Books for visually impaired children
While it can be hard to find mainstream books that offer meaningful content for children who are blind or partially sighted, the following list suggests a few ideas.
The titles listed include tried and tested examples of books with tactile elements, embossing, die-cut holes, braille and audio.
Here are also some useful specialist services and suppliers:
- Living Paintings: a free library of tactile books with audio description
- Clear Vision Project: a postal lending library of mainstream children's books with added braille (or Moon), print and pictures
- RNIB Library: a free library of digital, audio, braille and giant print books
- Listening Books: a postal and internet audio book service
- Access2Books: a community interest project supplying giant print and braille books
- Bag Books: supply multisensory books
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The Very Busy Spider
Author: Eric Carle
Publisher: Puffin
Interest age: 3+
Reading age: 7+One morning in a farmyard a spider begins to spin a web. All the animals try to persuade her to stop but she doesn't answer any of them; she is too busy spinning her web.
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That's Not My Kitten...
Author: Fiona Watt Illustrator: Rachel Wells
Publisher: Usborne Books
Reading age: 0+One of a growing series of touch and feel board books with interesting textures and shapes for inquisitive fingers to explore.
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That's Not My Bear...
Author: Fiona Watt Illustrator: Rachel Wells
Publisher: Usborne
Reading age: 4+A different bear is introduced on each page of this colourful board book, but there is something not quite right about most of them.
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Getting Ready
Author: Illustrator: Cocoretto
Publisher: Child’s Play
Interest age: 0-4
Time to get up! Pull back the covers and choose your clothes. Getting ready for the day is made both fun and interactive in this touch-and-feel book. An irresistible tactile treat.
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Nursery Rhymes
Author: Roger Priddy
Publisher: Priddy Books
Interest age: 0+
Reading age: 4+A large board book of over 20 nursery rhymes.
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There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
Author: Pam Adams
Publisher: Child's Play
One of the Classic Books-with-Holes that have been around for 30 years. This new edition is perfect for small hands and the holes in the page really draw the child through the book.
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Off to the Park!
Author: Stephen Cheetham
Publisher: Child's Play
Interest age: 1+
Reading age: 4+We're off to the park - what will we find? Which way shall we go? The swings or the slide? Take a look inside!
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Off to the Beach!
Author: Child's Play Illustrator: Cocoretto
Publisher: Child's Play International
Interest age: 0-4
Child's Play continue to build on their range of truly inclusive and accessible books with this sensory gem. Off to the Beach! takes us on a tactile trip to the seaside.
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On The Move
Author: DK Braille
Publisher: Dorling Kindersley
Interest age: 7+
Reading age: Young braille readersOne of a new series of books developed in consultation with the RNIB, this particular title focuses on transport. The board book features everything from trains and cars to cranes and unicycles, supported by a range of interesting facts.
