Bloomsbury Publishes Dyslexia-Friendly Editions of the Hogwarts Library

by · February 7, 2019

The 20th-anniversary editions of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban are due to be released this July, but before that, readers can enjoy new large-print dyslexia-friendly editions of the Hogwarts Library texts!

The Hogwarts Library includes Quidditch Through the Ages, The Tales of Beadle the Bard, and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. These new editions include features designed to make the texts more accessible to readers with dyslexia.

This includes RNIB [Royal National Institute of Blind People]-approved and dyslexia-friendly fonts and font sizes, tinted paper for glare reduction and maximum contrast, captions and detailed descriptions to accompany each illustration and themed navigational aids to assist the reader.

 

The cover of the dyslexia-friendly edition of “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”The cover of the dyslexia-friendly edition of “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”
The cover of the dyslexia-friendly edition of “The Tales of Beadle the Bard”The cover of the dyslexia-friendly edition of “The Tales of Beadle the Bard”
The cover of the dyslexia-friendly edition of “Quidditch Through the Ages”The cover of the dyslexia-friendly edition of “Quidditch Through the Ages”

 

RNIB commented on its involvement in creating these new versions.

We’re delighted to have worked with Bloomsbury in reviewing the large[-]print editions of the three Hogwarts Library books. We hope that these projects will encourage other publishers to follow in [Bloomsbury’s] footsteps and expand the market of accessible and inclusive books

Bloomsbury doesn’t plan to stop here either; it is currently working on adapting all of the original Harry Potter texts into more accessible versions.

We’re thrilled that Bloomsbury is committed to inclusion and bringing Potter to everyone! These books are on sale now and can be purchased by clicking on the title below:

This release also coincides with Harry Potter Book Night 2019! Check out the event map to find a Book Night celebration near you and be sure to mention these wonderful new editions of the Hogwarts Library texts!

Press Release

"Children with dyslexia should also be able to develop a passion for stories and reading, so I very much welcome this dyslexia-friendly version" - Margaret Malpas, MBE, Vice President of the British Dyslexia Association

THE HOGWARTS LIBRARY: LARGE[-]PRINT DYSLEXIA EDITIONS

For the first time, Bloomsbury will publish large[-]print dyslexia[-]friendly editions of the much-loved companion novels to the classic Harry Potter series. A treasure trove of beastly creations, sporting legends, and inspiring fairy tales, the three books in The Hogwarts Library bring extra depth and richness to the wizarding world created by J.K. Rowling.

The large[-]print, dyslexia-friendly editions all include features to aid accessibility. This includes RNIB-approved and dyslexia-friendly fonts and font sizes, tinted paper for glare reduction and maximum contrast, captions and detailed descriptions to accompany each illustration and themed navigational aids to assist the reader. The editions include J.K. Rowling’s original text as well as gorgeous jacket art by Jonny Duddle and line illustrations throughout by Tomislav Tomic.

Bloomsbury has worked with several key dyslexia and blindness foundations to ensure that these captivating stories are as accessible as possible and allow even more readers to immerse themselves in the expanded world that began with Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Endorsements from key organizations for these new editions include:

"We’re delighted to have worked with Bloomsbury in reviewing the large[-]print editions of the three Hogwarts Library books. We hope that these projects will encourage other publishers to follow in their footsteps and expand the market of accessible and inclusive books" - Royal National Institute for the Blind

"UKAAF is delighted that Bloomsbury has made such a great effort to make this book as accessible as possible to people with print impairments. Our aim is to improve both the availability and the quality of accessible formats in the UK, and this publication is another great step in that direction" - UK Association for Accessible Formats

"I am delighted to endorse this edition that has been specially adapted to enable those requiring larger print or those who may be dyslexic to enjoy and access fully the wonderful world of Harry Potter" - Professor Amanda Kirby, University of South Wales, Medical Advisor to the Dyspraxia Foundation in the UK

Bloomsbury is currently exploring options to publish the original Harry Potter series in large[-]print dyslexia-friendly editions too.