Dyslexia-friendly books can be hard to find! A great place to start when selecting books for your learners would always be to start by gauging their interests and finding a book to match them. For learners struggling to read with dyslexia, it’s worth looking for books printed on off-white paper for easier reading. Books with larger print and short prose that’s clearly spaced out work well. Engaging diagrams are helpful and books with short paragraphs and/or chapters for natural ‘rest breaks’ are important. Don’t forget about books 100 pages or under, too!
We’d love to hear in the comments if you have any other recommendations!
- My Friend’s a Gris-Kwok by Malorie Blackman – babysitting takes a turn for the strange for a young boy when he finds out his friend and little sister are Gris-Kwoks! Short sentences, brief chapters, cream paper, and clear fonts are assisted by plentiful illustrations 6+
- The Gingerbread Star by Anne Fine – little Hetty dreams of being a glow-worm instead of a boring old grey worm. Chunky format to make it dyslexia friendly 6+
- Boing Boing by Alexander Mccall Smith – Jane has always been just a little bit different – she has springs in her knees! Chunky format to make it dyslexia friendly 6+
- Nellie Choc-Ice, Penguin Explorer by Jeremy Strong & Jamie Smith – Nellie is on her way home to the South Pole but gets trapped! 6+
- The Story of the Dancing Frog by Quentin Blake – two touring frogs travel the world spreading laughter and light. Dyslexia-friendly layout and typeface 6+
- The Birdsnest and the House Next Door by Julia Donaldson – Elmo and his sister love playing in the jungle house next door, that is, until mean old Mr Birdsnest moves in 6+
- Snug by Michael Morpurgo – beautifully illustrated story about animals and friendship. Dyslexia-friendly layout and typeface 6+
- Splash Day by Nick Sharratt – Yay, it’s Splash Day which means everyone is ready for a water fight! Dyslexia-friendly layout and typeface 6+
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney – popular children’s book and well-known title. Comic-book-style illustrations along with humorous text make for an entertaining read 8+
- Football Mad by Paul Stewart – join the Dale team as they overcome to trials and tribulations of playing football. Dyslexia-friendly layout and typeface 8+
- World Burn Down by Steve Cole – Carlos is kidnapped to teach his mother a lesson, but he needs to escape more than his captors as the world burns around him. This book has a super-readable layout and typeface 8+
- After The War by Tom Palmer – having survived the horrors of WWII, Yossi, Leo and Mordecai reach a place of safety and attempt their recovery. This book has a super-readable layout and typeface 8+
- The House of Clouds by Lisa Thompson – Tabby’s Grandad comes to stay and shares some hardly believable fantastical stories. Dyslexia-friendly layout and typeface 8+
- Monster Slayer by Chris Riddell – on a dark night, the sound of music wakes a terrible monster. Dyslexia-friendly layout and typeface 8+
- McTavish on the Move by Meg Rosoff – Pa Peachey gets a new job which means Betty has to move to a new part of town and she’s not happy! Dyslexia-friendly layout and typeface 8+
- All I Said Was…by Michael Morpurgo – a boy wants to fly, and a bird wants to read so a deal is made. Dyslexia-friendly layout and typeface 8+
- Itch, Scritch, Scratch by Eleanor Updale – there’s a gang of nasty nits in town and mum can’t get rid of them! Dyslexia-friendly layout and typeface 8+
- Run Wild by Gill Lewis – Izzy and Asha want a place to skateboard away from the Skull brothers and find a derelict gasworks. Dyslexia-friendly layout and typeface 8+
- Beast Quest by Adam Blade – set in a fantasy land filled with wizards, dragons, good vs evil as well as inspiring heroes and heroines. Excellent series for less confident KS2 readers.
Further book recommendations for every cohort can be found here.
The British Dyslexia Assocation provides advice, research and support for learners with dyslexia.
