I Don't Like Reading
Lisabeth Emlyn Clark
Lloyd is a young boy who doesn't like reading, he worries about it in school, gets cross when he forgets what he has read and hates it when his little sister asks him to read to her. That is until he tells his mum and they begin to find out why he feels this way about reading. I Don't Like Reading is a story about a child's concerns about reading. It is based loosely on the author's own experiences and gives an insight in to how a child with these fears may feel.
It is a bright and colourful book with busy pages that makes it very different from many other children's book and keeps the child's interest throughout.
It is a bright and colourful book with busy pages that makes it very different from many other children's book and keeps the child's interest throughout.
- Genres Childrens Picture Books
24 pages, Staple Bound
First published February 24, 2006
About the author
Lisabeth Emlyn Clark
2 books1 followerRatings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
Hirdesh
April 3, 2017
Thanks to Netgalley and respective publishers.
Highly recommended to all the Mom's.
I was emotional and nostalgic while reading.
Beside, I didn't had dyslexia, but studies was tough for me till teenage.
A perfect book for kids, not only for who possess dyslexia but for all.
Enchanting book, defines how to cope with the extremities in childhood while reading and understanding them.
I loved it.
Highly recommended to all the Mom's.
I was emotional and nostalgic while reading.
Beside, I didn't had dyslexia, but studies was tough for me till teenage.
A perfect book for kids, not only for who possess dyslexia but for all.
Enchanting book, defines how to cope with the extremities in childhood while reading and understanding them.
I loved it.
PattyMacDotComma
April 4, 2017
5★ for the August 2017 edition of this book.
Gorgeously illustrated story of Harry who hates to read so much that it makes him feel sick and scared to go to school because kids will make fun of him. Not only that, he can't read to his little sister.
The writing in this book IS hard to read, because some of the letters are different sizes and thicknesses and the spacing is all over the place, and well, you get the idea. We're getting a little taste of what reading is like for Harry!
"Sometimes the words make me feel all dizzy."
His mother talks to his teacher who talks to the special needs guy who talks to the psychologist and they put all their thoughts together and the result?
"Harry is a very clever boy with a dyslexic profile."
And they explain a bit and tell Harry that Richard Branson and Jamie Oliver and a lot of other famous people are like him. Their brains get the words and letters jumbled up, too.
"Sometimes the words look so little I can hardly see them."
Harry decides to use the tips he's learned and tries harder so that now he loves reading to his little sister!
The artwork and inventive lettering will help parents and others get an idea of what it might feel like to have letters jumping around, which is a problem I've heard described by readers.
There is a good illustration of how a transparent green overlay helps Harry too, which calms the print down for him. I know of this working for some kids - and/or coloured glasses (not necessarily green).
Memory is also tricky. I know of one man who had such trouble that he couldn't remember the letters at the beginning of a long word, so coping with a whole sentence was pretty rugged - but he persisted as an adult learner!
Every brain is different, every kid is different. But everyone deserves a chance to enjoy reading!
Thanks to NetGalley and Jessica Kingsley Publishers and the very talented Lisabeth Emlyn Clark for a preview copy. Just delightful!
Judging by the illustrations, I think this must be a newer version of the 2006 edition with the same name. The resources she's recommended on the publisher's page are more recent than that. This edition is due out in August 2017, but I'm reviewing now so teachers and librarians might keep an eye out for the new one.
Gorgeously illustrated story of Harry who hates to read so much that it makes him feel sick and scared to go to school because kids will make fun of him. Not only that, he can't read to his little sister.
The writing in this book IS hard to read, because some of the letters are different sizes and thicknesses and the spacing is all over the place, and well, you get the idea. We're getting a little taste of what reading is like for Harry!
"Sometimes the words make me feel all dizzy."
His mother talks to his teacher who talks to the special needs guy who talks to the psychologist and they put all their thoughts together and the result?
"Harry is a very clever boy with a dyslexic profile."
And they explain a bit and tell Harry that Richard Branson and Jamie Oliver and a lot of other famous people are like him. Their brains get the words and letters jumbled up, too.
"Sometimes the words look so little I can hardly see them."
Harry decides to use the tips he's learned and tries harder so that now he loves reading to his little sister!
The artwork and inventive lettering will help parents and others get an idea of what it might feel like to have letters jumping around, which is a problem I've heard described by readers.
There is a good illustration of how a transparent green overlay helps Harry too, which calms the print down for him. I know of this working for some kids - and/or coloured glasses (not necessarily green).
Memory is also tricky. I know of one man who had such trouble that he couldn't remember the letters at the beginning of a long word, so coping with a whole sentence was pretty rugged - but he persisted as an adult learner!
Every brain is different, every kid is different. But everyone deserves a chance to enjoy reading!
Thanks to NetGalley and Jessica Kingsley Publishers and the very talented Lisabeth Emlyn Clark for a preview copy. Just delightful!
Judging by the illustrations, I think this must be a newer version of the 2006 edition with the same name. The resources she's recommended on the publisher's page are more recent than that. This edition is due out in August 2017, but I'm reviewing now so teachers and librarians might keep an eye out for the new one.
Polenth Blake
April 6, 2017
Harry doesn't like reading, because he finds it difficult. It turns out he's dyslexic.
I wanted to read this picture book as I'm dyslexic, so I was interested in how it presented that. This is the new edition of the book. The old one has a boy called Lloyd, so they're easy to tell apart.
There were things that I related to in the book, like the worries about reading out loud, and the difficulty of trying to write things down. I also benefit from tinted backgrounds for reading (yellow/tan is my preference). But some issues meant it didn't really feel like the story was for dyslexic children. The pacing is one of the issues. Someone struggling to read needs something to hook them very quickly, which doesn't happen here. The build is slow and is likely to frustrate a child who finds reading difficult. Seeing multiple layers of teachers and specialists may be realistic, but it would have benefited the pacing to go straight to Harry meeting the final one.
The layout also reinforces my feel about the intended audience. Some pages are fine, but some have weird writing where all the fonts are mixed up. The words sometimes overlay pictures and appear in odd places on the page. It looks like an attempt to show non-dyslexic people what reading might be like for dyslexic people, which is not helpful for a dyslexic reader.
Some wording choices gave this the feel of something written by an educational specialist aimed at non-dyslexic parents of dyslexic children. One is referring to dyslexia as having a dyslexic profile, which sounds very clinical. Another was Harry's comment that he was told "it just means I have to try harder". It's not unusual for non-dyslexic adults to tell dyslexic children that they're lazy and aren't trying hard enough. I cringed when I hit that part.
There's a repeated statement about it being okay because dyslexic people can be clever and successful. Harry is said to be a very clever boy. This falls into the idea that disability is great as long as it's offset by being exceptional. This is not a comfort for the dyslexic child who is not exceptional.
I also would have preferred an ending that showed things improving for Harry, but not looking like a complete solution where he can read with no problems. I was around fourteen before I finally got the hang of spelling. I was in my mid-twenties when I figured out organisation and study skills (a lesser discussed aspect of dyslexia, as it doesn't impact young children). It was my late twenties before I reached the point of being able to write at a professional level. Today, I still need regular reading breaks and I still hit writing I just can't process. There does need to be a balance between encouraging dyslexic children that they can learn things and minimising their problems. It's a long road, and even when we're great at reading and writing, it doesn't mean we're not dyslexic anymore.
This book tries very hard. It's clear research went into things like how words could look to a dyslexic person and reading strategies. It shows finding things that work for Harry, rather than stating there is one method that works for everyone. But it feels too much like it's a book aimed at adults who think it'll be educational, rather than one for children. The layout choices are a dyslexic nightmare, but may also be a struggle for other children who are still learning to read.
[A copy of this book was received from the publisher for review purposes]
Review from: http://blog.polenthblake.com/2017/04/dont-like-reading-lisabeth-emlyn-clark/
I wanted to read this picture book as I'm dyslexic, so I was interested in how it presented that. This is the new edition of the book. The old one has a boy called Lloyd, so they're easy to tell apart.
There were things that I related to in the book, like the worries about reading out loud, and the difficulty of trying to write things down. I also benefit from tinted backgrounds for reading (yellow/tan is my preference). But some issues meant it didn't really feel like the story was for dyslexic children. The pacing is one of the issues. Someone struggling to read needs something to hook them very quickly, which doesn't happen here. The build is slow and is likely to frustrate a child who finds reading difficult. Seeing multiple layers of teachers and specialists may be realistic, but it would have benefited the pacing to go straight to Harry meeting the final one.
The layout also reinforces my feel about the intended audience. Some pages are fine, but some have weird writing where all the fonts are mixed up. The words sometimes overlay pictures and appear in odd places on the page. It looks like an attempt to show non-dyslexic people what reading might be like for dyslexic people, which is not helpful for a dyslexic reader.
Some wording choices gave this the feel of something written by an educational specialist aimed at non-dyslexic parents of dyslexic children. One is referring to dyslexia as having a dyslexic profile, which sounds very clinical. Another was Harry's comment that he was told "it just means I have to try harder". It's not unusual for non-dyslexic adults to tell dyslexic children that they're lazy and aren't trying hard enough. I cringed when I hit that part.
There's a repeated statement about it being okay because dyslexic people can be clever and successful. Harry is said to be a very clever boy. This falls into the idea that disability is great as long as it's offset by being exceptional. This is not a comfort for the dyslexic child who is not exceptional.
I also would have preferred an ending that showed things improving for Harry, but not looking like a complete solution where he can read with no problems. I was around fourteen before I finally got the hang of spelling. I was in my mid-twenties when I figured out organisation and study skills (a lesser discussed aspect of dyslexia, as it doesn't impact young children). It was my late twenties before I reached the point of being able to write at a professional level. Today, I still need regular reading breaks and I still hit writing I just can't process. There does need to be a balance between encouraging dyslexic children that they can learn things and minimising their problems. It's a long road, and even when we're great at reading and writing, it doesn't mean we're not dyslexic anymore.
This book tries very hard. It's clear research went into things like how words could look to a dyslexic person and reading strategies. It shows finding things that work for Harry, rather than stating there is one method that works for everyone. But it feels too much like it's a book aimed at adults who think it'll be educational, rather than one for children. The layout choices are a dyslexic nightmare, but may also be a struggle for other children who are still learning to read.
[A copy of this book was received from the publisher for review purposes]
Review from: http://blog.polenthblake.com/2017/04/dont-like-reading-lisabeth-emlyn-clark/
Carla
April 15, 2017
Harry is a normal boy with a little sister who adores him. She always wants him to read to her but he won't. He proclaims "I don't like reading". Harry talks about the problems he has when he tries to read and how he feels. When his mom talks to his teacher, they start to work with him. With support he develops some skills. When he gets tested, they find out he has dyslexia. With special tools, Harry is able to work hard and enjoy reading. There is progress with great supports in place. This is a good book to read to students who are learning to read and to those who are struggling. It shows that there are things that can help. The illustrations are simple yet show the emotions Harry is going through in the story. The only problem is that we do not want parents all claiming that their children have dyslexia and wanting to have testing done, when that is not the case. A good story for primary and junior classes. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.
Lynsey Hunter
August 29, 2017
As a teacher, I am always looking for books which help give context to additional needs and learning disabilities to help integrate children into classes and to help educate their peers about challenges and strengths. 'I don't like reading' about a child with dyslexia is a book which I would use in such a way, as a starting point for discussion about some of the challenges that some dyslexic people may face. There are many positive features to this book: the explanation of the cycle of professionals who may get involved, a simple portrayal of some of the 'classic' traits of dyslexia, the use of uneven fonts which can give an impression of how words can appear. There is also a positive feeling of dyslexia not being a blicker or preventer but rather an obstacle along with some examples of famous people with dyslexia who have been very successful. I think it would give reassurance to children in a simple way if they were facing similar issues and gives a very positive view. However, conversely, this also gives me some of my concerns; the strategies used are very well known ones addressing very well known traits and once in place appear to solve all the problems meaning that everything is hunky dory, which is definitely not always the case, and it may have been advantageous to show things taking longer to implement and work? That said, it is a lovely book, and it is important to have hope and show good outcomes to give confidence to children and their parents, though also important to balance this with the lengthy wait that often accompanies any kind of diagnosis or input from professionals. Definitely worth a read as part of a range of perspectives.
June 22, 2017
Harry likes a lot of things like playing with his best friend Tom, climbing trees, and drawing, but Harry does not like reading. The words can make him feel dizzy or look too big or too small. Reading is really frustrating for Harry, and sometimes he gets really nervous when he thinks about reading at school.
One night, Harry finally tells mom how he feels, and after talking it over with his teacher, Harry works with a few extra adults at school like the special needs coordinator and an educational psychologist. With the team, his mom's help, and his own willingness to try, Harry realizes that he can read. It just might be a little harder for him.
I Don't Like Reading depicts the frustration many kids at school face with reading. Harry is illustrated in a way that leaves his age a bit ambiguous so readers of many ages up through upper elementary will see themselves in Harry's struggles. As Harry goes through the educational testing process, he meets with a special needs coordinator and an educational psychologist which mirrors what children go through when being tested for extra services in school. I Don't like Reading does an excellent job of identifying student frustrations and preparing them for the process they may go through if their parents choose to pursue special education services for extra help.
*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.
One night, Harry finally tells mom how he feels, and after talking it over with his teacher, Harry works with a few extra adults at school like the special needs coordinator and an educational psychologist. With the team, his mom's help, and his own willingness to try, Harry realizes that he can read. It just might be a little harder for him.
I Don't Like Reading depicts the frustration many kids at school face with reading. Harry is illustrated in a way that leaves his age a bit ambiguous so readers of many ages up through upper elementary will see themselves in Harry's struggles. As Harry goes through the educational testing process, he meets with a special needs coordinator and an educational psychologist which mirrors what children go through when being tested for extra services in school. I Don't like Reading does an excellent job of identifying student frustrations and preparing them for the process they may go through if their parents choose to pursue special education services for extra help.
*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.
Elizabeth Green
July 27, 2017
I got an e-copy for review from the publisher. All opinions and thoughts are my own and may not reflect those of the author or publisher.
I was a little bit confused as to who the target audience was for this book. The marketing seems to suggest that the book is intended for children who are dyslexic. I however think this was done poorly. The text on a lot of the pages was very confusing to read. It wasn't only the font that was an issue but the fact that it was over-laid on a picture of different letters which made it hard to follow.
I did enjoy how it showed some of the coping mechanism one can use to make reading a little easier with dyslexia. I found these to be realistic because they are some of the methods I use myself. I use an overlay and my preference is purple.
I which the author had showed how specific fonts can make things more difficult for the reader. I also which she would have shown how p,q,d,b all look identical to a dyslexia individual. I also which they showed that being dyslexic doesn't only affect reading. It also affects math, spelling, word pronunciation, and coordination, and sense of direction.
I did however feel that this book would be good to teach in school so that students without dyslexia can understand how someone with dyslexia might feel. The fear of reading aloud and spelling words incorrectly is something that is very relatable.
I was a little bit confused as to who the target audience was for this book. The marketing seems to suggest that the book is intended for children who are dyslexic. I however think this was done poorly. The text on a lot of the pages was very confusing to read. It wasn't only the font that was an issue but the fact that it was over-laid on a picture of different letters which made it hard to follow.
I did enjoy how it showed some of the coping mechanism one can use to make reading a little easier with dyslexia. I found these to be realistic because they are some of the methods I use myself. I use an overlay and my preference is purple.
I which the author had showed how specific fonts can make things more difficult for the reader. I also which she would have shown how p,q,d,b all look identical to a dyslexia individual. I also which they showed that being dyslexic doesn't only affect reading. It also affects math, spelling, word pronunciation, and coordination, and sense of direction.
I did however feel that this book would be good to teach in school so that students without dyslexia can understand how someone with dyslexia might feel. The fear of reading aloud and spelling words incorrectly is something that is very relatable.
Kelli Koeppen
August 6, 2022
Harry struggles with reading and avoids it with all his might. When he finally opens up to his mom, help comes Harry’s way and there are answers and solutions.
I like and hate this book all at the same time. I wish the plot were not so direct, yet I under why they are so direct. I like the artistic thought behind the different fonts used within the same word, yet I cannot stand it because it becomes a distraction for me. I like how informative it is, but do not find the presentation of the information kiddo friendly. Is this information important for kiddos to have access to? YES! Is this book presenting the information too clinically? Yes. I had so much hope for this book, but it just fell flat for me.
I like and hate this book all at the same time. I wish the plot were not so direct, yet I under why they are so direct. I like the artistic thought behind the different fonts used within the same word, yet I cannot stand it because it becomes a distraction for me. I like how informative it is, but do not find the presentation of the information kiddo friendly. Is this information important for kiddos to have access to? YES! Is this book presenting the information too clinically? Yes. I had so much hope for this book, but it just fell flat for me.
Steven McDonald
May 15, 2017
I was drawn to this book solely because of the title. It could have been written about my five year old grandson, who loves to be read to but doesn't like it when we ask him if he'd like to do some reading. Imagine not only my joy but my grandsons too when some of the things uncovered in the book turned a light on in his head. From asking for help to green acetate paper. It's refreshing to know that he is not the only person out there that panics at the thought of being asked to read in school and the issues that causes. I'd highly recommend this book as Lisabeth Clarke points you in the correct direction if you think you child or even grandchild has difficulties.
Tanja
July 14, 2017
I appreciate the well-meant intentions and think this book will work best and be a helpful resource in the hands of educators, counsellors and parents who are looking for a way to talk with their child about dyslexia. I don't see young readers selecting and reading this book independently.
Alice
June 11, 2017
net galley copy
Emily
August 14, 2017
I think a lot of kids with dyslexia will identify with the main character’s feelings and struggles. It was well written and the illustrations were nice also.
Dana
September 6, 2017
This simple picture book shows children what it is like to have dyslexia and some of the ways to help people with dyslexia to read.
Wendy
January 16, 2018
Fantastic little book which simply shares the struggle with reading if you have dyslexia.
Whole And
January 15, 2019
Inspiring little book for the dyslexic child struggling with reading.
The message is that great success can be achieved but not too much provided on how to get there.
The message is that great success can be achieved but not too much provided on how to get there.
Jasmin Johansen
April 5, 2017
I gave this 5/5 stars.
I can highly recommend this book. It's so amazing and perfect for parents and their kids.
It's book about a kid who doesn't like reading because the words make him dizzy and the words are hard to read, for they are jumping around on the page. He then later finds out he has dyslexia and gets help for it.
They talk about how Harry is scared to go to school and even gets sick about the thought of going to school and read in front of the class. He luckily gets help for it later and begins loving reading. I love how they also mention that a lot of successful and famous people also had/has dyslexia. Like Steve Jobs and Whoopi Goldberg. The book also makes sure to talk about how Harry Is and "Clever young boy with a dyslexic profile". Because they are not stupid, it's just harder for them to read and learn it, until they get the right tools to make it easier for them.
The book is really good at explaining what is happening to him and what could help someone who deals with the same thing. It maybe even can help people realize what is happening to their kids/themselves.
At first, I was confused why the words on the page were written in a lot of different fonts, both big and small, and it even made it hard for me to read. But then I realized that it was to make it look like what a dyslexic person may see when they try to read. This was such an amazing and smart idea, for you then learn even more about what a dyslexic person deals with and you find it even more amazing that so many people has fought through this and can read "normally" today.
I also learned some new things this book, that I didn't know about before. Like for example, I didn't know that colored paper could make it easier for some to read and that there is a different color for different people. I liked how they used this in the book and boys color were green. So on one page, they had green see-through 'paper' in the picture and the text was so much easier to read.
The graphics and the illustrations in this book were really well thought through and beautiful. They used the pictures to make it easier to understand and to see a little from a dyslexic POV.
I loved how this book gave a little glimpse of what a dyslexic person goes through and even as a 20 years old I find this book informative and good.
So as I said earlier, I love this and can definitely recommend this book. I good book to read with your child.
**I received an ARC from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.**
I can highly recommend this book. It's so amazing and perfect for parents and their kids.
It's book about a kid who doesn't like reading because the words make him dizzy and the words are hard to read, for they are jumping around on the page. He then later finds out he has dyslexia and gets help for it.
They talk about how Harry is scared to go to school and even gets sick about the thought of going to school and read in front of the class. He luckily gets help for it later and begins loving reading. I love how they also mention that a lot of successful and famous people also had/has dyslexia. Like Steve Jobs and Whoopi Goldberg. The book also makes sure to talk about how Harry Is and "Clever young boy with a dyslexic profile". Because they are not stupid, it's just harder for them to read and learn it, until they get the right tools to make it easier for them.
The book is really good at explaining what is happening to him and what could help someone who deals with the same thing. It maybe even can help people realize what is happening to their kids/themselves.
At first, I was confused why the words on the page were written in a lot of different fonts, both big and small, and it even made it hard for me to read. But then I realized that it was to make it look like what a dyslexic person may see when they try to read. This was such an amazing and smart idea, for you then learn even more about what a dyslexic person deals with and you find it even more amazing that so many people has fought through this and can read "normally" today.
I also learned some new things this book, that I didn't know about before. Like for example, I didn't know that colored paper could make it easier for some to read and that there is a different color for different people. I liked how they used this in the book and boys color were green. So on one page, they had green see-through 'paper' in the picture and the text was so much easier to read.
The graphics and the illustrations in this book were really well thought through and beautiful. They used the pictures to make it easier to understand and to see a little from a dyslexic POV.
I loved how this book gave a little glimpse of what a dyslexic person goes through and even as a 20 years old I find this book informative and good.
So as I said earlier, I love this and can definitely recommend this book. I good book to read with your child.
**I received an ARC from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.**
The Suburban Eclectic
April 13, 2017
I Don't Like Reading is a short and sweet introduction to dyslexia. The graphics are colorful, which should grab kids' attention and there are some nice tips like using rulers and colored paper for focus although more tips would have been much appreciated. It is a little too simplistic for readers in 4th or 5th grades, not even my 1st grader was that enthralled, but for younger readers this might hit the spot.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
Join the discussion
Add
Start
Ask
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.
Help center