Why Every Classroom in Aotearoa Needs Picture Books About How We Learn to Read and Dyslexia – Written by Heather Down

The wonderful Nicky Collins has been working hard yet again for neurodiverse students, approaching bookstore chains within New Zealand to carry books that explain dyslexia in a friendly way. It got me thinking that if we are to be truly culturally responsive, then our tamariki deserve classrooms that reflect their diverse abilities, cultures, and learning journeys. If we are truly committed to fostering inclusive education in New Zealand, every teacher should have the tools to teach understanding, empathy, and evidence-based learning strategies.

Here’s why we need to have books about dyslexia in the classroom:

Understanding How the Brain Learns to Read: Picture books that explain how reading works, in kid-friendly language, give children the power to understand their learning journey. It’s not just about decoding words—it’s about building confidence and recognising that everyone learns at their own pace.

Celebrating Neurodiversity: Books where the main character has dyslexia help normalise different ways of thinking. They create a sense of belonging for dyslexic students, who might otherwise feel alone in their literacy struggles, and teach classmates to celebrate strengths like creativity and problem-solving.

True Inclusion: Inclusion is about recognising and supporting the diverse learning needs of every child. Dyslexia is part of that diversity. Having a picture book about dyslexia in every classroom sends the message that neurodiversity is valued and respected.

When we equip our classrooms with these resources, we’re not just teaching about reading; we’re building communities where all learners feel seen, supported, and celebrated.

Nicky has already done the hard work and come up with a list of picture books about dyslexia or how we learn to read. Do you have other suggestions? Let’s grow this list together!

How my brain learns to read – Dr Duncan Milne
My Storee – Paul Russell
It’s Called Dyslexia – Jennifer Moore-Mallinos
The Day We Asked the Fish to Climb the Tree – Kate Kee
A Walk in the Words – Hudson Talbott
Hacking the Code – Gea Meijering
The Brain Forest – Sandhya Menon
Dyslexia – Robin Twiddy
My Life with Dyslexia – Mari C Schuh
D is for Darcy Not Dyslexia – Abigail Griebelbauer
The Alphabet War – Diane Robb