough to read along.

How should I read it with my child?

Reading a book like this is most powerful when it is shared, not assigned. A few simple ideas:

• Read it together. Take turns or read it aloud so the focus stays on the story, not on decoding every word.
• Pause when the boy struggles. Ask your child if they have ever felt that way. Their answer often tells you more than any assessment.
• Use the discussion questions at the end. Let them spark an honest, low-pressure conversation about dyslexia and feelings.
• Connect it to real support. Remind your child that, like the boy in the story, they have people in their corner—and that structured, explicit instruction makes reading get easier over time.

Stories build empathy and understanding; structured literacy builds the reading skill itself. The two work best side by side. If you are pairing books like this with hands-on instruction at home, our Dyslexia Intervention Curriculum and its companion workbook on Amazon give you Orton-Gillingham–based, structured-literacy lessons designed for parents. And for more titles your dyslexic reader will love, our review of My Name is Brain Brian is a great next stop.