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
- feature characters who struggle with reading
- have a high interest level and low reading age.
Check out these other organisations for further resources: British Dyslexia Association; Being Dyslexic website.
-
Ted Rules the World
Flip -
Ted Rules the World
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…
; Flip
-
Test Trouble
Flip -
Test Trouble
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…
; Flip
-
Carnival of the Clocks
Flip -
Carnival of the Clocks
Class One have all made paper lanterns shaped like clocks to celebrate the shortest day of the year, and the days becoming longer.…
; Flip
-
Everest: Reaching the Roof of the World
Flip -
Everest: Reaching the Roof of the World
Part of the Incredible True Stories series from Barrington Stoke that also includes Survival in Space: The Apollo 13 Mission,…
; Flip
-
The Great Food Bank Heist
Flip -
The Great Food Bank Heist
This heartwarming book about a food bank shortage is marvellous on so many levels. The intriguing mystery has touches of humo…
; Flip
-
Tragedy at Sea: The Sinking of the Titanic
Flip -
Tragedy at Sea: The Sinking of the Titanic
Shortly before midnight on April 14th, 1912, the world’s most luxurious (and probably most famous) ship, the Titanic, hit an icebe…
; Flip
-
I Am the Minotaur
Flip -
I Am the Minotaur
Matthew does his best to be invisible, especially at school. He doesn’t want anyone to notice him or use the horrible nickname ‘St…
; Flip
-
World Burn Down
Flip -
World Burn Down
Carlos' mum has made some powerful enemies in her job protecting the Amazon rainforest - and when they capture Carlos for ransom, …
; Flip
-
Horror Heights: The Slime
Flip -
Horror Heights: The Slime
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…
; Flip
-
Peace Maker
Flip -
Peace Maker
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…
; Flip
-
Brian Has Dyslexia
Flip -
Brian Has Dyslexia
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 …
; Flip
-
Wider than the Sea
Flip -
Wider than the Sea
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…
; Flip
-
Read Between the Lies
Flip -
Read Between the Lies
With chapters alternately narrated by stepbrothers Ryan and Tommy, this is a clever and absorbing book that builds slowly and work…
; Flip
-
When the Sky Falls
Flip -
When the Sky Falls
It's the Second World War and while everyone else is evacuated to the countryside, 12-year-old Joseph ends up in the city with a w…
; Flip
-
Pages & Co: Tilly and the Bookwanderers
Flip -
Pages & Co: Tilly and the Bookwanderers
Tilly Pages always knew she loved books... but she never imagined she'd be able to step into their fantastical fictional worlds. A…
; Flip
-
Picture Perfect
Flip -
Picture Perfect
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…
; Flip
-
Journey Back to Freedom: The Olaudah Equiano Story
Flip -
Journey Back to Freedom: The Olaudah Equiano Story
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…
; Flip
-
Royal Rebel
Flip -
Royal Rebel
An empowering and fun, relatable read for tweens, Royal Rebel presents a young girl growing up in a matriarchal communit…
; Flip
-
Clever Cakes
Flip -
Clever Cakes
This beautiful book of two fairy tales by Michael Rosen in the Little Gems series is written in a dyslexia-friendly form…
; Flip
-
Be Nice to Aunt Emma
Flip -
Be Nice to Aunt Emma
Tansy finds her Aunt Emma really annoying – and she's due another visit soon. A charming tale that explores complex fami…
; Flip
-
Survival in Space: The Apollo 13 Mission
Flip -
Survival in Space: The Apollo 13 Mission
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 …
; Flip
-
Owen and the Soldier
Flip -
Owen and the Soldier
A beautiful tale of a courageous young man who overcomes his fears when he finds an unlikely companion in a park statue. Complex i…
; Flip
-
The Humiliations of Welton Blake
Flip -
The Humiliations of Welton Blake
Welton Blake's life goes from brilliant (Carmella's agreed to go out with him - YES!) to dreadful (broken phone, school bullies, a…
; Flip
-
Mind Writer
Flip -
Mind Writer
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…
; Flip
-
Cally and Jimmy: Twins in Trouble
Flip -
Cally and Jimmy: Twins in Trouble
Four funny, touching short stories ideal for newly confident readers and reflective of a diverse, inclusive family.
; Flip
-
The Invasion of Crooked Oak
Flip -
The Invasion of Crooked Oak
When Nancy mentions that her mum and dad are acting strangely, her friends Pete and Krish are keen to find out more - especially a…
; Flip
-
Lightning Chase Me Home
Flip -
Lightning Chase Me Home
This is an unusual adventure story that successfully holds the reader under its spell. A growing sense of danger rumbles in the ba…
; Flip
-
Shona, Word Detective
Flip -
Shona, Word Detective
A delightful celebration of lexicography in a dyslexia-friendly layout, this is a book that will surely inspire all children to fi…
; Flip
-
Stay A Little Longer
Flip -
Stay A Little Longer
Since Aman’s father died, nothing has been the same. Then she befriends a new neighbour, who is lonely too. This warm, o…
; Flip
-
Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief
Flip -
Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief
In this leftfield comic fantasy novel, 12-year-old Percy Jackson discovers that the Greek gods of Olympus are alive and living in …
; Flip
-
Moving the Goalposts
Flip -
Moving the Goalposts
Sam is the hugely successful goalie in his football team...
; Flip
-
Boffin Boy and the Wizard of Edo
Flip -
Boffin Boy and the Wizard of Edo
This graphic novel style book is a quick read and perfect for those who don’t like too much text.
; Flip
-
Ninja: First Mission
Flip -
Ninja: First Mission
A dyslexia- friendly book with plenty of appeal for action-loving readers
; Flip
-
Sterling and the Canary
Flip -
Sterling and the Canary
Sterling Thaxton is handsome, popular and good at sport...
; Flip
-
The Lost Diary of Sami Star
Flip -
The Lost Diary of Sami Star
Hannah’s parents seem to have forgotten her, preoccupied by current quarrels with her older sister. School isn’t much better – Han…
; Flip
-
Drawing a Veil
Flip -
Drawing a Veil
When her best friend suddenly turns up at school wearing a black headscarf, Ellie isn’t sure what to think
; Flip
-
The Harder They Fall
Flip -
The Harder They Fall
Bali Rai once again hits home with a current and unfortunately necessary book. As always, the characters are fully fleshed out, th…
; Flip
-
Maggot Moon
Flip -
Maggot Moon
Combining conspiracy theory and dystopia, this hugely original novel is set in an alternate 1950s in which Britain is dominated by…
; Flip
-
Young Merlin
Flip -
Young Merlin
Merlin has always felt different from the other boys, because of his dreadful nightmares full of fighting and death.
; Flip
-
Ghost Stadium
Flip -
Ghost Stadium
Three boys go camping in the abandoned Northface football stadium. But all is not as it seems. Tom Palmer's Ghost Stadium&nbs…
; Flip
-
Over the Line
Flip -
Over the Line
Set during World War I, this book tells the compelling true story of the professional footballers who signed up to fight. It's sur…
; Flip
-
The Tindims of Rubbish Island
Flip -
The Tindims of Rubbish Island
Combining eccentric characters, short chapters and lively illustrations, this delightful new series from a talented mother-daughte…
; Flip
