Like a book but not actually a book.

[PinkCatCushion]

I am doing Christmas stockings for my 3 kids, who are all at university. I plan to do socks, pants, pyjamas, chocolate coins, tube of sweets and a book.
Only trouble is 1 of them is dyslexic and really dislikes reading.
Any bright ideas to substitute something that’s like a book, but not actually a book?

Audible subscription?
Magazines ?
A photo book of something they're interested in eg hobby?

Depending on their interests possibly one of those photos heavy coffee table style books?

Or would they be happy to read/enjoy a practical book with minimal writing like a non waffley recipe book.

Audible subscription

A Graphic novel?

photo book or fun cartoon book

For a bit of fun a Where's Wally type of book?

Graphic novel or annual?

Puzzle book, is he any good at sudoku?

Do they like jigsaw puzzles? You can get smaller sized ones in tubes or a book-sized box

Something non-fiction like a useful cookery book.

How about a literary-based board or card game? Something like 221B Baker Street: The Master Detective Game, or Really Loud Librarians (made by the same people who did Exploding Kittens)?

cook book
manga or graphic novel
annual
audible month gift card

I don’t know how that would look to your child if you bought a novel each for two of them and then a joke book or where’s wally for the dyslexic one. I agree not to buy them a book if they dislike reading but I wouldn’t get a graphic novel or jokey book as to me it’s looks like you’re treating them as a child.

Maybe a board game or card game, if they might like that? Puzzle?

What subject is the dyslexic child studying?

An art book. For example The Art of Fairy Tales by Joanna Ebenstein is full of imaginative and beautiful images.

Just amazed you have cash left for stockings with three at uni at once, well done!

I agree a reference book that you don’t read through- cook book/ coffee table book etc.

Adult colouring in book?

A book of sudoku.

A pack of cards.

I'd mix it up and make the stockings less "matchy" so it's not so apparent you are just making one a bit different. So some toiletries in one, maybe something useful for uni (if they are self catering there are always helpful things you can get). I got some great bits for DS last year in Tesco- a key ring with a little section to stash an emergency £10, a multi charger etc. All cheap but stops it highlighting that one difference

Can you tell us more about them? I remember my parents buying my sister a book about how to do makeup. You can get books about the art of coffee or recipe books?

A comic filled up to fit in?

A magic eye book if you can still get them. I used to love those

Book of cocktail recipes?

Depending on the dyslexia profile it might not work. DD and I scored lowest in visual processing and can never see these!

As a fellow dyslexic that really struggles to read novels which are just walls of words I find educational or fact books much easier as they tend to be more spaced and broken down, as a kid I read poetry and comics too (dandy, beano, our willie, the broons, bunty etc... I read comic throughout the year but often got annuals at christmas).

My son has never been a big reader and also prefers fact books and joke books or those fun novelty ones of silly street signs or strange laws etc...

Are they at all crafty? I've got my teens a couple of not-book-books. There's "bouquet in a book" which has press of pages to make a bouquet of flowers, and one with different fungi posters in (aware these are maybe niche interests, but there are probably similar things with different themes).

I've also got my dungeons and dragons fan "the side quest book" with is a collection of "missions", basically activities to keep them busy. We had "wreck the journal" a couple of years ago and that was well received too.