Best books on dyslexia: for adults, children and easier reading

What are the best books on dyslexia?

The best book is the one that fits the reader's age and what they want from it. Five are on our shelves: one for adults, three for children and teens, and one classic that is made to be easier to read.

We have not read these books ourselves. Descriptions below come from publisher and retailer listings, checked on 2 November 2026, and we say where a detail is the retailer's rather than the publisher's.

Which book is best for adults with dyslexia?

This Is Dyslexia by Kate Griggs is the one to start with.

Griggs founded Made By Dyslexia, a charity. Listings name Ebury as the publisher, with Vermilion as the imprint. The paperback we could find is dated 3 October 2024 and is 272 pages, though listings differ on editions. At about £12.99 it is mid-priced for a paperback. We have not read it, so we cannot tell you how it reads; check a sample first if length is a worry.

The NHS page on dyslexia is aimed at children and covers the basics: dyslexia is a common learning difficulty that mainly affects reading, writing and using numbers. For adults, the page points to other NHS information.

Which dyslexia books suit children and teens?

Dyslexia is My Superpower (Most of the Time) is built around voices of young people, and Mission Dyslexia is an illustrated book for younger children.

Margaret Rooke's book is from Jessica Kingsley Publishers and is listed for ages 8 to 18. NetGalley describes it as a collection of more than 100 interviews with children in that age range. Catalogue entries list around 237 to 240 pages. We cannot say how any individual child will respond to it.

Julie McNeill's Mission Dyslexia is a 128-page illustrated paperback, also from Jessica Kingsley, that uses three superhero characters, Creatia, Persisto and Willforce, for strengths and strategies. Retailers give ages 7 to 12 or 7 to 11. It is the more playful of the two.

Kate Griggs's Xtraordinary People is a children's book by the same author. The 2025 UK edition we could find is from DK Children. Our price of £7.99 may refer to another edition, so check the title page and year when you order.

Is there a classic that is easier to read?

Yes. Barrington Stoke's edition of Animal Farm is made for readers who find standard print hard.

Retailer listings describe an unabridged text, tinted paper, extra spacing between and around lines, and the publisher's own font. The ISBN is 9781781129692, published 7 January 2021 in the publisher's Dyslexia-Friendly Classics series. The publisher's own page would not load when we tried, so those layout details are the retailers'. At about £8.99 it is cheaper than a standard hardback.

It will not suit everyone. "Dyslexia-friendly" is the publisher's description, and reading preferences vary a lot: some people prefer a screen where text can be resized, so our e-reader guide is worth reading too.

How do you choose?

Match the book to the reader, then check a sample.

For a gift, add a bookmark or reading ruler. Our gifts for dyslexic adults guide has more ideas.

What if print is the hard part?

Pick the format before the title. A book you cannot comfortably read is no use however good it is.

Options we cover elsewhere: a reading pen that reads printed text aloud, an e-reader where you can change font size and spacing, and free text-to-speech tools such as Microsoft Immersive Reader in Edge. Audiobooks and library loans are the other routes. For children, reading a chapter together and stopping to talk about it keeps the focus on the ideas rather than on decoding every word.

If you are buying for a child who has not been assessed, the NHS page is clear about the route: start with the school's special educational needs coordinator (SENCO), because a GP cannot diagnose dyslexia. Assessment is usually by an educational psychologist or specialist teacher, and it is often paid for privately. A book is not a substitute for that conversation, and we make no claim that any title changes how a person reads.

Which should you buy first?

If you are buying for yourself, start with This Is Dyslexia. If you are buying for a child under 12, start with Mission Dyslexia. For a teenager, Dyslexia is My Superpower. If the aim is simply to get a reluctant reader through a classic, try the Barrington Stoke Animal Farm.

Whichever you choose, check the age range on the cover, because dyslexia books vary a lot in reading level, and an age label is a guide, not a rule. Keep the receipt in case it is the wrong fit.

Things to know

• We have not read them. Descriptions come from listings. Read a sample or ask a library.
• Editions and prices vary. Check the year and ISBN before you order.
• Not a diagnosis route. The NHS says a GP cannot diagnose dyslexia; an educational psychologist or specialist teacher usually does, often privately.
• Library first. Libraries often lend popular titles, so you can try one before you buy.