Dyslexia-Friendly Books

A young boy’s relationship with his struggling dad is strained when he is forced to choose between playing football and quality time in this sensitively told story from award-winning writer Tony Bradman. Daniel had a hard time when his parents split up and his dad started working abroad. He had to move and start at a new school, but things...

From sacred cats to the invention of toothpaste, Blue Peter Award winning author David Long takes readers on an intriguing investigation into the ancient Egyptian civilisation. The incredible civilisation of ancient Egypt lasted for 3,000 years. Ruled over by pharaohs, the Egyptians developed agricultural skills and trading partnerships that enabled them to build a rich and powerful nation centred on...

Children’s literature legend Michael Morpurgo teams up with illustration star Sam Usher for a rollicking countryside adventure story, now in a Little Gems edition for more parents and children to share together. The frogs always beat the toads at long jump but the toads don't mind – anything for a quiet life. But then the children and Mutt the dog come...

Strangers, storms and whispers of legendary sea people… Eloise Williams skillfully interweaves nature and myth in this stunning middle-grade novella. In the wake of a tempest hitting her town, Morwenna is left to take care of a stranger washed ashore.The storm is just another of many that have plagued the town for years – people blame the tide singers, legendary...

A ground–breaking experiment at a new research farm quickly grows out of control in this modern take on Day of the Triffids from master of creepy sci-fi Dan Smith. The fourth adventure in the Crooked Oak series. When Pete, Krish and Nancy read a story in the local paper about weird gunk being found in a field where sheep have...

An adorable stray kitten might be just what Lucy and her dad need in this gentle and heartwarming animal story from worldwide bestseller Holly Webb. Lucy and her dad are still feeling sad about the loss of their lovely cat Patch, who had been part of their family for such a long time. So when a little lost kitten turns...

Roll up! Roll up! For the second exciting instalment in The Big-Top Mysteries series, packed with all the fun of the circus and an intriguing new mystery to be solved … Roll up! Roll up! A new season is about to begin at the Shortbread family's circus! The big-top is ready and everyone is excited to get started. But as...

Football meets fantasy in this second title of Tom Palmer's action-packed Wings trilogy. Greg's fed up with playing in goal. He reckons things only happen to you there. The other players get to make them happen. The summer school isn't turning out how he'd hoped at all.The old airfield next to the school freaks Greg out … but when he...

Lisa and her cat Snug are inseparable…until the day Snug disappears. A charming countryside tale from the master of the animal tale. Wherever Lisa goes, her cat Snug follows. But as Snug grows up he spends more time away from home and one night comes home all beaten up. A beautifully illustrated and delightful story about animals and friendship.

From the horrors of the slave trade to a book that changed the world, Catherine Johnson celebrates the incredible life of Olaudah Equiano in this gripping true story. Aged only eleven, Olaudah Equiano was cruelly snatched from his home in Africa and sold into slavery. He spent much of the next ten years serving various masters at sea, travelling to...

A quest for screen-free family time leads to camping chaos in this hilarious and heartwarming comedy from the author of Anisha, Accidental Detective. Picture Perfect follows Sonal, who needs to capture a great family picture for her school photography project, but it’s impossible when everyone’s always so busy! Luckily, they’re heading off on a family camping trip which should provide...

Pancake Face: It's hard to hide a pancake face forever. Support severely struggling readers with this hi-lo tale about self-confidence and acceptance. Alice Peasbody has no nose. People point and stare. Only the birds in the garden are Alice's friends. She tries to hide away, but it's hard to hide a pancake face forever. Particularly suitable for readers aged 7+...

When the Horrible Haddock crew kidnap young Molly Rogers, they get more than they bargained for … Support severely struggling readers with this swashbuckling hi-lo adventure. Ferocious Captain Firebeard and the crew of the Horrible Haddock rule the high seas. But the dastardly pirates meet their match when they kidnap a small, feisty girl called Molly. Molly also knows the...

Meg and Merlin brave a "Fun Day" at the stables and learn some exciting new tricks in this high-spirited new instalment of Tanya Landman’s popular horse-riding series. Meg and her friend Sam take their ponies, Merlin and Alfred, for a "Fun Day" at a nearby stables. But with Sam’s bossy mum as one of the instructors, the day isn’t anything...

Can Annie find her missing bunny before it’s caught by the neighbourhood fox? A gentle and heartwarming animal story from worldwide bestseller Holly Webb. Annie is really excited about her new pet rabbits and can’t wait to welcome them into the amazing new home her dad has built for them.But when Annie is in a rush to get to school...

It's the car journey from hell... Support severely struggling readers with this hilarious hi-lo family tale. Two siblings drive their mother to distraction on the car journey from hell, while Mum tries every trick in the book to get them to behave. All together now: “Are we nearly there yet…?” Particularly suitable for readers aged 7+ with a reading age...

Skye and Harry discover Gran isn’t quite as strict as Dad makes out in this funny family story from multi-award-winning author Anne Fine. He Says…She Says tells the tale of Skye and Harry, who are dreading going to visit their gran, as Dad says she was so strict when he was young. He had to do lots of chores, wasn’t...

Harry and Kate at the Book Museum introduces young readers to an exciting day at the museum, where a mystery awaits … Join Harry and Kate in this engaging tale designed to support struggling readers. The old books in the museum are worth a lot of money. When Harry and Kate notice a man acting suspiciously, their curiosity prompts them...

A child makes a horrifying discovery in the midst of the Blitz in this chilling WWII horror, perfect for fans of Darren Shan and Neil Gaiman. During the Blitz, Bill wishes he had a brother rather than his sister. After the raid, the family find and adopt a badly mutilated boy, his face so heavily bandaged that they can see...

The terrifying impact of global warming on vulnerable lives is laid bare in this gripping tale of survival from internationally bestselling author Steve Cole. Drowning in My Bedroom centres around Gayla, who is trapped when floodwater pours into her bedroom in a residential centre for kids with disabilities. The other children have been evacuated while Gayla waited for her father,...

A young Sikh footballer reaches out across the generational divide to help a lonely old man in an uplifting story from acclaimed author Bali Rai. Bobby Bains Plays a Blinder tells the story of Bobby Bains, who loves football and helping others. As a Sikh, it’s part of his religion. While assisting his mum at the community food bank, Bobby...

When Tia and Nat spot a turtle in difficulty off the coast of Devil Bird Island, they must help it find its way home in this inspiring tale of conservation from Gill Lewis. A camping trip to count puffins on Devil Bird Island turns into a real adventure for friends Tia and Nat. First, they have to rescue a mysterious...

Catherine Johnson celebrates the incredible life of Josephine Baker in this true story, chronicling her journey from an impoverished childhood to beloved actress, dancer, and wartime heroine. Dancer, singer, actress, movie star, civil-rights activist—Josephine Baker was a phenomenon! Overcoming the poverty and abuse of her childhood in a segregated America, Josephine grew up to become one of the biggest stars...

When Danny reveals the dark underside of a company making a new fighting toy gadget, he has no idea of the danger he's in. A gripping sci-fi mystery from bestselling author Alastair Chisholm. Everyone is desperate to have a Blitzer, the new fighting-game craze. But Danny's Blitzer is broken – it won't fight! His classmates laugh at him. His brother...

NEW FOR 2025 – Barrington Stoke’s long-awaited first dyslexia-friendly plays The complete and unabridged dyslexia-friendly edition of Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare’s renowned tragedy of two star-crossed lovers who meet amidst an age-old feud between their families.

A beautiful and evocative tale of belonging, family and identity, woven in the gorgeous artwork and storytelling of award-winning author and illustrator Jackie Morris. The day the fox came, things began to change for Sol. Lost, alone and far away from home, Sol feels a deep connection with the little Arctic fox he discovers down at the Seattle docks—he too...

Katy can’t believe her luck when she finds the perfect pet guinea pig hiding in the lettuce patch, but is everything as it seems? Katy has always longed for a pet of her own, so when a cute ginger-and-white guinea pig turns up in her mum’s vegetable patch, she thinks her dreams have come true! Katy calls the guinea pig...

Join the treacherous mission to conquer Earth’s highest peak in David Long’s enthralling retelling of the first expeditions to climb Everest. Everest is the world’s highest mountain, towering like an icy giant over the Himalayas. For the millions of people living nearby, it has always been a magical place, known as “Goddess Mother of the World” or the “Peak of...

Blue Peter Award winning author David Long takes readers on a captivating exploration into the culture and legacy of ancient Greek civilisation. Around 3,000 years ago, the ancient Greeks created one of the world’s most advanced civilisations. While most worked as farmers and fishermen to feed their families, others studied hard to become brilliant astronomers, navigators, philosophers, artists and athletes....

With a witchfinder skulking about town, gifted healer Ann and a young Isaac Newton must be careful not to draw too much attention in this high-stakes story from Lindsay Galvin. Will the discovery of The Elixir of Life lead to a death sentence for a talented young healer? Ann Storer has inherited her grandmother’s mysterious gift of healing, which she...

When a majestic whale is stranded near their Scottish hometown, Tulsi and Satchen must summon all their courage to save it in this thrilling adventure from award-winning author Jasbinder Bilan. After rowing out to an island near their seaside home, Tulsi and Satchen discover a whale that has been trapped in a fishing net. Determined to try to free the...

Cousins Yasmin and Ruby have always been rivals, but both sides of the story are exposed in this cleverly composed clean-teen novella from Karen McCombie. My Perfect Cousin follows Ruby, who can’t stand her "perfect" cousin Yasmin. Yasmin is pretty, popular, and has a gorgeous boyfriend, Max. She's set to get excellent grades in her GCSEs, and her parents won’t...

The only thing bigger than Lionel the rhinoceros is his enthusiasm to join in! Lionel loves to join in with whatever his friends are doing – playing cars, making music, or baking! However, his enthusiasm often leads him to leap before he looks, resulting in disaster. Finally, Lionel decides to seek out some quiet space. As he relaxes, Lionel comes...

When you start school, sometimes you need a best friend (or two). Ida is so noisy at home, but at school she is so quiet she doesn’t make any friends. Luckily, Grandpa knows the best game to cheer her up: invisible shops. Little does he know that Ida will buy two invisible dogs, and those dogs are going to cause...

A meteorite harbouring an alien lifeform crashes to Earth with horrifying consequences in this gruesome and gripping tale from master of creepy sci-fi Dan Smith. The fifth and final adventure in the Crooked Oak series. What's slithering about deep underground ...? When a meteorite crashes to Earth near Crooked Oak, Pete, Nancy, and Krish are determined to find it. But...

Alfie Parker has bagged the hottest date to prom … hasn’t he? A life-affirming teen romance from bestselling author Simon James Green. Harvey is popular, cool, plays football and has been in a relationship with his girlfriend Summer for as long as anyone can remember. Alfie is not popular, not cool, has a sick note so he doesn’t have to...

Friendship forms between two struggling teen girls in the foster system in this poignant story with a supernatural twist, from acclaimed author Sally Nicholls. This story is going to sound strange. I can't help that. I can only tell you what happened. Clare first met Maddy on a horrible day. Then again, most days are horrible for Clare. She's learned...

A laugh-out-loud and punny take on Groundhog Day for young readers from a top-notch author-illustrator pairing. Ever-punctual Anna Gain is never late, and she's certainly never late for the school bus. Every day she catches it in perfect time. But not today. After a series of absurd events cause Anna to miss the bus, she's transported one minute back in...

Former best mates Kit and Hamza must deliver a cooked turkey across town, but can they tolerate one another for that long? A hilarious caper from bestseller Simon James Green. Can a TURKEY bring best friends Hamza and Kit back together? Kit is furious following a betrayal by his oldest friend, Hamza—over a girl?! He wants nothing to do with...

Tia must show visitors to Gull Haven Island how to respect the environment and protect the animals who live there in this charming tale from award-winning author Gill Lewis. At the start of the summer, Tia is excited to see all the visitors arriving for their holidays on Gull Haven Island, and she’s delighted to make a new friend. But...

From award-winning author Phil Earle comes the hilariously agonising account of one teenage boy’s disastrous attempts to win the heart of the cool new girl at school. Marv’s fourteen and his life is simple. There’s football. And his best mate, Jimmy. Perfect. Nothing else matters until a new girl at school called Carly crashes into his life. For Marv, it’s...

With help from his grandma, Josh finds a way to quieten his overactive ‘Brian’ in this gently humorous and empathetic tale about family and mental health by bestseller Helen Rutter. Josh has always called his brain Brian, and Brian can sometimes be his best friend, helping Josh with tests and giving him brilliant moneymaking ideas. But he can also be...

Stranded and alone on the moon, Luna is running out of time … Bestselling author Chris Bradford crafts The Martian for younger readers in this gripping outer-space survival story. Lunar captivates readers with the tale of Luna, a young girl who loves living on the moon. She delights in helping her father, a Moon Miner, in his quest for precious...

Bestselling author Laura Wood brings the adventures of Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy to even more readers in this beautiful retelling of Louisa May Alcott’s coming-of-age classic. Little Women, the charming story of the brave and resilient March sisters, has been adored by generations of readers who have identified with the struggles of kind and pretty Meg; gentle, delicate Beth;...

A gripping and gruesome retelling of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein brought to life for a new generation of readers by Carnegie Medal winning author Tanya Landman. A thrilling gothic tale of hubris gone badly wrong. A young man’s search for the secret of the spark of life leads him to a horrific experiment in which he creates a gigantic creature from...

Bestselling YA author Melinda Salisbury exposes the dark underbelly of new technologies and online friendships in this gripping thriller. Ruby Brookes and her best friend Deva have won free places at the Ash Tree Foundation Performing Arts Camp over the summer, but only if their school grades seriously improve. So when Deva suddenly starts getting high marks in all their...

Embark on an action-packed quest with the Greystones as they race to find the lost gold of ancient Hath in this exciting steampunk fantasy adventure from bestselling author Vashti Hardy. A long-lost amulet holds the secret to finding the ancient land of Hath and its hidden treasures. But just as famous relic hunter Lucy Greystone is about to retrieve it,...

A day at the beach turns deadly in this gripping story, specially designed to engage seriously struggling and reluctant teen readers. It was supposed to be a great day at the beach. Carla said she’d help Ben in the water. But now Carla has swum away – and Ben can’t swim! Particularly suitable for readers aged 11+ with a reading...

Carnegie Medal-winning author Anthony McGowan weaves a bleakly poetic tale about one boy’s determination to save a badger cub from the destructive hands of a local gang. When Nicky finds Jezbo and his gang digging up a badger set, there's not a lot he can do to save them. But one badger cub has escaped – can Nicky save it?...

Average Joe takes to the wilderness to track down Bigfoot and become a school legend in this brilliantly funny adventure from Lollie Award-winning author Jenny Pearson. Joe is tired of being called average and feeling completely forgettable at school. So when he hears that a Bigfoot-like beast has been spotted in some nearby woods, he senses an opportunity. Surely capturing...

Kian has to face his fears of footballing failure in order to support a friend in this action-packed sports story from bestselling and award-winning author Tom Palmer. Kian’s best mate Azeem is desperate for them both to join the local football team. He can’t understand why Kian’s reluctant as he’s one of the best players on their estate. But a...

A suspenseful futuristic drama from the award-winning Malorie Blackman. What do you do when your dad has created a monster? Robot Girl tells the story of Claire, who is eager to uncover what her dad has been secretly developing in his lab. He has been incredibly excited about this project, and Claire knows it must be something significant that could...

The remarkable story of footballing star and war hero Walter Tull is brought to life in this inspiring illustrated retelling. Tully and his brother don't have much. But they do have each other. And Tully has an amazing talent: football. But when the First World War begins, Tully must fight for respect on the battlefield, not the pitch … Particularly...

An arranged marriage interferes with star-crossed love in this sweeping medieval romance from Sally Nicholls – perfectly pitched for struggling teen readers. The Knight's Kiss follows Lady Elinor of Hardford as she falls in love for the first time with Dan, her cousin and knight-in-training. However, her father has other plans for her future. He insists that she must marry...

A poignant and uplifting story of family, connection and imagination, from the Blue Peter Book Award shortlisted author of Owen and the Soldier. Tabby's fed up. Fed up with losing her best friend and fed up that Grandad has come to stay. Grandad's always telling the same old silly, made-up stories, and now Tabby has to walk his smelly dog...

Pioneering aviatrix Dolly Shepherd comes alive in this thrilling reimagining of her death-defying exploits from bestselling author Karen McCombie. When sixteen-year-old Dolly Shepherd is offered the chance to take to the sky in a hot-air balloon, there’s no way she’s going to turn it down. Even though the pilot actually plans for her to jump out of the balloon and...

Queen of historical fiction Emma Carroll crafts an evocative and spine-tingling tale of childhood on the brink of war. Summer, 1914. When Fran uncovers a bone in the garden of Longbarrow House on the same afternoon that Leo breaks his leg, it is just the first in a series of strange and unsettling coincidences. Leo is left immobilised for the...

Eoin Colfer’s heartwarming tale of an unlikely friendship and the bond between a girl and her grandfather. Little Lucja’s Grandpa Feliks has seen off the German army and the Communists, and now he is looking forward to a long and peaceful retirement. He plans to begin with a tasty Christmas Eve dinner of carp. But when the carp arrives alive...

Village newcomer Alex must vanquish a vicious feathered foe to finally feel at home in this madcap caper from comedy genius and bestselling author Jo Simmons. Alex is not happy that his family are moving to the village of Noggings. He’s even less happy when he discovers that Noggings is under siege from Graham, a vicious jackdaw that has been...

Mia and James are getting married! When a tight budget means no wedding cake, Mia’s sister Holly plans a surprise… When Holly's sister announces her engagement, wedding planning begins in earnest. But a tight budget means missing out on some wedding essentials – like the cake! Holly decides to put her baking skills to the test and surprise the happy...

Roll up! Roll up! The Shortbread Family Circus is in town! Introducing the first tale in The Big Top Mysteries, an exciting new series from Alexander McCall Smith and illustrator Sam Usher. Billy, Fern and Joe Shortbread are the stars of their family circus, but they also have another talent… they're experts at solving mysteries! When their circus moves into...

A smashed china dragon helps Tyra to bond with her new classmates in this touching tale from bestselling author Karen McCombie. Tyra gets off to a tough start at her new school. She’s loud and different, and nobody seems to be particularly friendly. So when her nan gives her a beautiful china snow dragon, Tyra decides to take it to...

A cast of creative creatures take centre stage in this theatrical story about community and confidence from Blue Peter Book Award-shortlisted author Laura Wood. Summer by the seaside isn’t working out as Callie hoped. Instead of enjoying sunshine and ice cream, she’s stuck helping Gran’s drama group put on a show to save the local theatre. Worst of all, they’ve...

A thrilling and captivating retelling of one of history’s most famous space missions, from Blue Peter Book Award-winning author David Long. April 1970: Apollo 13 was launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It should have been the third manned Apollo mission to land on the moon. But when an explosion on board damaged the spacecraft, it became a...

The tale of a spirited heroine's search for love, independence and belonging. Carnegie Medal-winning author Tanya Landman returns with a brilliantly realised and truly accessible retelling of one of the greatest novels ever written. Orphaned as a child, tormented by her guardian and cast out to a harsh boarding school, Jane Eyre has been raised in the shadow of cruelty...

A laugh-out-loud tale of young love from the bestselling author of the Mr. Gum series. Sterling and the Canary tells the story of Sterling Thaxton, who is in love with Lizzie Harris – the beautiful new girl. Her hair is the colour of magic. Her nose is as sweet as music. Her arms are as slender as rainbows. The problem...

The Royal Family must learn to live like common people in this hilarious comedy from the author of The Accidental Prime Minister. Unlucky Bertie has only gone and gambled away the entire family fortune. It's the last in a long line of disasters, and nobody is going to save the Montgomery family this time. But this is no ordinary family...

Tia and her mum start an adventurous new life on Gull Haven Island, finding lots of animals who need their help along the way. Tia’s mum has a new job as the vet on Gull Haven Island and there are a lot of animals who need her help. When she’s called away to help a sickly cow on a nearby...

A change in classroom seating arrangements challenges old habits and leads to a new friendship in this funny new school story. At first, Ben doesn’t want to sit next to Alice in the classroom. She’s scary and tells him off for his squiggly drawing and poor handwriting. She even points out his bad table manners. But when Ben starts to...

Nellie Choc-Ice and the Plastic Island features Nellie Choc-Ice, the greatest penguin explorer in the world, as she returns with author Jeremy Strong to tackle the scourge of plastic in this funny and thoughtful gem. Nellie Choc-Ice is finally on her way home to the North Pole! However, things don't go as planned when Captain Beardy-Beard's trusty submarine grinds to...

A motley crew of pirates take to parenthood in this whimsical Little Gem from Alan MacDonald, author of the bestselling Dirty Bertie series. Captain Sprat and his pirate crew love nothing more than lazing around on the deck of the Salty Herring. Until one day, a strange wailing noise shatters the peace. Shiver me timbers! There’s a stowaway baby on...

A touching, timely, and tender exploration of refuge and migration for the youngest readers, this picture book offers a moving insight into the real journeys being made by children today. A young boy discusses the journey he is about to make with his mother. They will leave their town, she explains, and it will be sad but also a little...

A sharp, witty and heartfelt tale of the ups and downs of teenage life on one of London's toughest (fictional) estates, from multi-award-winning Alex Wheatle. Life on the Crongton estate can be rough for Briggy. Dad's lost his job, Mum's working so hard to make ends meet, and big brother Kingsley just wants out. With all of the shouting and...

A stunning prose retelling of Beowulf from an author-illustrator dream-team, perfect for middle-grade readers. One dark night, the music and singing wake a monster from a swamp... Warrior after warrior comes to slay the monster, but no one can outwit Grendel. Only the great hero Beowulf stands a chance – but even he is not prepared for the horror that...

Lottie Dod leads the way to sporting victory in this inspiring Little Gem from bestselling author Katherine Woodfine. Lottie the Little Wonder tells the story of Lottie Dod, who is determined to show that girls can be just as good at sports as boys. "Girls can’t play tennis as well as boys? What a lot of NON-SENSE!” Lottie exclaims, confident...

The importance and meaning of home is explored in this thought-provoking new novella from Carnegie Medal-winning author Katya Balen. Juno’s furious about being sent to stay with her grandfather for the summer. She’ll miss all the fun she and her friends had planned for the holidays. She’ll also miss her mum, but it’s her mum’s fault for leaving anyway. Then...

A poignant and pertinent exploration of life below the poverty line from the critically acclaimed, award-winning creator of My Name is Not Refugee. Mum works really hard, but today there is no money left and no food in the cupboards. Forced to visit the local food bank, Mum feels ashamed that they have to rely on the kindness of others....

A delightfully witty and tender-hearted Christmas story like none other, introducing a unique author and illustrator collaboration to make for a very special Little Gem. Jo-Jo is convinced that Christmas is cancelled – and it's all his fault. To make amends, he decides he must become Father Christmas. An old coat of his mum's, a sack of outgrown toys and...

A case of mistaken identity leads to unintentional criminal activity when a dream family holiday goes terribly wrong in this punny comedy caper. The Goodfellows are the perfect family. From helping the local community to scooping up prizes in school, there’s nothing they can’t do. And they’ve just won the holiday of a lifetime to the Big Apple! When the...

A rescue dog with a difference must save the Peachey family in this charming story for the young and the young at heart, filled to the brim with Meg Rosoff's wry humour and beautiful prose. The first in a series. The Peachey family is in crisis. No one cooks dinner, no one picks up the dirty washing, and the kids...