AN AUTHOR from Kenilworth has published a dyslexia-friendly version of the children’s book she wrote 30 years ago – after her own dyslexia diagnosis as an adult.
Susan Moore has just republished the children’s book she wrote for her son set at Kenilworth Castle.
‘1266 Back to the Past’ is a new version of the Enchanted Castle which won the David St John Thomas Award as the Best Children’s Book of the Year when it was originally published.
The medieval thriller takes the reader on a journey through time. The Plantagenet King, Henry III is on the throne and ruling the country very badly. There has been a big uprising against him, and 1,000 soldiers are holding out in Kenilworth Castle during the longest siege in British history.
The book was first written after a walk around the ruins of Fillongley Castle with her son. He asked to go back to the past to see it as it really was. After much research, she began to write a page at a time to encourage him to read.
The new version – 1266 Back to the Past – has been designed for all children, but with dyslexia in mind.
Most sentences are short. Chapters are divided into exciting episodes with enlarged type under the headings. Descriptions are concise, but language is not simplified. Readers can personalise the book by colouring in page borders and the many illustrations.
Susan decided to rewrite the Enchanted Castle after talking to her grandchildren about being dyslexic.
As a child, Susan had no idea she was dyslexic as it was unknown then.
Being slow to learn to read and write, her mother taught her when she was almost nine. Susan’s poor schoolwork was put down to her lack of concentration and not trying hard enough. She left school at just 15, as it was thought staying on would be a waste of time and she would never pass any exams.
Susan said: “Being dyslexic made reading and learning from books more challenging, but now I know why I had the problems, I am really happy about it. Being dyslexic is part of me. Importantly, when writing, I have an excellent editor who checks through everything.
“I have come to appreciate that dyslexics are often more creative, think differently, can visualise, learn by doing and have hands-on skills. It affects about 10 per cent of the population. Famous dyslexics include Albert Einstein, Agatha Christie, Steve Jobs, Richard Branson, President J.F. Kennedy, Pablo Picasso, and many more.”
Susan will signing copies of her book at the Holiday Inn in Kenilworth on Saturday (November 11) and Sunday (November 12) with 10 per cent of all book sales going to The Myton Hospices.
