Is there anything more magical than the images a story can conjure? For some children, accessing books can be difficult, and as Thomas Fuller once said, “A book that is shut is but a block." So how can we make books easier to access for children who have physical, learning or reading difficulties? Read on for some ideas…..

Adapting books:

For people who have difficulty turning pages, sometimes adding a “fluffer” to the page can be helpful. These generally take one of two forms: something to hold pages apart such as a piece of cardboard or foam, so that fingers can be inserted to turn pages, or something ticking out that is easier to grasp such as a tab or lollipop stick. Very low tech ways of adapting books! Check out PrACCtical AAC for more ideas.

For people who are non-literate, using tools to read aloud text can give the experience of reading without struggling to decode words. Create your own audio books by using the AnyBook Recordable Pen – some set up is required in advance – QR coded stickers are placed on each page, and the text recorded into the pen – so when the person is reading, all they need do is touch the pen to the sticker. More information can be found here.

A less costly way, but more time consuming, involving either photocopying or cutting up books, is to use Talking Photograph Albums. Pages can be slotted into the plastic wallets, and the recording button at the bottom used to record the spoken text. Good fine motor skills are required to access the button, and the album can be sourced in a variety of sizes.

The Bookworm, while pricy, also allows recording of text from a number of books. It mentions in the product information that it is switch accessible; however, this is for reading aloud text, the pages still need to be turned manually.  

For children who may be on their way to being independent readers or who only struggle occasionally, a reading pen can be a great option. These pens read aloud words or phrases and can provide definitions. Check out the Oxford Reading Pen.

E-readers:

Switch access to a Kindle e-reader may also be an option for some people. The PageBot, adapts an off the shelf Kindle into one that allows a switch press to turn pages as well as providing a mount to secure the e-reader.

Apps:

For those who have an iPad (or Santa is bringing one!), there are many, many book apps available.  For younger children, try the Sesame Street books or the Dr. Seuss ones – these have a “read to me” feature. For older children, Aesop’s Wheel of Fables allows for both a narrator and a recorded voice to read the stories, while Alice for the iPad provides both an abridged and unabridged version, with the ability to interact with the story, such as tilting the iPad to assist Alice grow taller and smaller. For other interactive books, try ones such as Bartleby’s Books of Buttons, Don’t Let the Pigeon Run this App, and the Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, which all provide for opportunities to explore the story through animation and games.

An interesting app is the “Me Books” one, which uses familiar books for established publishers such as Penguin, and creates a version that can be read on the iPad. There’s no interactive features, but there is the facility to have the book read aloud.

For teenagers and adults, the 3D Bookshelf: Classic Literature Collection gives access to all the great classics, and there is also the Kindle app for the iPad, which will allow you to purchase books from Amazon, straight to your iPad.

If you are looking for something a little more seasonal, how about A Charlie Brown Christmas or the epitomical The Night before Christmas!