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