Raising a Child with Dyslexia

What Every Parent Needs to Know

Non-Fiction - Parenting
262 Pages
Reviewed on 07/19/2020
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

Author Biography

I am dyslexic, and I understand the struggle of learning to read for pleasure when it’s incredibly difficult to read at all. But one thing I remember vividly from my childhood is that when people read aloud to me, I loved the stories, and as I grew, the reward of experiencing great stories is what made the effort of reading worthwhile. My hope is to share that love of stories with young readers and to encourage parents not to stop reading aloud to their kids—especially struggling readers—even when they’re older.
To help young readers cultivate this love of story, I work very hard to make sure each of my chapter books is full of adventure, excitement, and compelling characters, but I also make sure they are available as audio books, so that struggling readers can whet their appetites with a taste of the “good stuff”—the stories that make the effort of reading worthwhile.

I am also a speaker, frequently addressing parents and educators on how to maximize the value of shared reading time and how to help dyslexic and other struggling readers to learn to love to read. I’ve published articles about dyslexia and reading in a variety of print and online magazines, including US News & World Report, the Costco Connection Magazine, TODAY Parenting, Fostering Families Today, and many others.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Sefina Hawke for Readers' Favorite

Raising a Child with Dyslexia (What Every Parent Needs to Know) by Don M Winn is a non-fiction parenting book that would appeal most to an audience made up of family members of children with Dyslexia, teachers who have students with Dyslexia, and those studying in a medical field. This book offers assistance to those who need to know about Dyslexia in a manner designed for those without a medical background. The focus of the book includes signs of Dyslexia, symptoms of Dyslexia, understanding the testing process, tips for creating a good learning environment, ideas for creating a safe environment for children with Dyslexia, and how to help children with the condition cope with it. Does your child have Dyslexia or do you work with a child that does? If so, this book will prepare you not only for working with that child, but also for understanding them and helping them to grow not just educationally, but also on a personal level.

Raising a Child with Dyslexia (What Every Parent Needs to Know) by Don M Winn has a visually appealing cover, which made the book seem more like a self-help guide that I could understand without having a medical background. As a psychology student, I found this book very interesting as it did not just focus on the medical aspects of Dyslexia, but also the emotional aspects. I liked how the book did not focus exclusively on one factor of having childhood Dyslexia but instead covered everything from signs to testing all the way to helping the child educationally. This book should be required reading for anyone who is going to be working with a child with Dyslexia in any capacity.

K.C. Finn

Raising a Child with Dyslexia: What Every Parent Needs to Know is a work of non-fiction in the sub-genre of self-help and parenting advice, and was penned by author Don M. Winn. This is a highly comprehensive volume that will be sure to offer guidance to parents who are at different stages of the dyslexia diagnosis. It covers far more than the areas of medicine and schooling to which many guides of its ilk limit themselves. In this heartfelt and intelligent work, the author covers areas such as self-esteem and managing emotions during times of struggle as well as all the educational and atmospheric adjustments that dyslexic children need to set them up for future success.

Author Don M. Winn covers a truly wide range of subject matter in this expansive and informative guidebook, which makes it a definitive and cover-all approach for any parent in need. The authorial style pairs a confident and professional narrative with a more realistic and down to earth author voice, and this combination makes it feel as though readers are listening to a learned friend rather than a faceless expert. The topics covered include even the earliest signs of spotting dyslexia, and the most important for me was the deep consideration which is given to ‘fallout’, the emotional experience of comparing oneself to peers, the standard rules of academia, and the stigma against dyslexic people in general. Overall, this keen attention to detail and emotional sensitivity makes Raising a Child with Dyslexia a highly recommended read.

Tammy Ruggles

Raising a Child with Dyslexia: What Every Parent Needs to Know, by Don Winn, is a common-sense approach to raising a child with dyslexia by an author who was dyslexic as a child and raised a dyslexic child of his own. Though the book is full of factual details based on research and science, it isn't written in a complicated manner that some readers may not grasp. It starts with the basics--signs to watch for, evaluation, coping skills for the parents, child, extended family, teachers, support systems, etc.--and doesn't leave questions unanswered. The questions are answered by professionals and those with direct experience with dyslexia. The book demonstrates that dyslexia is something that families can deal with in a positive way, and should not be viewed as a barrier or social restriction. Self-esteem and positive regard are talked about frequently in the book.

Winn's writing shows that dyslexia is something that doesn't have to be defeating to an individual or family, and you get a sense that everything is going to be more than just okay if you find yourself raising a child with dyslexia--the child and his/her family can have a wonderful life. This wonderful life depends on several things--early diagnosis, supportive family, and appropriate services. And fostering the child's self-esteem and self-image, of course. A supportive, knowledgeable teacher is also important, and a lot of patience. Raising a Child with Dyslexia, by Don Winn, is the perfect book for families struggling to understand, but it's about giving hope, meeting challenges, and rising above labels and learning difficulties. Another great takeaway--and there are many--is the fact that it's never too late to help someone living with dyslexia.

Robin Goodfellow

Raising a Child with Dyslexia: What Every Parent Needs to Know by Don M. Winn is a self-help guide for teaching a dyslexic child how to love themselves, and has much mental and emotional support a parent can offer to their child. The book begins with a definition of dyslexia, as well as the fears that the child may develop. It acknowledges and dismisses the various myths involving dyslexia, and identifies the various characteristics of dyslexia. Different tests for dyslexia are explored, as well as the many ways that parents can use these tests to ensure the betterment of their child. Don M. Winn provides an informative and encouraging guide to parents who may be struggling with their child’s dyslexia.

While Raising a Child with Dyslexia explores the different dimensions that parents can use to help their kids overcome their feelings about dyslexia, educators, school administrators, and counselors should read this book as well. The book has a plethora of helpful information that teachers can use in their classrooms to help children who may or may not have dyslexia. The parent provides a guiding light for this. Don M. Winn encourages parents, saying that children who have dyslexia aren’t stupid or aren’t handicapped; rather, they just think differently from other students. There is one particular quote that I enjoyed the most: “A little real love goes a long way.” This is so true, especially with the uphill challenges that these students may face. As such, I recommend this book to educators, youth mental health professionals, but most importantly, parents and children who are coping with dyslexia.

Rabia Tanveer

Raising a Child with Dyslexia: What Every Parent Needs to Know by Don M Winn is a genuine guide for parents who want to help bring confidence to the lives of dyslexic children. Dyslexic children often feel out of sorts and out of touch with the rest of the world. Having a learning ability severely hits their self-confidence and that is not appreciated in the current academic world. This book is a great guide for parents who want to help their children live a fulfilling life. The author share tips for creating the best learning environment for these children, how parents can help their child become more open, confident, and interested in school. Instead of making them feel incompetent, parents can help children understand their struggles and help them rise above it all. Don M Winn believes that a learning disability should not have any effect on the personality and emotional growth of a child. His book will help parents understand this learning disability and guide them so that they, in turn, can help their children.

I found Raising a Child with Dyslexia exceptionally helpful. Don M Winn is very concise and direct, he doesn’t beat around the bush and shares tips that actually help. The author makes sure the world knows how parents and schools can bring confidence to the lives of these children. He shares some very vital information about this learning disability, which I’m sure parents will appreciate a lot. While it is tough for children to cope with dyslexia, I can only imagine how hard it must be for the parents. This book allows the parents to understand what their children are going through and arms them with relevant knowledge to make it better for their children. Raising a Child with Dyslexia will help countless people become the emotional support dyslexic children need to flourish. This is an educational book filled with the right information to help countless families and individuals.