A 2017 study conducted by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) found that nearly two-thirds of 4th and 8th grade students are reading at basic or below basic reading levels. These numbers, which are likely even more pressing in the wake of the pandemic, prompt us to consider possible literacy solutions. Considering that so many young readers struggle with reading, it’s no surprise that many say they don’t enjoy it. One simple and promising solution is on the rise: the font is amplified.
While large print has proven effective for adults, especially those with visual challenges, researchers have been wondering what benefits, if any, might be in store for children. In 2019, the world’s leading large print publisher, Thorndike Press, designed a nationwide study to test the impact of large print-formatted books on nearly 1,700 students in grades 3-12 and 56 librarians and teachers.
The study was a huge success, identifying many positive benefits to reading large print books including reduced feelings of anxiety about reading, increase in students focus, and more enjoyable reading experiences across the board. In fact, in terms of enjoyability, the study found that 69% of striving readers enjoyed reading large print books more than any other type of book throughout the school year.
What sets large print books apart from their standard print counterparts? The combination of a larger font size, fewer words on a page, high-contrast black ink, 1/3 more line spacing, and expanded spacing between words, helps readers decode and track the text more carefully, string words together more quickly, process information, improve reading comprehension, and build reading confidence. These are big improvements for a small increase of font size.
Even the teachers noticed significant improvements in their students. Each of the 56 teachers and librarians involved in the study reported that reading large print books helped their students develop stronger reading skills by demonstrating increased reading comprehension and retention, and noted that their students were more easily able to track the text.
One student in Thorndike Press’ study compared reading large print to highway billboards in terms of readability: “I like that the larger size font seemed much more interesting. When you look at a billboard the first thing you see is the larger print. When you look at a book that has all large print it seems like it’s calling to you.”
Thanks to a growing body of research affirming these findings, more and more schools and public libraries are coming together to participate in the large print initiative, creating a more equitable and comprehensive reading experience for children. Even better, the initiative is low-cost and easy to implement.
Last year, our very own small-town, big-impact library joined the large print movement, adding a collection of tween and teen large print books to their shelves, thanks to funding provided by the Dollar General Youth Literacy Grant.
While large-print books are helpful for adults, they have recently proven hugely successful for children as well. Reading should be both fun and accessible for everyone, and large-print books are leveling the playing field and inching young readers toward that reality.
Whether you’re young or old or consider yourself somewhere in between, we have plenty of large print books for you! Stop in and view our growing collection today. Happy reading!
