Have you ever told your bored (and dyslexic) kids to go read a book? I know I have! The problem with this advice is that for many struggling readers, reading is still too difficult to be enjoyable. Choosing a few Hi-Lo books (high interest/low readability) for your struggling or reluctant readers may be just the remedy for this problem.
Use Hi- Lo Books for Struggling Readers
Hi-Lo books are books of high interest content that are written at a lower reading level. They are perfect for struggling readers who may have trouble finding books of interest that they are able to read.
Of course, audiobooks are always an option to provide easy access to age-appropriate literature for kids with dyslexia but Hi-Lo books can motivate struggling readers to actually read by providing books on topics that are engaging that are also targeted toward their independent reading level.
Hi-Lo books can help build reading fluency, vocabulary, background knowledge, and interest in reading. They also have the advantage of looking like chapter books and are written about interesting topics with easy readability.
What a great find these books have been for our family! Many companies offer Hi-Lo books for struggling readers.
Here are some of our favorites:
Sources for Hi-Lo Books
Great Illustrated Classics
Great Illustrated Classics are just that. Â With large print, an illustration on every other page, and excellent classic stories such as Treasure Island, Oliver Twist, Anne of Green Gables, and Pride and Prejudice, our kids with dyslexia eat these books up. Â Written at approximately a 2-3rd grade level, they are excellent for both the young reader and the older struggling reader. Â Some of these are available on Kindle with Whispersync technology. Unfortunately, they are out of print but you can search on Amazon, eBay or other used book sellers for used versions.
Similar to the Great Illustrated Classics. Â I look for all of these books at yard sales, used curriculum sales, and thrift stores but they can be purchased fairly inexpensively in paperback via Amazon as well.
The website allows you to browse books by reading level or subject/genre. In addition, High Noon Books offers many resources for teaching kids with reading struggles.
High Interest Publishing – HIP Publishing
HIP Books publishes novels that are written, edited and designed for struggling and reluctant readers from age 8 to 18. The company also offers print and online teacher resources to help educators teach reading strategies, boost comprehension and improve students’ general reading skills.
High interest books with delightful story lines and controlled vocabulary.
From the Capstone web site, “Dynamic, riveting action captivates the reluctant reader in these age-appropriate and illustrated tales. The high-interest topics offer an array of genres. Short chapters, smooth dialogue, and adrenaline-soaked subjects will help turn struggling skimmers into excited book lovers.”  Reading Level: 2-3  Interest Level: 5-9
Need to figure out at what level your child is reading?
Graphic Novels for Struggling or Reluctant Readers
Similar to comic books, graphic novels use lots of visuals with a limited amount of text to tell the story. Graphic novels can be especially appealing to readers who are reluctant to pick up a more traditional book. Graphic novels are a great way to help struggling readers strengthen vocabulary, build reading confidence and stamina, and develop a deeper appreciation of storytelling.
Here is a family-friendly and wholesome list of Hi-Lo graphic novel series categorized by age. These books are free from excessive violence, inappropriate language, or mature themes, making them great for conservative or values-driven families.
Family-Friendly Graphic Novel Series by Age Range
Ages 5-8 (Early Readers)
- Narwhal and Jelly (Ben Clanton) – A cute friendship series with positive themes and humor.
- Elephant & Piggie Like Reading! (Mo Willems) – Easy-to-read, wholesome stories with lovable characters.
- Dragon (Dav Pilkey) – A gentle, funny early reader series with kindhearted messages.
- Owly (Andy Runton) – A heartwarming, mostly wordless series about kindness and friendship.
- Haggis and Tank Unleashed (Jessica Young) – Adventure and humor with strong teamwork themes.
- Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot (Dav Pilkey) – A mix of comic and chapter book with fun sci-fi themes.
- Wallace the Brave (Will Henry) – A wholesome slice-of-life comic with outdoor adventures.
Ages 8-12 (Middle Grade)
- The Bad Guys (Aaron Blabey) – Funny action series about “bad” animals trying to be good.
- Bird & Squirrel (James Burks) – A fun adventure series with a strong friendship theme.
- The Flying Beaver Brothers (Maxwell Eaton III) – A clean, fun series about adventure and teamwork.
- Dog Man (Dav Pilkey) – Action-packed and humorous, with strong moral lessons.
- Science Comics (First Second Books) – Engaging nonfiction series on topics like space, dinosaurs, and volcanoes.
- Lumberjanes (Boom! Studios) – (Some editions are family-friendly) – Outdoor adventures with teamwork and creativity.
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures (IDW Publishing) – Classic TMNT stories with fun action.
- Zita the Spacegirl (Ben Hatke) – A sci-fi adventure with a strong female lead and positive messages.
- Katie the Catsitter (Colleen AF Venable) – A lighthearted superhero adventure.
- Dinosaur Explorers (Discovery Kids) – A fun and educational dinosaur adventure series.
Ages 12-16 (Teens & Young Adults)
- Miles Morales: Spider-Man (Marvel) – A teen-friendly superhero story with positive role models.
- Ms. Marvel (Marvel) – A lighthearted superhero series with themes of responsibility.
- Dragon Hoops (Gene Luen Yang) – A basketball-focused graphic novel with life lessons.
- Bone (Jeff Smith) – A clean fantasy adventure series with humor and heroism.
- City of Secrets (Victoria Ying) – A family-friendly steampunk mystery.
- The Elsewhere Chronicles (Nykko) – A fantasy adventure series with a focus on friendship.
- Red’s Planet (Eddie Pittman) – A clean sci-fi adventure with strong moral themes.
- The 39 Clues: The Graphic Novel (Scholastic) – Action-packed mysteries in an accessible format.
- The Okay Witch (Emma Steinkellner) – A lighthearted and clean magical adventure.
- Hi-Lo Graphic Novels (Saddleback Publishing) – Short, engaging books designed for struggling readers.
Related Posts
How to Find Books at Your Child’s Reading Level
How to Determine Your Child’s Reading Level Read this article on using the Fry’s Readability Graph.
Did you check out Simple Words Books (simplewordsbooks.com) for decodable chapter books?
Thank you for reminding me! I love Simple Words Books. I’ll add them to my list. 🙂
Graphic novels have been what sparked my dyslexic child’s desire to read on her own!
Beginning with simpler ones like Chi’s Sweet Home, Yotsuba (Japanese anime designed for young kids)
Then moving on and enjoying Manga Shakespeare.
Another fun graphic book is The Little prince
Yes, my daughters too. She can spell anime and lots of the Japanese names. But struggles to read simple things. Silly kids.
DOG ON A LOG Books. They are written in Steps with 5 books at each Step. Each following Step has 5 more books with 1 to 3 more phonics rules. There’s even a list of sight words used in each book so that kids can be prepared for them.
Thanks Pamela! I’ll check them out!