Books for the reluctant reading

[onlyoranges]

My ds has severe dyslexia and reading holds little joy for him. We (I) read together every night but coming to the end of our recent title. Does anyone have any suggestions. He does love animals. Sky Hawk was a particular favourite of his. Does anyone have any ideas?

[PrivateParkin]

How old is your DS OP?

[FruitOnAPlatter]

It's completely left field, and nothing to do with nature, and he might be too old for it, so might be way, way off base but my DS loves Captain Underpants - it's 50/50 comic style and writing, so he would do the comic bit (the pictures helped with clues which helps) and I would read the text bit.

[RabbitsAreTasty]

The Beano.

Tom Gates

Guinness Book of Records

Recipe books, science books, any non-fiction where he feels there is a "point" to reading it.

[PrivateParkin]

Yes agree rabbits - recipes, instructions, description from the back of a DVD box etc. Also second the suggestion of graphic novels. Dav Pilkey's Dogman and Mighty Robots series are also good.

The Phoenix is a good comic - they have got a £1 for 4 issues deal on atm but I think you can get it from WHSmiths etc as well.

[PrivateParkin]

Also have a look at the Reading Agency website OP - it's there to promote reading with kids etc - not sure if they have anything specific to dyslexia sorry, but some of the same principles might apply to your situation.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

The book people have some Dyslexia friendly books here

[greenlanes]

My DC has severe dyslexia. They are now in Yr 8 and at a specialist dyslexic school. I screamed with frustration yet again at the annual report which recommends that DC should read for pleasure. I had explained at the parents evening only 2 months before that DC didnt like reading - I had tried everything and was hoping for the school to provide some new ideas to be included in the interventions for Year 9. All I received was an email telling me how difficult it was and how the teacher's own children didnt like reading .

So my advice is to heavily invest in audio books - borrow from the library or buy. It kept DC going with stories and helped their imagination. It also maintained a love of stories which I think could easily have been lost if they wre forced to read. I also engage heavily with theatre, films and relevant TV programmes or museum exhibitions. So my DC can engage with a topic. My DC learns by visual, audio and kinesthetic.

Regarding the reading I now let DC read for a purpose. (Obviously I have often engineered the activity). So we might be cooking and they need to read the recipe, look at the clock for timings, check the microwave for time. There might be a new gadget to set up. My DC could set it up by touch and feel in 10 seconds but I dont let them - I make up an excuse and they have to follow the instructions. We practice road signs all the time - tests numbers, shapes, instructions and is also excellent for road safety. My DC washes and checks my car for pocket money but I insist on a written report as I would get from any garage. I never realised how creative I could be!

Yes I try to make DC read as requested by school. I keep it short and focussed. We dont even get through a book a term. (There are other reasons for this).

[PrivateParkin]

Great post greenlanes.

[stargirl1701]

Barrington Stoke publish specifically for dyslexic readers.

[greenlanes]

Thank you PrivateParkin

[Perfectly1mperfect]

You don't say how old your son is but the Skye Hawk author, Gill Lewis has other books with animals that he may like. Also maybe Michael Morporgo books.

[onlyoranges]

Thanks for the replies. He’s 10 but has a reading age of much much younger but a good understanding of a story when I read it to him. Yes, we’ve read all the books by Sky Hawk, he loved Gill Lewis and a lot of Michael morporgos books as they are just the type he likes. It’s me reading them to him. He starts and reads a bit then I take over as he enjoys the stories but just can’t read them. Totally agree greenlanes dyslexia brings out the creativity in you. And don’t you find it’s a struggle to get other people to understand it. He plays an instrument. In the end I had to send his teacher the guidance on how people with dyslexia can learn an instrument and it was a company not a person on their own.

[fruitpastille]

It might not help a lot but on a Kindle you can choose a dyslexia friendly font and change the background colour.

The Last Wild might be good to read together. A bit dystopian about saving the last few animals on Earth. Lots of animal characters that just one boy is able to talk to.

[Perfectly1mperfect]

Dick King-Smith might be an author that he would like.