Dyslexia-friendly books
This list aims to provide a range of books that may appeal to young people of seven years plus with reading difficulties. The list includes books that:
- are particularly dyslexia-friendly
- have a high interest level and low reading age.
Check out these other organisations for further resources: British Dyslexia Association; Being Dyslexic website.
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Brian Has Dyslexia
Author: Woody Fox Illustrator: Jenny Leigh
Interest level: 5+
Reading age: 4+
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Brian Has Dyslexia
Author: Woody Fox Illustrator: Jenny Leigh
Interest level: 5+
Reading age: 4+
Not knowing his left from his right, and his bad headaches are also adding to his problems. Then, with some help from Dr Spot and …
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Budgie
Author: Joseph Coelho Illustrator: David Barrow
Interest level: 6-8
Reading age: 5+
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Budgie
Author: Joseph Coelho Illustrator: David Barrow
Interest level: 6-8
Reading age: 5+
A lyrical story about Miles, who finds and looks after a lost little budgie. With a dyslexia friendly format and effortlessly incl…
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Carnival of the Clocks
Author: Nick Sharratt
Interest level: 6-8
Reading age: 6+
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Carnival of the Clocks
Author: Nick Sharratt
Interest level: 6-8
Reading age: 6+
Class One have all made paper lanterns shaped like clocks to celebrate the shortest day of the year, and the days becoming longer.…
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Ted Rules the World
Author: Frank Cottrell Boyce Illustrator: Cate James (cover illustration Chris Riddell)
Interest level: 9-11
Reading age: 7-8
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Ted Rules the World
Author: Frank Cottrell Boyce Illustrator: Cate James (cover illustration Chris Riddell)
Interest level: 9-11
Reading age: 7-8
When a new Prime Minister is elected on Ted’s birthday, strange things begin to happen. At first, Ted thinks it’s a happy coincide…
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Test Trouble
Author: Serena Patel Illustrator: Louise Forshaw
Interest level: 6-11
Reading age: 7+
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Test Trouble
Author: Serena Patel Illustrator: Louise Forshaw
Interest level: 6-11
Reading age: 7+
Arun hates tests, so when his teacher sets a timed maths test, he does everything he can to get out of it. This light-hearted chap…
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Picture Perfect
Author: Serena Patel Illustrator: Louise Forshaw
Interest level: 9-11
Reading age: 6-8
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Picture Perfect
Author: Serena Patel Illustrator: Louise Forshaw
Interest level: 9-11
Reading age: 6-8
Sonal has a photo project to do for school, and she’s chosen the theme of ‘family’. However, getting a nice family photo of everyo…
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Clever Cakes
Author: Michael Rosen Illustrator: Ashley King
Interest level: 6-8
Reading age: 6+
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Clever Cakes
Author: Michael Rosen Illustrator: Ashley King
Interest level: 6-8
Reading age: 6+
This beautiful book of two fairy tales by Michael Rosen in the Little Gems series is written in a dyslexia-friendly form…
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Everest: Reaching the Roof of the World
Author: David Long Illustrator: Stefano Tambellini
Interest level: 7-11
Reading age: 9-11
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Everest: Reaching the Roof of the World
Author: David Long Illustrator: Stefano Tambellini
Interest level: 7-11
Reading age: 9-11
Part of the Incredible True Stories series from Barrington Stoke that also includes Survival in Space: The Apollo 13 Mission,…
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The Great Food Bank Heist
Author: Onjali Q. Raúf Illustrator: Elisa Paganelli
Interest level: 6-11
Reading age: 7+
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The Great Food Bank Heist
Author: Onjali Q. Raúf Illustrator: Elisa Paganelli
Interest level: 6-11
Reading age: 7+
This heartwarming book about a food bank shortage is marvellous on so many levels. The intriguing mystery has touches of humo…
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The Tindims of Rubbish Island
Author: Sally Gardner Illustrator: Lydia Corry
Interest level: 6-8
Reading age: 7+
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The Tindims of Rubbish Island
Author: Sally Gardner Illustrator: Lydia Corry
Interest level: 6-8
Reading age: 7+
Combining eccentric characters, short chapters and lively illustrations, this delightful new series from a talented mother-daughte…
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Tragedy at Sea: The Sinking of the Titanic
Author: David Long Illustratoed by Stefano Tambellini
Interest level: 11-14
Reading age: 10+
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Tragedy at Sea: The Sinking of the Titanic
Author: David Long Illustratoed by Stefano Tambellini
Interest level: 11-14
Reading age: 10+
Shortly before midnight on April 14th, 1912, the world’s most luxurious (and probably most famous) ship, the Titanic, hit an icebe…
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Owen and the Soldier
Author: Lisa Thompson Illustrator: Mike Lowery
Interest level: 9-12
Reading age: 8+
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Owen and the Soldier
Author: Lisa Thompson Illustrator: Mike Lowery
Interest level: 9-12
Reading age: 8+
A beautiful tale of a courageous young man who overcomes his fears when he finds an unlikely companion in a park statue. Complex i…
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Journey Back to Freedom: The Olaudah Equiano Story
Author: Catherine Johnson
Interest level: 9-11
Reading age: 9+
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Journey Back to Freedom: The Olaudah Equiano Story
Author: Catherine Johnson
Interest level: 9-11
Reading age: 9+
Olaudah is just 11 years old when he is kidnapped from his lovely family in Essaka, Africa in 1745, sold into brutal slavery and r…
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Reek
Author: Alastair Chisholm Illustrator: George Caltsoudas
Interest level: 9-11
Reading age: 8+
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Reek
Author: Alastair Chisholm Illustrator: George Caltsoudas
Interest level: 9-11
Reading age: 8+
Set against the backdrop of a climate catastrophe, this gripping dystopian thriller is oppressively atmospheric as it depicts a re…
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World Burn Down
Author: Steve Cole Illustrator: Oriol Vidal
Interest level: 9-11
Reading age: 8+
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World Burn Down
Author: Steve Cole Illustrator: Oriol Vidal
Interest level: 9-11
Reading age: 8+
Carlos' mum has made some powerful enemies in her job protecting the Amazon rainforest - and when they capture Carlos for ransom, …
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Horror Heights: The Slime
Author: Bec Hill Illustrator: Berat Pekmezci
Interest level: 11-13
Reading age: 10+
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Horror Heights: The Slime
Author: Bec Hill Illustrator: Berat Pekmezci
Interest level: 11-13
Reading age: 10+
Connie is proud to be known as the ‘Queen of Slime’ at school and intends to keep it that way – even though her entire slime colle…
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Peace Maker
Author: Malorie Blackman Illustrator: Matthew Griffin
Interest level: 8+
Reading age: 8+
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Peace Maker
Author: Malorie Blackman Illustrator: Matthew Griffin
Interest level: 8+
Reading age: 8+
In Michela's world, aggression is forbidden - but sometimes fighting is the only way to keep the peace. This is a well-paced and i…
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Wider than the Sea
Author: Serena Molloy Illustrator: George Ermos
Interest level: 9-11
Reading age: 8+
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Wider than the Sea
Author: Serena Molloy Illustrator: George Ermos
Interest level: 9-11
Reading age: 8+
Ró finds reading hard because the words jump around. She can’t tell anyone because her parents are unhappy and she doesn’t want to…
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Be Nice to Aunt Emma
Author: Anne Fine Illustrator: Gareth Conway
Interest level: 8-11
Reading age: 8+
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Be Nice to Aunt Emma
Author: Anne Fine Illustrator: Gareth Conway
Interest level: 8-11
Reading age: 8+
Tansy finds her Aunt Emma really annoying – and she's due another visit soon. A charming tale that explores complex fami…
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Survival in Space: The Apollo 13 Mission
Author: David Long Illustrator: Stefano Tambellini
Interest level: 9-12
Reading age: 9+
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Survival in Space: The Apollo 13 Mission
Author: David Long Illustrator: Stefano Tambellini
Interest level: 9-12
Reading age: 9+
Astronauts Jim Lovell, Jack Swigert and Fred Haise were over 200,000 miles from Earth, in a rocket on the way to the moon, when a …
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Royal Rebel
Author: Carina Axelsson
Interest level: 9-11
Reading age: 9+
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Royal Rebel
Author: Carina Axelsson
Interest level: 9-11
Reading age: 9+
An empowering and fun, relatable read for tweens, Royal Rebel presents a young girl growing up in a matriarchal communit…
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The Humiliations of Welton Blake
Author: Alex Wheatle
Interest level: 9-12
Reading age: 9+
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The Humiliations of Welton Blake
Author: Alex Wheatle
Interest level: 9-12
Reading age: 9+
Welton Blake's life goes from brilliant (Carmella's agreed to go out with him - YES!) to dreadful (broken phone, school bullies, a…
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I Am the Minotaur
Author: Anthony McGowan
Interest level: 12-15
Reading age: 12+
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I Am the Minotaur
Author: Anthony McGowan
Interest level: 12-15
Reading age: 12+
Matthew does his best to be invisible, especially at school. He doesn’t want anyone to notice him or use the horrible nickname ‘St…
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Mind Writer
Author: Steve Cole Illustrator: Nelson Evergreen
Interest level: 8+
Reading age: 8+
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Mind Writer
Author: Steve Cole Illustrator: Nelson Evergreen
Interest level: 8+
Reading age: 8+
Luke has a secret, a hidden skill: he can read minds. But when Luke meets Samira, he can't read her mind at all. A gripping thrill…
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The Invasion of Crooked Oak
Author: Dan Smith Illustrator: Chris King
Interest level: 9-11
Reading age: 8+
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The Invasion of Crooked Oak
Author: Dan Smith Illustrator: Chris King
Interest level: 9-11
Reading age: 8+
When Nancy mentions that her mum and dad are acting strangely, her friends Pete and Krish are keen to find out more - especially a…
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D-Day Dog
Author: Tom Palmer Illustrator: Tom Clohosy Cole
Interest level: 9-12
Reading age: 9+
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D-Day Dog
Author: Tom Palmer Illustrator: Tom Clohosy Cole
Interest level: 9-12
Reading age: 9+
Jack’s favourite things are his dog, Finn, and playing war-themed videogames with his dad, who’s an army reservist. He’s excited a…
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Shona, Word Detective
Author: John Agard
Interest level: 7-11
Reading age: 8+
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Shona, Word Detective
Author: John Agard
Interest level: 7-11
Reading age: 8+
A delightful celebration of lexicography in a dyslexia-friendly layout, this is a book that will surely inspire all children to fi…
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Stay A Little Longer
Author: Bali Rai
Interest level: 12-16
Reading age: 8+
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Stay A Little Longer
Author: Bali Rai
Interest level: 12-16
Reading age: 8+
Since Aman’s father died, nothing has been the same. Then she befriends a new neighbour, who is lonely too. This warm, o…
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Moving the Goalposts
Author: Rob Childs Illustrator: Gary Rees
Interest level: 10+
Reading age: 8+
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Moving the Goalposts
Author: Rob Childs Illustrator: Gary Rees
Interest level: 10+
Reading age: 8+
Sam is the hugely successful goalie in his football team...
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Boffin Boy and the Wizard of Edo
Author: David Orme Illustrator: Peter Richardson
Interest level: 8+
Reading age: 9+
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Boffin Boy and the Wizard of Edo
Author: David Orme Illustrator: Peter Richardson
Interest level: 8+
Reading age: 9+
This graphic novel style book is a quick read and perfect for those who don’t like too much text.
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Ninja: First Mission
Author: Chris Bradford
Interest level: 10+
Reading age: 8+
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Ninja: First Mission
Author: Chris Bradford
Interest level: 10+
Reading age: 8+
A dyslexia- friendly book with plenty of appeal for action-loving readers
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Sterling and the Canary
Author: Andy Stanton
Interest level: 9+
Reading age: 8+
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Sterling and the Canary
Author: Andy Stanton
Interest level: 9+
Reading age: 8+
Sterling Thaxton is handsome, popular and good at sport...
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The Lost Diary of Sami Star
Author: Karen McCombie
Interest level: 7-11
Reading age: 8+
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The Lost Diary of Sami Star
Author: Karen McCombie
Interest level: 7-11
Reading age: 8+
Hannah’s parents seem to have forgotten her, preoccupied by current quarrels with her older sister. School isn’t much better – Han…
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Drawing a Veil
Author: Lari Don
Interest level: 10+
Reading age: 8+
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Drawing a Veil
Author: Lari Don
Interest level: 10+
Reading age: 8+
When her best friend suddenly turns up at school wearing a black headscarf, Ellie isn’t sure what to think
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The Harder They Fall
Author: Bali Rai
Interest level: 12-15
Reading age: 10+
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The Harder They Fall
Author: Bali Rai
Interest level: 12-15
Reading age: 10+
Bali Rai once again hits home with a current and unfortunately necessary book. As always, the characters are fully fleshed out, th…
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Maggot Moon
Author: Sally Gardner
Interest level: 13+
Reading age: 11+
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Maggot Moon
Author: Sally Gardner
Interest level: 13+
Reading age: 11+
Combining conspiracy theory and dystopia, this hugely original novel is set in an alternate 1950s in which Britain is dominated by…
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Young Merlin
Author: Tony Bradman
Interest level: 8-10
Reading age: 7+
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Young Merlin
Author: Tony Bradman
Interest level: 8-10
Reading age: 7+
Merlin has always felt different from the other boys, because of his dreadful nightmares full of fighting and death.
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Ghost Stadium
Author: Tom Palmer
Interest level: 11+
Reading age: 8+
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Ghost Stadium
Author: Tom Palmer
Interest level: 11+
Reading age: 8+
Three boys go camping in the abandoned Northface football stadium. But all is not as it seems. Tom Palmer's Ghost Stadium&nbs…
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Over the Line
Author: Tom Palmer
Interest level: 10+
Reading age: 8+
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Over the Line
Author: Tom Palmer
Interest level: 10+
Reading age: 8+
Set during World War I, this book tells the compelling true story of the professional footballers who signed up to fight. It's sur…
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Just Breathe
Author: Katharine Quarmby
Interest level: 13-14
Reading age: 9+
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Just Breathe
Author: Katharine Quarmby
Interest level: 13-14
Reading age: 9+
Sam’s dad is in hospital and now Sam is in a new city, new school and a new foster home. A short, dyslexia-friendly story for teen…
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