Dyslexia-friendly books – finding the right books to encourage reading
At Dyslexia Sparks, we’re passionate about reading – not just because it’s an essential life skill that makes daily tasks easier, but because it unlocks a world of imagination and enjoyment!
Often dyslexic learners can be reluctant to read, find it tiring, hard to follow, and have switched off from the enjoyment it can bring – that’s where finding the right books comes in.
The Sparks Book Project aims to inspire young learners to keep reading and help find the books they will enjoy in a format that suits them.
We’ve put together a list of books our students have loved over the years, along with recommendations from our specialists. It includes illustrated novels, comic books, hobby and interest-based books, and dyslexia-friendly titles. We’ve included the children’s ages the books were aimed at, however we know reading abilities and interests vary.
Picture Books and Illustrated Novels
Books with illustrations (pictures) help bring stories to life and engage young readers. Visuals break up the text, making books feel less overwhelming and more inviting. They also give extra clues about what’s happening, helping kids understand the story without having to rely only on the words. For children with dyslexia – who may already feel hesitant about reading – illustrations can make a huge difference.
The Bad Guys Collection (7-9 years)
Isadora Moon Books (7+)
Tom Gates Books (7+)
Maggie Sparks a Witch and her Adventures Books (7+) (these also have free audio books inside)
Horrid Henry Books (6-11 years)
The World of David Walliams (7-9 years)
Unicornia Books (7+)
Quentin Blake & John Yeoman Books (5-7 years)
Stories they’ll want to read
When children have access to stories that grab their attention and match their interests, reading feels less like a chore and more like an adventure. Books spark curiosity, making children eager to practice reading without the pressure. Enjoying a story encourages further reading, and this in turn improves reading and vocabulary skills by widening exposure to new words.
Roald Dahl Collection (7-9 years)
Alex Rider The Complete Missions (9-14 years)
Artemis Fowl Series (9-16 years)
Charles Dickens Easy Classics (7+)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Collection (7-12 years)
Dotty Detective Collection (7+)
Horrible Histories (8-12 years)
The Last Kids On Earth Series (8-12 years)
The Big Nate Collection (9-14 years)
The Faraway Tree Adventures (7-9 years)
The Sherlock Holmes Children’s Collection (7-9 years)
Hobbies/Non Fiction
Children are more likely to read when the topic excites them. Encouraging books that align with their hobbies and interests will keep them engaged and motivated to continue. Whether fiction or non-fiction, any reading helps build vocabulary and strengthens both reading and writing skills.
Football Rising Star Collections (7-9 years)
Bear Grylls The Complete Adventures Collection (7+)
Trailblazers: Simone Biles Gymnast (8-10 years)
Hopeless Heroes The Greek Gods (7-9 years)
Minecraft Guides (6+)
Minecraft The Woodsword Chronicles (9-14 years)
Little People, BIG DREAMS biography series (6-10 years) – examples include: Vivienne Westwood, John Lennon, Neil Armstrong, Muhammad Ali
Michael Morpurgo Collection (9+)
Usborne Beginners History Books (9-14 years)
The Week Junior online (8-14 years)
Lego Magazine (free to subscribe) (5-9 years)
National Geographic Kids Books (6-10 years) – Find it books have lots of fact and snippets of text with lots of things to find to keep them engaged.
Comic Books and Graphic Novels
The combination of images with shorter, easier-to-read text in comic books and graphic novels are great for improving reading skills and boosting confidence. And because the stories are exciting, comic books keep children engaged and motivated to keep reading. There are so many themes to pick from for boys and girls, we’d recommend heading down to your local comic book shop or book shops such as Waterstones and browsing the selections with your child.
Dav Pilkey Books – Cat Kid, Dog Man, Captain Underpants (6-12 years)
Jamie Smart Books – Bunny vs Monkey Books (7+)
The 13-Storey Treehouse Books (6-9 years)
Marvel and DC comics (7+)
Alex Rider Graphic Novels (8+)
The Phoenix magazine (online subscription) (7-14 years)
Macbeth and An Inspector Calls Graphic Novels (which may help older readers preparing for GCSE texts)
Dyslexia-Friendly Titles
Dyslexia-friendly books are designed to be easier to read, with clear fonts in a larger size, extra spacing between lines and paragraphs, and left-aligned text on cream-colored paper to reduce visual processing difficulties.
Barrington Stoke have a great selection of dyslexia-friendly books that are super-readable for every child. Their award-winning short novels are designed to ensure an accessible read for those who struggle and a quick win for more confident readers. Their website allows you to select the child’s interest age and reading age making the options suitable for your child.
Waterstones also have a variety of dyslexia-friendly titles for children, allowing you to narrow down the age range and find something your child will enjoy.
Audiobooks
Audiobooks are a game-changer for dyslexic learners! By taking away the struggle of physically reading, they can make stories and information so much more enjoyable. And when kids enjoy reading, they do it more often – which is key to building their confidence. Plus, listening to a wide range of books introduces them to more new words, which helps with vocabulary and even writing skills.
Dyslexic learners have access to free audiobooks through Listening Books. They have a huge collection of fiction and non-fiction books for children and teens, covering everything from classic stories to popular school texts. Calibre Audio also free for dyslexic learners.
In our Sparks Tuition sessions, we love using Yoto Players with our students (great for ages 3-12). Yoto makes audiobooks super easy for children to use – just pop in a card, and they’re in control of their own story time. There’s a huge range of books to choose from, so there’s something for everyone. Some of our favourites include: The Roald Dahl collections, Enid Blyton classics, Harry Potter, and Fantastic Beasts!
No matter how your child enjoys books – whether through classic print, audiobooks, or comics – the most important thing is that they’re engaging with words, building their vocabulary, and expanding their knowledge. Every book they explore helps strengthen their reading skills and confidence. Dyslexia Sparks also encourages the use of pre-loved books available at World of Books, keeping them affordable – and you can even sell them back when your young person has finished with them!
Let’s inspire a love for reading and let their imaginations soar! 🚀📚