BOOKS FOR CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS
WITH DYSLEXIA
'My
Name is Brian' - by Jeanne Betancourt. (Scholastic
Paperbacks; ISBN: 0590449222). Brian dreads entering sixth grade, knowing his
learning experiences will be fraught with the confusion and frustration of years
past. But on opening day, his teacher recognizes his problem--tipped off by the
boy's reversing letters when writing his name--and conducts a battery of tests.
Results indicate that, despite a keen intellect, Brian has dyslexia. A meeting
with Brian's (heretofore unaware) parents leads to a support program at home and
at school. Betancourt ( More Than Meets the Eye ) "brings her own experience with
dyslexia to Brian's story," though it seems unlikely that a child in a modern-day
urban environment would reach sixth grade without having been diagnosed. (The
boy's father and grandfather are similarly afflicted.) A superfluous subplot concerns
the point system Brian and his friends devise for clowning in school; lengthy
passages about Canada geese further slow the pace. Despite rather undistinguished
writing, struggling students may relate to this protagonist's difficulties. (Publishers
Weekly review) Ages 8-12. USA
| UK
'So,
You Think You've Got Problems'' - by Rosalind Burkett (Egon Publishers; ISBN
0905858859) - This easy-to-read book is for dyslexic children of all ages. It
explains, simply and sympathetically, what is happening to them, and how they
can be helped to overcome their problems. It also hopes to show children that
they are not alone in their difficulties, and that there are others with the same
problems. The aim of this colourful book is to put dyslexia into perspective,
particularly for a child, but for parents also.
USA | UK
'Josh,
a Boy with Dyslexia' - by Caroline Janover (Waterfront Books; ISBN 1-800-639-6063)
- " I read 'Josh a Boy with Dyslexia' to my 8-year old daughter. It was excellent and helped her understand some of the things she was going through. She really related to his struggles. She took many things from this book, but the one that was most helpful was using a technique that Josh taught her to tell her left from her right hand. He used a wart on his left hand, my daughter to this day always looks for her birthmark on her right arm! Wonderful book to read to children!"
USA | UK
'Dyslexia:
a Teenager's Guide'' - by Sylvia Moody (Vermilion Books; ISBN 0091-19000-18)
- helps young adults tackle the problems of dyslexia with practical strategies
uniquely suited to them. Clearly and simply written by a leading expert in the
field, the book helps with reading, writing, spelling, memory and provides tips
on how to take notes and organize study; how to deal with exams and use IT. It
also shows how to improve confidence and assertiveness, and how to build on the
creative talent that many dyslexics have. Review.
USA
|
UK
'Thank
you, Mr. Faulkner' - by Patricia Polacco - girls' interest.
(Philomel Books; ISBN: 0399231668 ). USA
| UK
'Dyslexia'
- by Althea - aimed at 7-11 years olds, telling the
story of a group of children with dyslexia.
UK
| USA
'6th
Grade Can Really Kill You' - by Barthe Declements - girls' interest.
(Puffin; ISBN: 0140371303). USA
|
UK
'Dolphin
Sky - by Gunny Rorby - (Paper Star; ISBN:
0613076338) - all for girls. USA
|
UK
The Cat in the Hat The kids slumped
in their chairs Too glum to complain. And to make matters worse, It
started to rain . . . The Cat has arrived, and he's got a hat full of fun
to save Conrad and Sally from a boring rainy afternoon. Written in buoyant easy-to-read
prose (with more than a few hilarious asides from the pesky Fish), this official
movie storybook is packed with full-color photos from the film!
Hooked on
Phonics - If your child needs practice sounding out words or stumbles over
words like bring, skate, and crowd when s/he reads aloud, this program can help
develop reading fluency and challenge him/her with progressive reading improvement.
(Recommended by Jay, Texas - 'Who would be without them?')
Jolly Phonics -
This systematic phonics program uses a multi-sensory approach and delightful characters
(Inky Mouse, Snake, Bee, and Phonic) to teach the letter sounds and how they blend
to form words. The program is effective with older children and adults who need
special reading and writing help also. (UK) 'An excellent scheme for teaching
phonics to younger children is called ‘Jolly Phonics’. This is a visual, practical
and fun approach to letter and sound recognition. Each letter is associated with
an ‘action sound’; for example the letter ‘a’ is taught by running the fingers
up and down the arm simulating lots of ants running about tickling the arm. The
children are encouraged to say the sound that ‘a’ makes at the same time. ‘S’
is taught by simulating the weaving motion of a snake and at the same time hissing
the ‘s’ sound. This visual and practical work is interesting and exciting for
the pupils and is reinforced and supported with flash cards of each letter in
bold with a picture of the corresponding action. Each letter is reinforced and
consolidated with practice of correct letter formation in the air, in sand, on
coloured handwriting paper, mini white boards and on each other’s backs as well
as by games trying to find the letter in a feely bag by touch alone. Once the
letter has been mastered it is placed in a pot labelled ‘letters we know’. Another
pot contains ‘letters we are going to learn’; the pupils enjoy seeing the transfer
of letters to the ‘know’ box as they successfully learn them.' (J.D., Bexhill-on-Sea,
UK)'
SRA
Distar Reading - In Distar Reading I, the
children learn the skills for decoding word-sound-symbol relationships, blending
and rhyming. They also learn the sounds of 40 symbols, including certain joined
letters and long vowels with diacritical marks. In Distar Reading II, pupils concentrate
on important sound combinations and word discriminations and learn how to use
a variety of word-attack skills.
How
Dyslexic Benny Became a Star - Benny's
story changed my son's life. It's the first book he ever read twice. Unfortunately,
I was too much like Benny's father. Seeing myself protrayed changed my attitude.
Now I know why it's important to support my son instead of badgering him.
USA
|
UK
Barrington Stoke
(recommended by Juliet Freud, Dyslexia Parents Group, dyslexia@canada.com - 'pocket-sized
story books printed on off-white paper, well-spaced out, with many illustrations
and good subject-matter, these books are highly recommended for 9- to 14-year
old dyslexic readers.' 
My
Year with Harry Potter - the story of a dyslexic boy who fell in love with
the Harry Potter books! - 'I'm normal because I am a normal kid-going to
school, being happy, getting homework, having a family. I'm not normal because
I'm dyslexic. I'm not normal because mystical things happen to me. Take the
day I received my first Harry Potter book. It was Christmas of my fourth grade
year. The books weren't really famous then, and I didn't know anything about Harry
Potter. But there 'was a present on the couch next to my Christmas stocking. I
picked up the book and I thought: "This looks good. I want to read it!"
USA
| UK
Welcome
to Dyslexic Park by Tyler Lester. A book about dyslexia written by a 12-year
old little boy with dyslexia for other children with dyslexia. Very inspirational.
(j.mommy, USA)
Listening
Books - The National Listening Library (UK)
Reading
A-Z - Low cost downloadable materials to teach guided reading, phonics, phonemic
awareness, fluency, and comprehension. 'Reading A-Z is affordable and the material
is excellent. My kids loves it - both my kids fight over who is going to read
first.' (S.W., Coventry, UK)
Elbow world by Rene du Toit (ISBN 1-84294-047-3). Dyslexic children
are often gifted in other areas such as art, music, dance, etc. I have just read
a new story book aimed at dyslexic children which highlights the fact that everyone
has different strengths and weaknesses and that we should celebrate our individuality.
This book is available from Planetree
There is a US spelling and a UK spelling edition. I read it to my class of dyslexic
kids who loved it. (Recommended by I.R.)
Chrysalis
Books - Chrysalis Children’s Books has introduced READ™, a special new
typeface used in educational books that makes reading more accessible to children.
READ’s specially designed letter shapes and even letter spacing make books more
inviting for all children. READ™ is particularly helpful for young readers, reluctant
readers and those with learning difficulties such as dyslexia.
Books
include series on Wild Animals, How Things Have Changed, The Senses, A First Look
at Art, Sing and Play, Everyday Food, and Little Hands.
Plees Help: Help
for Children with Dyslexia - 'This is a brilliant 12-page guide on how a child
may explain how it feels to be dyslexic, and gives teachers an insight into how
a dyslexic child finds certain tasks difficult. e.g.: "I wish I had a printer
I could plug straight into my brain and then I would show you I'm not stupid".
When I read this booklet to my 8-year old son it was like a curtain being lifted
for him "Yes that's just how I feel, mum".' USA
| UK
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