Book suggestions for dyslexic daughter

[0131trojan1]

Can anyone suggest any books for my daughter who's been diagnosed as dyslexic? She's 11, but reading age I think about 8?

[meditrina]

madamehooch: I know, I have a dyslexic son. My suggestion was intended as an addition, not a replacement.

Sometimes, when "everyone" is reading [insert name of whichever book/series is latest craze] it's nice to have a way to access it. I've also seen it work well with girl (a bit younger than OP's) who was desperate to read the Daisy Meadows Fairy books at the same time as her peers.

[madamehooch]

I hear what you're saying meditrina - just wanted to point out that there are well-written books available for children unable to access what is currently popular with their peers. You never know - they may even start their own craze - a good case in point is the wonderful 'Story of Matthew Buzzington'. I bought this for a child who could not cope with 'Mr Gum'; they loved it so much, they lent it to their friends. It was eventually read by the class teacher who read it to her year 5's. We have had this book on display in our shop for weeks with no reference to it being written for dyslexic or reluctant readers. It sells as soon as it gets put out and is now one of the books used in our inschool reading groups.

[0131trojan1]

Sterling & the Canary book arrived yesterday ( just published, hence the delay) Daughter loving it, AND got email to say she'll get a free canary tote bag, too.
PS She looks a bit like Lizzie, the girl in the book, too........................

[RosieRed]

I have been following Andy Stanton's Twitter now I know he is the Mr Gum author (apologies if that's a bit stalkerish; it's very interesting and also very funny) and he has a thing about the free bag with the book thing: twitter.com/#!/AndyStantonTM

[Kez100]

My son is severely dyslexic. We also find audio helps him read books of his age (and beyond). We subscribed him to listening books, a charity who help children and adults who cannot read conventionally. They are amazing.

He also loved Percy Jackson free on audio through school bookweek. We have bought the rest on audio and he is now on a second series!

[0131trojan1]

madame hooch - you are so right! After your recommendation, I got Matthew Buzzington in Waterstones
( though had to ask for it, as couldn't spot it)
Where is your shop, as I would love to visit it? And have you got Andy Stanton's new one, from Barrington Stoke, Sterling and the Canary? Because it is even better ( according to daughter!) than Matthew B.

PS Daughter now has her yellow Canary tote bag which she takes her swimming stuff to school in! ( freebie from Barrington S website)

[madamehooch]

0131trojan1 - so glad your daughter liked it. Yes, we have got his new book. And 'my' shop is, in fact, one of those with a W outside .....

[0131trojan1]

wow, madamehooch. Must say you sound so much more knowledgable than the W staff I've spoken to ( that was a compliment, by the way!!)

[madamehooch]

It helps being a bit of a book anorak!

Most of my colleagues are 'experts' in different areas of bookselling. We aren't afraid to refer customers to those of us with the knowledge and we find that the customers would rather speak to someone who can advise them fully.

Obviously, each branch differs but ours does an awful lot of work outside the shop - we work in schools, run reading groups, set up author events, support reading projects. It's not just independents who can have a place in the community!

I'm really pleased about your daughter trojan and glad that I was able to help.

[RosieRed]

I go to the 'W' a lot - it's not like there are that many other options for a lot of us except maybe the one starting with 'A'... My town doesn't have an independent bookshop although it used to (went bust a while back). I think the thing for people like us - I mean people who have a specific 'need' or children with a specific 'need' - is we really need to make sure we ask for the things we want in shops like Waterstones and then buy it. Sometimes I know I'm guilty of moaning that people don't have something and then realising that they'll only carry it if I go in and spend money on it. Does that make any sense?

[madamehooch]

It certainly does RosieRed. Whilst it would be brilliant to be able to stock everything, space just simply allow us to do it, so we have to primarily concentrate on what we know the kids want to read, 'perennial sellers' and new books. However, we are very lucky in that we have the freedom to order in 'recommends' so I usually order those books which I consider to be brilliant (such as The Story of Matthew Buzzington) but which may be overlooked. Trouble is, they fly off the shelves quicker than they come in!

Can't please everyone, however. On a daily basis, we get customers who, if they can't find what they want, take great delight in announcing that they will go home and order it off Amazon!

Still, there are certain things you can't get off the internet. I can see its attraction if you know exactly the book you want but nothing beats a good browse in a bookshop. It's my guilty pleasure every time we visit somewhere new!

[0131trojan1]

I think you're right Rosie Red. I'm also guilty of moaning about shops not stocking what I'm looking for, but sometimes this is based on one visit to that shop ages ago. I should really give them another chance, AND ask for exactly what I need. Must admit, madamehooch, you have given me a completely new opinion of W shops,, didn't realise you did all the reader group and other things you mentioned- I genuinely thought that was just the smaller private shops.

[startail]

Can I second the audio book comment. DD1 had the library's HP CDs several times. This meant she could discuss the books with her friends even though she found the later ones very hard going.