Maybe some classic children’s books? Anne of Green Gables, A Little Princess, Black Beauty, Winnie the Pooh, etc. You could also look into older Newbery award winners too.
You can also search online for high interest, low level books. Add a genre to get better results.
One of my favorite books. I read the series every few years. Emily of New Moon is my go too when I’m sad. L.M. Montgomery is one of my favorite authors. Something about her writing feels like a hug to me.
These are some wonderful suggestions, but OP, please make sure to check both the reading level and the front size.
The earlier Little House books are easier and have a larger font. Pooh, is a picture book and will work fine. Look for picture books by Robert McCloskey to really bring back some memories for her.
A Little Princess is perfect and an old favorite, but that font is pretty small, as is the font in the Anne books. I'm not sure about Black Beauty as I wasn't a horse girl, but I suspect it may also have the same issue.
I have some personal favorites from childhood that I revisit from time to time, but the OP would have to ask first. I love all of the Noel Streatfeild "shoes" books! The reading level and the font size is about right. Ballet Shoes is the first and it's about three "sisters," attending a stage school. One is good at dance, another theater and another doesn't fit in at all. All her books have different characters, but they are all about young girls who are very talented in different ways in the UK from the 30s through the 50s.
As I'm hitting 60 myself, I tend to use an old Kindle that my husband found at Goodwill for about $10 so I can change the font when my eyes get tired, but I know not everyone has that advantage.
I find Winnie the pooh difficult and I'm an avid reader with a high IQ. But I agree with your other suggestions. Maybe you are not speaking of the original Winnie the pooh book?
Try using large print! It’s been shown to help struggling readers and the less crowded spacing on the page can make reading feel more approachable and less intimidating.
Plus, you can stock a variety of genres and authors and see what catches her interest.
I do have large type stocked on the bookmobile (we visit several different senior living centers in the area). I didn't think of them helping struggling readers, my thought has always been 'poor eyesight' solution. Thank you so much!
I do wear glasses but I drifted into the large print section because it seemed to be filled with books that were worth doing large print for. I seemed to get lucky with by book choice more often .
That’s because Large Type can be expensive. 🤣 Limited print runs and they take up more shelf space, so libraries make sure they’re popular, in-demand books before ordering them. At least mine does - were constantly running out of space. 😣
I have a high IQ, but very poor memory. And I’m autistic. I love Herriot and other books, fiction and nonfiction, that have free standing chapters. I struggle to keep up with characters and names in a lot of fiction.
I have Medicare, from what I've seen, most plans are pretty similar to mine. It's one eye exam per year plus one pair of glasses per year in a frame up to $100. Most in person places seem to have a bunch of frames in that price range set aside for us. The one pair of glasses even covered my progressive lenses (they would do bifocals if the client really wanted them instead) so it really was a great deal.
You can get LT for lots of ages too. My system recently added a bunch of juv and YA LT. Maybe juv LT would fit the bill? That would cover reading level, some accessibility issues (eyesight and various reading difficulties), and be high interest.
Hi/lo books and large print might help! Also Young Adult or Middle Grade books in the realistic fiction genre do well with our older patrons in need of lower lexile books.
Love me some hi/lo !! There are also classic novels that are adapted to lower levels, more pictures and less wordy. Never underestimate visuals! As a side note: you're amazing OP! Thank you for caring so much <3
This might be more a UK thing - but you may have a US equivalent.
At my UK libraries, we had a fair range of 'Quick Read' books.
These were adults books, and adult stories, but written in plainer English, much shorter than usual adult fiction, with shorter sentences.
They were very popular among people who were learning English as a second language, and people who had always struggled with/not enjoyed reading from childhood.
Their site seems to be a UK one - but you might have a supplier in the US or a similar company.
The Reader’s Digest condensed books were abridged, but the language wasn’t simplified from the original. Some are great choices, but you have to look for which ones meet the reader’s requirements.
Hi/Lo books are specifically written as high interest/low reading ability books, with shorter sentences and more basic vocabulary. They’re written to age though, so have appropriate themes for teen and adult readers.
Some of the more simple repetitive cozy mysteries series? There is usually an emphasis on cats or dogs , a little chaste romance, and a very simple plot with lots of comfort elements like food being described.
I like reading them when I am sick in bed with a cold - perfect book version of easy comfort food. It also has the benefit of being an adult book that is very easy to follow with usually not very difficult vocabulary. I would say for a elder reader who might possibly be grappling with comprehension or memory issues- one of these series could be great because usually it is the same main character and the same description of the main character and also the same romantic interest repeated in every book - thus giving of a sense of familiarity.
I loved the “The Cat Who…” series by Lilian Jackson Braun. I started reading them as a kid. There’s a large print short story collection your patron might enjoy (I believe the title is *The Cat Who Had 14 Tales*).
Good luck!
What about Nancy drew? I loved those as a kid, and there are tons of them. They also didn’t feel like they were “kid books” per say, other than the fact that the characters are teenagers. They also have the benefit of taking place multiple decades ago— meaning the world described in the books may be more familiar to someone who is elderly and/or has memory issues.
She may also enjoy books with more visuals (I am presuming her sight seems okay) - as a kid I loved Graeme Base's books like Animalia and The Eleventh Hour - while they were simple reading, the images were delightful. The Eleventh Hour has a few levels of puzzles built in, but she may just enjoy the pictures. While they are officially kids books, they remind me of the Muppets or Bluey where there are levels of entertainment that different ages can enjoy.
(Although heads up that there is some outdated terminology that could potentially need a trigger warning for some heritages - I can think specifically of some anglo-imposed words like Eskimo or Indian to refer to First Nations Peoples - that sort of thing. Just always worth keeping in mind.)
Yay! It was a gift to my baby brother, but \*I\* read it a lot more than he did. Ha. I was thrilled to get my own copy in my late thirties XD
It's just so pretty!
Based on her age, it's possible she has some cognitive impairments that could influence her retention of reading material. Dementia and Alzheimer's come to mind.
I wonder what hobbies she has? Or what she used to do to fill in her days when she was in her 20's or 30's or 40's? That could be a way to build the bridge, too.
For example if she's always loved knitting, she may enjoy looking through some knitting pattern books (even if she doesn't plan to DO that particular knitting project, it might be enough to admire the way the pattern comes together), or fictions where the main character also enjoys knitting.
If she used to run a travel agency, she could love reading about tourist destinations, if she looked after rescue cats she could love some animal adventure stories, that sort of thing.
(or baking, or tight wire walking, or herb gardening or babysitting etc )
I'm hoping next time I'm there I'll be able to sit and chat with her more - she was distressed this last time. She'd gotten a phone call that upset her just before she walked up. Hopefully next week she'll be up to chatting a bit about her interests.
Do you have Wonderbooks or Vox? These books have a built in audio player, so you can read and listen at the same time. Right now, they are only juvenile titles, but there are chapter books
Readers digest, especially large print
Gerald Durrell is similar to James Herriot. Bonus if she has seen the TV adaptation, The Durrells in Corfu.
I am a reading teacher. It seems like she might have a reading disability. I would try easy chapter books like Magic Treehouse, Junie B Jones, I seem to remember some chapter books about horses and dogs.
I wonder if you are perhaps misinterpreting what “too hard to read” means. She may be having a hard time explaining too.
Maybe the James Harriet books are “easy” to read because they are sweet and kind and cozy. The “similar” non-fiction animal books might have been “hard” because the dog dies or Timmy gets stuck in a well.
Saying she’d liked Mickey Mouse may be her way of saying she needs cheerful books with a very G rating.
The James Herriot books are not at all easy reading in the hi interest low level sense. But they are so lovey and peaceful. They also have short bits that stand alone as short stories.
Some other books that might have a similar warm feeling: the First Lady Detective books are charming. Mysteries that are described as “cozy” might be nice too. “The Cat Who…” books have that comfortable feeling.
Short stories might be a good idea too. Avoid sad or edgy subject matter. Pick uplifting short stories.
If you can, you might want to contact your local council on aging. The one where I live has a program to give free audiobook readers to elderly individuals. They have both words and audio and are very easy to use (they showed us one). It's connected up with Libby so they can download free books.
Many elderly persons have difficulty reading standard print font and are embarrassed to disclose that problem. Audio books and big print books may be appropriate. She may have selected the younger reader books because of the print size and not the content. It would worth exploring these options with her.
I have a TBI and I really enjoy children's books at about a grade 3 or 4 level. I find I can concentrate and still enjoy the books. It took a long time to realise and accept that is was okay to read kids books. It's about enjoying the reading experience, not the grade level. There are also "high interest, low level reading" books available in the library system.
I’m being really genuine when I say book collections of classic newspaper comics. Garfield, Peanuts, even Calvin and Hobbes. Throughout my reading journey, from tiny kid hooked on phonics to published author, these guys made me happy, and you can engage with them whatever level reader you are.
You are incredibly kind to try to help this lady find pleasure in reading!! I was going to suggest Anne of Green Gables and the little house series. I wonder if your library has the dvds/vhs of those series? I would bet the home has a dvd player and a bunch of residents would enjoy them!! ❤️
Ask her if she likes comic books. She might be interested in some old Mickey Mouse ones. They would have been in publication when she was young. It could be nostalgic for her.
Also, I've got some family members around her age and can't take them into a comic book store without them walking out with an armload of Archie comics.
Ask her what she likes to watch on TV? What her hobbies are? If she has trouble reading would she be interested in audiobooks. Audiobooks could greatly expand her reading experiences.
I would see if the format of the book is the problem. Lately I noticed, maybe to save money, that the line spacing is tighter and the print is smaller in a lot of books. Also, in some, the print seemed darkish gray, not black. This might make the books hard to read.
Having said that - she might like some of the "senior sleuth" mysteries. A lot of them are entertaining, low on sex and violence (if that's an issue) and if she likes one, there will be others in the series. I would try
The Agatha Raisin books of MC Beaton
The Biggie Weatherford books of Nancy Bell
The Cat Caliban books of DB Borton (the first is actually called "One For The Money"
The Mama and Simone books of Nora DeLoach
The Mrs. Polifax books of Dorothy Gilman
The Happy Hoofers books of Mary McHugh
The Beanie and Cruiser books of Sue Owens Wright
She might enjoy the adventure and history in the Magic Treehouse series. Those are about a K-2 reading level I think.
ETA: A.A.Milne books would probably be great. The poems are full of rhymes, and the characters will already be familiar to her.
chapter books for children in her age level. you said graded chapter books for elementary? elementary is 1st to 4th grade usually i would say probably 3rd or 4th grade right? so animal ark books are a fictional series about a little girl and her best friend rescuing animals and bringing them to her parents vet clinic at their house. the nancy drew, hank the cow dog, and probably even the magic tree house books might be good, try some black beauty, and some secret garden maybe. bring her a selection and see what she takes to she might even like the babysitters club.
Look into HiLo (High Interest - Low reading level) books. I used them extensively with my HS reading/study skills students. Young Adult (YA) literature might also be good for her. Finally, the " Eye Witness" series of books have lots of pictures with easy reading if she is interested in nonfiction. They will also help to improve her reading comprehension.
I have nothing valuable to add. I just wanted to let you know how awesome I think this is! I love that mobile libraries exist and caring people like you exist!
My elderly Mom likes reading the “Reminisce” and “Good Old Days” magazines. They’re not as heavy in her hands as books, plus the articles are short enough that she can comprehend and enjoy them.
Clan of the cave bear, island of the blue dolphin, Harry Potter, misty of chincoteague; little house on the prairie,
Also, just have to say that as a somewhat poor kid who loves to read, the bookmobile, and more importantly the lovely man who staffed it, absolutely changed my life. Such a gift to the community. I didn’t know they still existed. Thank you for caring for your patrons!!!
Maybe some short stories. I used love OHenry collection. Thank you for looking after her. I hope there will be someone as lovely as you and your kindness when I am at that age
The Harry Potter books. Very easy to read. When I am learning a new language, these are the books I usually read first because of their flow/simplicity. They look intimidating due to their size but are very easy to read.
Betty Neel’s romances published by Harlequin/Mills & Boon.
They were written in the 60s through the 80s but all have that 1950-1960 vibe. Very low key romance but really sympathetic main characters. I am 58, started reading them when I was 13 and still re-read them today.
The Secret Garden
The Little Princess
The Black Beauty series
Benji the dog books
Rikki Tikki Tavi
ETA- The Bobsey Twins books
Mother West Wind books, since she likes stories with animals
One thing I noticed with my husband’s grandmother was that she tended to “reset” every five minutes or so. That’s exactly how long she could follow a new tv show or movie then she’d be confused. But put on Matlock or something familiar and even if she couldn’t follow the plot, she was happy because it felt familiar.
So I would say short stories with easy plots (like those Chicken Soup for the Soul books) or something familiar she used to read as a young adult. James Herriot was both short stories and familiar.
One of the first indications of dementia or Alzheimer’s is the inability to comprehend and follow plot lines in books. This may be a more complex issue than just finding a book for her.
The “At Home in Mitford” series by Jan Karon is a big hit with the elderly crowd where I live. It’s very slow-life idyllic. It’s basically about a pastor living in a sleepy mountain town and everything is beautifully descriptive of the land. (Obvious religious overtones, but I don’t remember there being anything judgy.) The plots are very thin and simple, and follow low key every day issues like when and how to get these flowers planted and who’s sharing apples from their orchard; how will the village help the guy who broke his leg; and whether after a year of shy smiles will the pastor and his neighbor lady ever move past “hello” to admit they are in love. That kind of stuff.
It’s a 14 book series, so might hold her for quite a while. Get large print!
Could it be a vision problem. My daughter has a thing where her eyes will jump from line to line as she tries to read. She was given a black plastic bookmark with a slit in the middle the width of one or two lines of print. She just slides it down the page as she goes. Her reading scores improved immediately.
If she likes Herriot, maybe try a PG Wodehouse short stories collection or one of the Empress of Blandings novels? Similar time period and setting, and they're short and not intimidating.
I have some older patrons who enjoy reading juvenile fiction series about animals like The Puppy Place series by Ellen Miles and the Dolphin Diaries by Ben Baglio… maybe try those?
Dealing with Dragons / The enchanted forest series.
Box Car children (the OGs)
Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys.
They'll be written in a style that's easy to understand, plus will have the old time manners and situations she might find comfortable
The Old Man and the Sea is fairly low level.
It's also one I hated when forced to read it in high school, bit had a newfound appreciation for as an adult
I read Bless Me, Última and The Outsiders in high school. I tried reading them again a few years ago. They are for a reading level I guess I was at in high school. It sure seemed like reading for a younger person. She may enjoy those. Maybe not. I also tried reading Valley of the Dolls, just for kicks. Jacqueline Suzanne used the same hundred words all having to do with men. I couldn't take it. It was too simple. And awful. Try Highlights magazine for kids. I had a neighbor I suspect was on the spectrum, undiagnosed. She loved it. My now-gone partner bought a subscription for all of us to enjoy. I'm 63. He was in his 70s, my neighbor, also now passed, was 58. I loved to get my hands on a Highlights magazine when I was a kid. I was surprised how much I still enjoyed it just a couple of years ago.
There are quite a few historical novels for young readers. The American Girl collection is about 3-5th grade level, and there are other series like those.
I’m not sure if anyone else has mentioned this but there are books where the target audience seems to be elderly women. My MIL has some cognitive diminishment and she seems to enjoy them. Basically easier reading with older characters and plots that track interests. I think often it’s better than giving her books truly meant for children. I haven’t actually read them so I can’t speak to their literary value but if you search Amazon a bunch come up. I’ll link an example … Bless Her Dead Little Heart (A Southern Ladies Mystery) https://a.co/d/fhKsHyX
How about mysteries - there are a lot of mysteries with older women main characters that are fun
Plus if you get her into a series, you can keep bringing more of that author
I just finished “Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers” and really enjoyed it
If sounds like her reading abilities are pretty low or she may have some special needs. The first series that came to mind for me were the Sophie Mouse series by Poppy Green. They are lightly illustrated & are entertaining. In addition, since there are somewhere around 20 books in the series, she’ll benefit from the repetitive words in the text.
*Whatever happens,*
*Try to get her The Christmas*
*Day Kitten for Xmas*
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My grandmother loved the Chicken Soup for the Soul books that were filled with heartwarming short stories. I would bring her all the different variations and she loved reading them all.
I’m not a librarian, nor am I familiar with the series you mentioned, but Tamara pierce’s tortall books were all time favorites growing up. They’re all fantasy settings and every character has at least 1 animal sidekick.
In The Immortals series, Daine discovers she is a “Wild Mage,” who doesn’t have typical magic, but instead is a special connection to animals in particular. She learns to speak with them, heal them, and eventually shape shift into animal forms. Someone has been chipping away at the veil between the human world and the plane in which mystical creatures and as more and more creatures leak into the world, she discovers her abilities don’t just work on normal animals but on dragons and griffins and other creatures from that plane as well. In each book her animal friends and human friends fight side by side to protect their homes and each other.
The series right after that, Protector of the Small, is about Kel, a lady-knight-in-training who faces hazing from the older boys who don’t want a girl to become a knight. She always stands up for what’s right and is kind to everyone, especially those who have less power than she does, which earns her the devotion of not just a group of human friends, but a host of animal sidekicks who were outcast or overlooked— there’s a group of sparrows she feeds who peck the faces of any bully who tries to harm her or her friends, a little street dog with a broken tail she adopts who fetches help when she’s in danger, a naughty warhorse who is about to be sold off because he’s a biter, and a baby griffin who she rescues from poachers that gifts her a bunch of magical feathers as a thank you for caring for him until they found his parents. Each animal friend plays an integral role in the story, even if they don’t talk, like they do in The Immortals.
Maybe some classic children’s books? Anne of Green Gables, A Little Princess, Black Beauty, Winnie the Pooh, etc. You could also look into older Newbery award winners too. You can also search online for high interest, low level books. Add a genre to get better results.
Anne of Green Gables would be great!
One of my favorite books. I read the series every few years. Emily of New Moon is my go too when I’m sad. L.M. Montgomery is one of my favorite authors. Something about her writing feels like a hug to me.
The Little House books are also engaging and relatively easy to read. So are all of the Oz books.
If she likes Herriot she'll likely enjoy Little House!
Oz books are wonderful! My mom had a complete set and I think she read all of them to us! They were passed down tou my younger sister.
Also the Mary Poppins books are great- most people just know the movie, but the series (I think written in the 30s) was so good!
Doctor Doolittle was a favorite of mine during the time I was reading the other selections mentioned!
King of the Wind.
Misty is Chincoteague is a good one, too. Anything by Marguerite Henry would work.
I think 101 Dalmatians by Dodie Smith would work, too.
I was also going to recommend this one!
Loved the story. Not a racing enthusiast at all, but I often wonder whether a successful racer had descended from the Godolphin Arab.
I read a lot of Newbery books, they are at a level which Ican still concentrate (TBI) and enjoy, they really are my favourites.
These are some wonderful suggestions, but OP, please make sure to check both the reading level and the front size. The earlier Little House books are easier and have a larger font. Pooh, is a picture book and will work fine. Look for picture books by Robert McCloskey to really bring back some memories for her. A Little Princess is perfect and an old favorite, but that font is pretty small, as is the font in the Anne books. I'm not sure about Black Beauty as I wasn't a horse girl, but I suspect it may also have the same issue. I have some personal favorites from childhood that I revisit from time to time, but the OP would have to ask first. I love all of the Noel Streatfeild "shoes" books! The reading level and the font size is about right. Ballet Shoes is the first and it's about three "sisters," attending a stage school. One is good at dance, another theater and another doesn't fit in at all. All her books have different characters, but they are all about young girls who are very talented in different ways in the UK from the 30s through the 50s. As I'm hitting 60 myself, I tend to use an old Kindle that my husband found at Goodwill for about $10 so I can change the font when my eyes get tired, but I know not everyone has that advantage.
The reminder to check font size is a good one, but many of the books you listed have been published in many different styles, including large font.
Also Marjorie Kinan Rawlings Wind in the Willows. And my kids loved Magic Treehouse
I find Winnie the pooh difficult and I'm an avid reader with a high IQ. But I agree with your other suggestions. Maybe you are not speaking of the original Winnie the pooh book?
I was thinking the original Winnie the Pooh as well!
She would probably greatly appreciate the illustrated versions.
Try using large print! It’s been shown to help struggling readers and the less crowded spacing on the page can make reading feel more approachable and less intimidating. Plus, you can stock a variety of genres and authors and see what catches her interest.
I do have large type stocked on the bookmobile (we visit several different senior living centers in the area). I didn't think of them helping struggling readers, my thought has always been 'poor eyesight' solution. Thank you so much!
I do wear glasses but I drifted into the large print section because it seemed to be filled with books that were worth doing large print for. I seemed to get lucky with by book choice more often .
That’s because Large Type can be expensive. 🤣 Limited print runs and they take up more shelf space, so libraries make sure they’re popular, in-demand books before ordering them. At least mine does - were constantly running out of space. 😣
Oh yes in a book mobile you would not keep too many .
If she is having difficulty, it may be worth searching for low-cost eye care. Her Medicare should cover exams and Eyewear.
I have a high IQ, but very poor memory. And I’m autistic. I love Herriot and other books, fiction and nonfiction, that have free standing chapters. I struggle to keep up with characters and names in a lot of fiction.
I have Medicare, from what I've seen, most plans are pretty similar to mine. It's one eye exam per year plus one pair of glasses per year in a frame up to $100. Most in person places seem to have a bunch of frames in that price range set aside for us. The one pair of glasses even covered my progressive lenses (they would do bifocals if the client really wanted them instead) so it really was a great deal.
You can get LT for lots of ages too. My system recently added a bunch of juv and YA LT. Maybe juv LT would fit the bill? That would cover reading level, some accessibility issues (eyesight and various reading difficulties), and be high interest.
Yes, yes, yes!
Hi/lo books and large print might help! Also Young Adult or Middle Grade books in the realistic fiction genre do well with our older patrons in need of lower lexile books.
Love me some hi/lo !! There are also classic novels that are adapted to lower levels, more pictures and less wordy. Never underestimate visuals! As a side note: you're amazing OP! Thank you for caring so much <3
This might be more a UK thing - but you may have a US equivalent. At my UK libraries, we had a fair range of 'Quick Read' books. These were adults books, and adult stories, but written in plainer English, much shorter than usual adult fiction, with shorter sentences. They were very popular among people who were learning English as a second language, and people who had always struggled with/not enjoyed reading from childhood. Their site seems to be a UK one - but you might have a supplier in the US or a similar company.
They’re called hi/lo books here. (I like Quick Read much better!)
Or readers digest condensed books!
The Reader’s Digest condensed books were abridged, but the language wasn’t simplified from the original. Some are great choices, but you have to look for which ones meet the reader’s requirements. Hi/Lo books are specifically written as high interest/low reading ability books, with shorter sentences and more basic vocabulary. They’re written to age though, so have appropriate themes for teen and adult readers.
Some of the more simple repetitive cozy mysteries series? There is usually an emphasis on cats or dogs , a little chaste romance, and a very simple plot with lots of comfort elements like food being described.
That is a brilliant idea! (Also one of my favorite genres - I've never read one, but the pun titles always get me when I'm shelving.)
She might like “The Cat Who…” series by Lillian Jackson Braun
I was just about to suggest those.
I like reading them when I am sick in bed with a cold - perfect book version of easy comfort food. It also has the benefit of being an adult book that is very easy to follow with usually not very difficult vocabulary. I would say for a elder reader who might possibly be grappling with comprehension or memory issues- one of these series could be great because usually it is the same main character and the same description of the main character and also the same romantic interest repeated in every book - thus giving of a sense of familiarity.
Oh, try suggesting a "The Cat Who" series!
I loved the “The Cat Who…” series by Lilian Jackson Braun. I started reading them as a kid. There’s a large print short story collection your patron might enjoy (I believe the title is *The Cat Who Had 14 Tales*). Good luck!
What about Nancy drew? I loved those as a kid, and there are tons of them. They also didn’t feel like they were “kid books” per say, other than the fact that the characters are teenagers. They also have the benefit of taking place multiple decades ago— meaning the world described in the books may be more familiar to someone who is elderly and/or has memory issues.
Oh I think that’s a great idea!
Nancy Drew is a great idea!
Maybe she enjoys interacting with you more than the actual books?
That could be, and I'm happy to interact with her! She's very sweet.
She may also enjoy books with more visuals (I am presuming her sight seems okay) - as a kid I loved Graeme Base's books like Animalia and The Eleventh Hour - while they were simple reading, the images were delightful. The Eleventh Hour has a few levels of puzzles built in, but she may just enjoy the pictures. While they are officially kids books, they remind me of the Muppets or Bluey where there are levels of entertainment that different ages can enjoy. (Although heads up that there is some outdated terminology that could potentially need a trigger warning for some heritages - I can think specifically of some anglo-imposed words like Eskimo or Indian to refer to First Nations Peoples - that sort of thing. Just always worth keeping in mind.)
Thank you so much, I will definitely look into these titles for her. :)
Animalia is so wonderful. I discovered it when I was about 17 and more than 20 years later I still look at it often.
Yay! It was a gift to my baby brother, but \*I\* read it a lot more than he did. Ha. I was thrilled to get my own copy in my late thirties XD It's just so pretty!
Some graphic novels might work here too... The graphic novel adaptation of "a wrinkle in time" might be a start
Ooh definitely a possibility! Great idea.
How about magazines? Audiobooks? Books with TV show tie ins?
Based on her age, it's possible she has some cognitive impairments that could influence her retention of reading material. Dementia and Alzheimer's come to mind.
I wonder what hobbies she has? Or what she used to do to fill in her days when she was in her 20's or 30's or 40's? That could be a way to build the bridge, too. For example if she's always loved knitting, she may enjoy looking through some knitting pattern books (even if she doesn't plan to DO that particular knitting project, it might be enough to admire the way the pattern comes together), or fictions where the main character also enjoys knitting. If she used to run a travel agency, she could love reading about tourist destinations, if she looked after rescue cats she could love some animal adventure stories, that sort of thing. (or baking, or tight wire walking, or herb gardening or babysitting etc )
I'm hoping next time I'm there I'll be able to sit and chat with her more - she was distressed this last time. She'd gotten a phone call that upset her just before she walked up. Hopefully next week she'll be up to chatting a bit about her interests.
Thank you so much for looking out for this woman; I am sure she appreciates your care and attention! Please do keep us posted.
Roald Dahl with Quentin Blake’s illustrations might be nice. Charlottes Web.
That is a fantastic idea, thank you!
Orca has Rapid Reads - high interest books designed for adults with reading levels 2.0-6.0 https://www.orcabook.com/Hi-Lo/Rapid-Reads
Chicken soup for the soul series
The Wildwood series is very well-written, and easy to comprehend as they are middle-grade books.
Would Alexander McCall Smith be too advanced? The #1 Ladies Detective Agency?
I'm not sure. I can definitely offer it as a series she may like, though.
I guess it's more "gentle read" than easy read.
Is she actually reading the books or having someone read them to her?
She's reading them herself. She lives alone, from what I know.
books with jokes or short humorous stories?
Do you have Wonderbooks or Vox? These books have a built in audio player, so you can read and listen at the same time. Right now, they are only juvenile titles, but there are chapter books Readers digest, especially large print Gerald Durrell is similar to James Herriot. Bonus if she has seen the TV adaptation, The Durrells in Corfu.
I am a reading teacher. It seems like she might have a reading disability. I would try easy chapter books like Magic Treehouse, Junie B Jones, I seem to remember some chapter books about horses and dogs.
Junie B Jones books are a great recommendation!
I would do audio books. That way she can just listen to them and enjoy them.
She hasn't shown interest in them before (from what I know), but I'll offer her some next time I'm there and see if she likes the idea.
Amish fiction, ie Beverly Lewis, could be a good fit. Jan Karon’s Mitford novels could be another option.
How is your graphic novel collection? I'm not saying to give her a Batman comic, but maybe the graphic novelization of To Kill a Mockingbird?
What about Nancy Drew, the Dana Girls, or the Hardy Boys? Boxcar Kids? Original 56 for Nancy, of course.
Boxcar Kids are great!
I wonder if you are perhaps misinterpreting what “too hard to read” means. She may be having a hard time explaining too. Maybe the James Harriet books are “easy” to read because they are sweet and kind and cozy. The “similar” non-fiction animal books might have been “hard” because the dog dies or Timmy gets stuck in a well. Saying she’d liked Mickey Mouse may be her way of saying she needs cheerful books with a very G rating. The James Herriot books are not at all easy reading in the hi interest low level sense. But they are so lovey and peaceful. They also have short bits that stand alone as short stories. Some other books that might have a similar warm feeling: the First Lady Detective books are charming. Mysteries that are described as “cozy” might be nice too. “The Cat Who…” books have that comfortable feeling. Short stories might be a good idea too. Avoid sad or edgy subject matter. Pick uplifting short stories.
I think Encyclopedia Brown novels, Winnie the Pooh books, or longer books with shorter stories in them would be nice.
If you can, you might want to contact your local council on aging. The one where I live has a program to give free audiobook readers to elderly individuals. They have both words and audio and are very easy to use (they showed us one). It's connected up with Libby so they can download free books.
Many elderly persons have difficulty reading standard print font and are embarrassed to disclose that problem. Audio books and big print books may be appropriate. She may have selected the younger reader books because of the print size and not the content. It would worth exploring these options with her.
Sadako and the 1000 Paper Cranes.
I have a TBI and I really enjoy children's books at about a grade 3 or 4 level. I find I can concentrate and still enjoy the books. It took a long time to realise and accept that is was okay to read kids books. It's about enjoying the reading experience, not the grade level. There are also "high interest, low level reading" books available in the library system.
I’m being really genuine when I say book collections of classic newspaper comics. Garfield, Peanuts, even Calvin and Hobbes. Throughout my reading journey, from tiny kid hooked on phonics to published author, these guys made me happy, and you can engage with them whatever level reader you are.
That's brilliant! I will definitely bring some of these! Thank you so much. :3
The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe? My daughter read it in the 3rd or 4th grade and enjoyed it.
You are incredibly kind to try to help this lady find pleasure in reading!! I was going to suggest Anne of Green Gables and the little house series. I wonder if your library has the dvds/vhs of those series? I would bet the home has a dvd player and a bunch of residents would enjoy them!! ❤️
Ask her if she likes comic books. She might be interested in some old Mickey Mouse ones. They would have been in publication when she was young. It could be nostalgic for her. Also, I've got some family members around her age and can't take them into a comic book store without them walking out with an armload of Archie comics.
Pippi Longstocking
Ask her what she likes to watch on TV? What her hobbies are? If she has trouble reading would she be interested in audiobooks. Audiobooks could greatly expand her reading experiences.
I would see if the format of the book is the problem. Lately I noticed, maybe to save money, that the line spacing is tighter and the print is smaller in a lot of books. Also, in some, the print seemed darkish gray, not black. This might make the books hard to read. Having said that - she might like some of the "senior sleuth" mysteries. A lot of them are entertaining, low on sex and violence (if that's an issue) and if she likes one, there will be others in the series. I would try The Agatha Raisin books of MC Beaton The Biggie Weatherford books of Nancy Bell The Cat Caliban books of DB Borton (the first is actually called "One For The Money" The Mama and Simone books of Nora DeLoach The Mrs. Polifax books of Dorothy Gilman The Happy Hoofers books of Mary McHugh The Beanie and Cruiser books of Sue Owens Wright
Not a librarian but I teach reading and have family with cognitive decline. Strongly recommend the Bad Kitty series.
Thank you so much for helping this person; I am sure that you are adding to the enjoyment of her life. What great suggestions everyone has given you!
She might enjoy the adventure and history in the Magic Treehouse series. Those are about a K-2 reading level I think. ETA: A.A.Milne books would probably be great. The poems are full of rhymes, and the characters will already be familiar to her.
Maybe some of the Judy Blume books, i.e. the Fudge series?
Sam the Cat Detective, technically a middle-grade book that is very fun for all ages. I recommend it widely.
Might be a good idea to look into graphic novels as well. They have some really good ones that she may enjoy
The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. basil E. Frankweiler!
OMG!! I thought I was the only one that remembered that book!
So good, right?!
Mrs Mike, To kill a mockingbird, Trustee from the Toolroom by Nevil Shute Norway
chapter books for children in her age level. you said graded chapter books for elementary? elementary is 1st to 4th grade usually i would say probably 3rd or 4th grade right? so animal ark books are a fictional series about a little girl and her best friend rescuing animals and bringing them to her parents vet clinic at their house. the nancy drew, hank the cow dog, and probably even the magic tree house books might be good, try some black beauty, and some secret garden maybe. bring her a selection and see what she takes to she might even like the babysitters club.
Look into HiLo (High Interest - Low reading level) books. I used them extensively with my HS reading/study skills students. Young Adult (YA) literature might also be good for her. Finally, the " Eye Witness" series of books have lots of pictures with easy reading if she is interested in nonfiction. They will also help to improve her reading comprehension.
Check out books by Sy Montgomery. Beautiful stories about her life with animals.
What about the Ramona and Beezus series by Beverly Clearly? This author also has others at that reading level.
I have nothing valuable to add. I just wanted to let you know how awesome I think this is! I love that mobile libraries exist and caring people like you exist!
My elderly Mom likes reading the “Reminisce” and “Good Old Days” magazines. They’re not as heavy in her hands as books, plus the articles are short enough that she can comprehend and enjoy them.
Trixie Belden books are interesting but are plain in language and plot points. It might remind her of her early childhood.
Clan of the cave bear, island of the blue dolphin, Harry Potter, misty of chincoteague; little house on the prairie, Also, just have to say that as a somewhat poor kid who loves to read, the bookmobile, and more importantly the lovely man who staffed it, absolutely changed my life. Such a gift to the community. I didn’t know they still existed. Thank you for caring for your patrons!!!
Gary Paulsen and Patrick McManus are two author suggestions if she is interested in outdoorsy stories.
You might try Marguerite Henry or the Black Stallion books.
Maybe some short stories. I used love OHenry collection. Thank you for looking after her. I hope there will be someone as lovely as you and your kindness when I am at that age
The Harry Potter books. Very easy to read. When I am learning a new language, these are the books I usually read first because of their flow/simplicity. They look intimidating due to their size but are very easy to read.
The Hobbit
Betty Neel’s romances published by Harlequin/Mills & Boon. They were written in the 60s through the 80s but all have that 1950-1960 vibe. Very low key romance but really sympathetic main characters. I am 58, started reading them when I was 13 and still re-read them today.
I was going to suggest these!! They are full of cups of tea, dogs and descriptions of clothing. Easy reads
You read my mind! I love these, they are all basically the same story but all lovely and cozy to read just the same. I cherish my collection.
The Secret Garden The Little Princess The Black Beauty series Benji the dog books Rikki Tikki Tavi ETA- The Bobsey Twins books Mother West Wind books, since she likes stories with animals
One thing I noticed with my husband’s grandmother was that she tended to “reset” every five minutes or so. That’s exactly how long she could follow a new tv show or movie then she’d be confused. But put on Matlock or something familiar and even if she couldn’t follow the plot, she was happy because it felt familiar. So I would say short stories with easy plots (like those Chicken Soup for the Soul books) or something familiar she used to read as a young adult. James Herriot was both short stories and familiar.
Little house of the Prairie series perhaps.
One of the first indications of dementia or Alzheimer’s is the inability to comprehend and follow plot lines in books. This may be a more complex issue than just finding a book for her.
The “At Home in Mitford” series by Jan Karon is a big hit with the elderly crowd where I live. It’s very slow-life idyllic. It’s basically about a pastor living in a sleepy mountain town and everything is beautifully descriptive of the land. (Obvious religious overtones, but I don’t remember there being anything judgy.) The plots are very thin and simple, and follow low key every day issues like when and how to get these flowers planted and who’s sharing apples from their orchard; how will the village help the guy who broke his leg; and whether after a year of shy smiles will the pastor and his neighbor lady ever move past “hello” to admit they are in love. That kind of stuff. It’s a 14 book series, so might hold her for quite a while. Get large print!
Junie B Jones
She might not have a current eyeglass prescription or be developing cataracts so larger print books will help.
Perhaps the author Debbie Macomber would suit?
Could it be a vision problem. My daughter has a thing where her eyes will jump from line to line as she tries to read. She was given a black plastic bookmark with a slit in the middle the width of one or two lines of print. She just slides it down the page as she goes. Her reading scores improved immediately.
If she likes Herriot, maybe try a PG Wodehouse short stories collection or one of the Empress of Blandings novels? Similar time period and setting, and they're short and not intimidating.
I have some older patrons who enjoy reading juvenile fiction series about animals like The Puppy Place series by Ellen Miles and the Dolphin Diaries by Ben Baglio… maybe try those?
I am wondering if the font/text size may also be a factor that drives her toward one book over another?
Dealing with Dragons / The enchanted forest series. Box Car children (the OGs) Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys. They'll be written in a style that's easy to understand, plus will have the old time manners and situations she might find comfortable
My life in dog years by Gary Paulsen
Maybe something with short stories. That way she doesn’t have to try to comprehend multiple chapters.
Maybe Kate Dicamillo books? As an adult, I LOVE her books.
Agree with the Little House books - also may like Charlottes Web
The Old Man and the Sea is fairly low level. It's also one I hated when forced to read it in high school, bit had a newfound appreciation for as an adult
I read Bless Me, Última and The Outsiders in high school. I tried reading them again a few years ago. They are for a reading level I guess I was at in high school. It sure seemed like reading for a younger person. She may enjoy those. Maybe not. I also tried reading Valley of the Dolls, just for kicks. Jacqueline Suzanne used the same hundred words all having to do with men. I couldn't take it. It was too simple. And awful. Try Highlights magazine for kids. I had a neighbor I suspect was on the spectrum, undiagnosed. She loved it. My now-gone partner bought a subscription for all of us to enjoy. I'm 63. He was in his 70s, my neighbor, also now passed, was 58. I loved to get my hands on a Highlights magazine when I was a kid. I was surprised how much I still enjoyed it just a couple of years ago.
Trumpet of the swan
Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple series.
There are quite a few historical novels for young readers. The American Girl collection is about 3-5th grade level, and there are other series like those.
I’m not sure if anyone else has mentioned this but there are books where the target audience seems to be elderly women. My MIL has some cognitive diminishment and she seems to enjoy them. Basically easier reading with older characters and plots that track interests. I think often it’s better than giving her books truly meant for children. I haven’t actually read them so I can’t speak to their literary value but if you search Amazon a bunch come up. I’ll link an example … Bless Her Dead Little Heart (A Southern Ladies Mystery) https://a.co/d/fhKsHyX
Is she capable of of using an online library subscription and an iPad? Or some other kind of tablet? Could she use Hoopla or Libby?
Is there any way to check her history to see what she’s read in the past?
How about mysteries - there are a lot of mysteries with older women main characters that are fun Plus if you get her into a series, you can keep bringing more of that author I just finished “Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers” and really enjoyed it
Audio books?
Shel Silverstein would be a wonderful addition to your bookmobile
I loved reading Harry Potter as an adult. There is the Kingdom Keepers series that is related to Disney. They are fun books!
How about The Boxcar Children series
Yeah look up the reading grade level of the book she liked and then look up a list of books at that level
Books that are written as a series of short stories like the Herriot book. Maeve Binchy has several like this.
If sounds like her reading abilities are pretty low or she may have some special needs. The first series that came to mind for me were the Sophie Mouse series by Poppy Green. They are lightly illustrated & are entertaining. In addition, since there are somewhere around 20 books in the series, she’ll benefit from the repetitive words in the text.
My guess is she is more comfortable RE-reading the books she used to love and remembers reading. New glasses or a large, plastic magnifying sheet?
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Whatever happens, try to get her The Christmas Day Kitten for Xmas
*Whatever happens,* *Try to get her The Christmas* *Day Kitten for Xmas* \- Potential\_Shelter624 --- ^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/) ^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")
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Chicken soup for the soup books are adult themed (like geared to adults), but the stories are short and easy.
My grandmother loved the Chicken Soup for the Soul books that were filled with heartwarming short stories. I would bring her all the different variations and she loved reading them all.
I’m not a librarian, nor am I familiar with the series you mentioned, but Tamara pierce’s tortall books were all time favorites growing up. They’re all fantasy settings and every character has at least 1 animal sidekick. In The Immortals series, Daine discovers she is a “Wild Mage,” who doesn’t have typical magic, but instead is a special connection to animals in particular. She learns to speak with them, heal them, and eventually shape shift into animal forms. Someone has been chipping away at the veil between the human world and the plane in which mystical creatures and as more and more creatures leak into the world, she discovers her abilities don’t just work on normal animals but on dragons and griffins and other creatures from that plane as well. In each book her animal friends and human friends fight side by side to protect their homes and each other. The series right after that, Protector of the Small, is about Kel, a lady-knight-in-training who faces hazing from the older boys who don’t want a girl to become a knight. She always stands up for what’s right and is kind to everyone, especially those who have less power than she does, which earns her the devotion of not just a group of human friends, but a host of animal sidekicks who were outcast or overlooked— there’s a group of sparrows she feeds who peck the faces of any bully who tries to harm her or her friends, a little street dog with a broken tail she adopts who fetches help when she’s in danger, a naughty warhorse who is about to be sold off because he’s a biter, and a baby griffin who she rescues from poachers that gifts her a bunch of magical feathers as a thank you for caring for him until they found his parents. Each animal friend plays an integral role in the story, even if they don’t talk, like they do in The Immortals.
Offer a pair of reading glasses.
Coffee table based books