A dyslexic child struggles with learning to read: as a result, books can quickly become something to fear, and reading time can turn into a real burden. But by choosing the right book, it’s possible to reverse this trend and ease their apprehension. In our school support work, we strongly encourage reading for this group: discover our tips for giving a dyslexic child the best possible gift…
Why give a book to a dyslexic child?
A book is an object that sparks feelings, emotions, thoughts, and knowledge in its reader. Beyond the simple pleasure of flicking through it, looking at the pictures, feeling its pages, then reading it and sharing its stories, it calls for being looked after, much like a beloved cuddly toy that must be protected from every kind of danger and risk.
A refuge or an escape, a book gives access to comforting or enriching places that are dear to children (dyslexic children included). As they grow up, they develop a genuine attachment to the object—whether because it was given by someone dear to their heart, because it tells a story they could relate to, or simply because it’s beautiful or funny, and so on.
Given these compelling reasons, how could we exclude dyslexic children from this richness, on the sole grounds that they struggle to read? The obvious solution is simply to choose the right books for them…
Our 5 tips to help you make the right choice
Tip 1: Cultivate enjoyment!
Whatever their age, a dyslexic child remains a child driven by enjoyment: play to their interests (Star Wars, princesses, dragons, fairies…)! If the subject captivates them, they’ll be more likely to stay focused and motivated.
Tip 2: Favour illustrated books, with a good rhythm!
Beyond their interests, encourage the dyslexic child to follow the thread of the pages and the story through illustrations. They may start by imagining the story visually, before turning to the text to understand it better… Choose a book with short sentences and paragraphs and short chapters, where action plays a central role.
Tip 3: Mix up formats and genres!
Create surprise and spark curiosity in a dyslexic child by introducing them to classic literature (fairy tales, adventure stories…), but also to manga, comic books, non-fiction, or magazines about their passions… Also consider audiobooks to nurture their enjoyment and enthusiasm…
Tip 4: Share their impressions with them
Talking about a book with the family lets the dyslexic child share the emotions they felt while reading it. These special moments with you also encourage their desire to discover a new book, so they can come and tell you about it afterwards.
Tip 5: Choose collections designed for dyslexic readers
Today, there are publishing houses that offer dedicated collections for dyslexic children, some of which are designed with the help of healthcare professionals (such as speech therapists). One example is the French “Le club des dys” collection (highlighting complex sounds); the “Mes premières lectures faciles” collection alternates line colours to ease tracking. There are also collections such as “Les Mots à l’endroit,” “Délie mes mots,” “Dyscool,” and “Au coeur de l’Aventure,” where the dyslexic child is the hero, and more.
