large print books for low vision

Adult Readers

Large print: an untapped resource.

Large print isn’t just for seniors or individuals with low vision. It’s an equitable format for anyone in need of a break from digital devices, a newbie at reading, or someone who can’t remember the last time they read a book.

Books Still Similar in Size

Large print is to the right of the standard edition. Compared to large print from years past, these books are surprisingly lightweight.

Look at the Difference Inside

See the difference with this font comparison. Thorndike Press large print books are completely unabridged and printed on a high-opacity paper.

Benefits Aligned to Use Cases

People are busy, stressed, and everything in between. Reading can provide an escape. Because large print has fewer words per page, readers can typically flip through the pages faster. That helps keep a reader’s attention, even if they’re someone who normally just can’t “get into” reading. It may help them finish a book for the first time in years because they feel more accomplished. 

If your public library’s adult literacy programming doesn’t include large print, your community could be missing out. Not only can many titles cross over from young adult (YA) shelves to adult readers’ hands, but the same benefits that support YA with literacy issues apply to adults as well. The combination of a larger font and increased white space on a page helps with letter and word recognition by forcing the eye to move more slowly, and helps readers avoid skipping or rereading lines. 1

Have you taken the diversity of your community into account? English language learners (ELLs) make up 40 percent of the nation’s adult education population served.² That’s a number that deserves attention. Especially when you consider the majority of English as a second language (ESL) learners are between 25 and 44 years old. 3  A large print collection can complement your library’s ELL and ESL services. It promotes reading fluency and comprehension, and is a format that can help your library meet the literacy needs of this growing population.

During the height of the pandemic, many people felt like they were glued to their computer screen. The way we view a computer or digital screen is different than the way we read a printed page. The letters on a computer or handheld device may not be as sharply defined. There may be more glare on the screen and less contrast between the words and the background. 4

Research shows that between 50 and 90 percent of the people who work on a computer have some symptoms of computer vision syndrome (CVS). 5 As the amount of time spent in front of the screen increases, so does the likelihood of CVS, or digital eye strain, as it is commonly known. 6  Large print as an alternative format can offer a much-needed break for those who spend a great deal of their day on a digital device.

Regardless of age or ability, there are those who choose large print for the ease of simply sitting down with a good book. Maybe that’s a harried mom, a college student who needs an escape, or a career professional who has just 30 minutes at the end of a day to decompress. Large print supports anyone who wants a break from screen time—and can even help keep readers engaged and awake.

Sure, it’s important that young readers feel supported, but it doesn’t stop there. Make the experience of reading less of a chore and more enjoyable for a variety of readers. Recommend large print, and ask your patrons about their experience using it.

It’s no secret that white space and bigger fonts make sense for seniors or anyone who is visually impaired, but the benefits don’t stop there. Encouraging seniors to keep reading can promote positive outcomes, such as improving cognitive function. 7

What Makes Thorndike Press Different?

Expert curation.

Titles include bestselling authors, New York Times bestsellers, and picks from Reese’s Book Club, Oprah’s Book Club, Indie Next, and more.

100% Binding Guarantee

Hardcovers are library bound and made to last. Plus, shipping is free. Some titles feature modified cover art, while many look the same as the original.

Standing Order Plans

Competitive pricing and automatic shipments save time and money. And many include simultaneous publications over a wide age range.

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Thorndike Press offers bestsellers and bestselling authors—from fiction genres, like romance, mystery, thriller, and westerns, to nonfiction subgenres, such as biography, history, and lifestyle. Many are available in standing orders. Bring your collection front and center literally and figuratively for a wide range of patrons.

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• What We’re About

Books for low vision readers

I started making Super Large Print books for my grandma. I wanted books that she could keep reading as her glaucoma and macular degeneration advanced. So I chose a font originally designed for people with dyslexia, because the letters are bold and easy to distinguish. It is set at 30 pt, nearly twice the size of traditional Large Print books.

Digital reading was too frustrating for my grandma. It could never offer the pleasures she had always associated with reading: the peacefulness of turning a page, the satisfaction in knowing a story has “this much left,” and the comforting memories of adventure, companionship, and revelation she felt just by seeing the cover of her favorite book. Part of what makes reading so relaxing and grounding is the tactile experience. I hope these books can bring joy to those who want to keep reading and to those who’ve never had the pleasure of curling up with a page turner.

Click here to see all the books available in Super Large Print

If you have questions or comments please get in touch with us here:, sample pages, see the books.

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• Large Print Books

VISION & BLIND

• Alerting Indicators
• Assistive Devices
• Blue Light Protection
• Braille Products
• Item Identification
• Large Print Address Books
• Large Print Calendars
• Large Print Paper
• Low Vision Products
• Reading and Writing Aids
• Recreational and Fun
• Sewing Aids
• Talking Products
• Tape Players and Recorders
• TV Accessories
• Canes for the Blind
• Talking Watches

We offer large print books for adults, seniors and children! Anyone who suffers from low-vision will enjoy our selection of quality large print books. Featuring crosswords, Bibles, dictionaries and more, there's something for everyone.

Low Vision Index Card System

Access to Information for the Blind - The Vision Aide Manual by Mildred Frank

Tactile-Braille Crossword Puzzle Game

Large Print Crosswords No. 4

Large Print Cryptograms

Pocket Notebook

Refill for Reizen Pocket Low Vision Notebook- 25pk

Pocket Notebook - 10 Pack

Large Print Bible - Red Letter Edition with Study

Large Print Sudoku Puzzle Book

Large Print Crosswords No. 5

Large Print Crosswords

Large Print Crosswords No. 2

Large Print Word Search Puzzles

Jumbo Print Easy Crosswords No. 1

Large Print Word Search Puzzles- Number 2

Large Print Easy Monday Crosswords

Low Vision Notebook - Bold Lines - Yellow Paper

Low Vision Notebook - Bold Lines -White Paper

Websters New World Portable Large Print Dictionary

Whether you're looking for a challenging crossword puzzle or a dictionary in large print, Maxi-Aids has you covered. Brows our selection of large print books today!

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Large Print Books for Visually Impaired Readers

Do you have a visual disability that prevents you from reading books?

Bookshare can help.

Bookshare is an online library of large print books for readers with low vision or other visual impairments.

With a Bookshare membership, you can:

• Download and read over 1,000,000 large print books.
• Read on a wide variety of devices such as computers, tablets, smartphones, MP3 players, assistive technology devices, and more.
• Get unlimited access to bestsellers, popular books, school books, children’s books, career books, and more.

Membership is free for qualified U.S. students. You must have a qualifying disability to join Bookshare.

Our Mission

We believe that access to information is a universal human right. Yet more than ninety percent of books and published materials cannot be read by people with disabilities. Our work is focused on making reading accessible to everyone around the world.

Bookshare is an initiative of Benetech , a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan organization.

Using Large Print

Perhaps the most comfortable way to transition to reading when low vision, at least initially, is also the simplest: larger print . Most major publishing houses today produce bestsellers and other materials in large print formats, available at retail bookstores. Large print collections are also available at most public libraries.

The standard font size for large print is 18 point, although you might need larger (or smaller) print, depending on your needs and vision. When advising your employer, senior center, or church, for example, on how to make brochures, newsletters, schedules, menus, programs, and other materials accessible for you, the best size type for these items is generally 18 point, which regular printers can produce.

It’s also best to use bold black print on a matte (not glossy or shiny) white or cream background and limit the use of graphics. Also, avoid using italics or all capital letters. Generally, lower-case lettering is easier to read.

Font Styles

Use plain, simple “sans-serif” fonts, such as Arial.

Serifs are details on the ends of some strokes that comprise letters and symbols. A typeface with these strokes and details is called “serif.” A typeface without these details is called “sans-serif,” from the French “sans,” meaning “without.” In many cases, using fonts with serifs can reduce the readability of print for people with low vision. Therefore, sans-serif fonts are the recommended print options.

This is an illustration and comparison of serif and sans-serif fonts:

Use Strong Contrast

Strong contrast between the print and background is very important. Light lettering, such as white or light yellow, on a dark background may sometimes be easier to read than black lettering on a white or light-colored background. To enhance print contrast, you can also use a yellow acetate overlay or filter to enhance the contrast between the print and page color.

Use a Reading Stand

A reading stand is a simple, effective solution that can help you read the material at the best angle and distance. A reading stand can also help you keep your reading material in proper focus, which is sometimes hard to do if your hands shake or tire quickly. A reading stand or clipboard can also help to stabilize the reading material and free up your hands.

Have a Low Vision Examination

If you have some remaining vision, it can be helpful to make an appointment with a low-vision specialist, either an optometrist or ophthalmologist with additional training in this area, and discuss the ways that low-vision optical devices and non-optical devices, such as magnifiers, small telescopes, improved lighting, or electronic video magnifiers, can supplement your reading needs. Find out more about low vision.

For More Information

• Making Text Legible and Effective Color Contrast by Aries Arditi, Ph.D. at the Visibility Metrics website.
• Reader’s Digest Select Editions Large Type Books . Call 800-877-5293 or visit the Large Type Subscription Page .
• Reader’s Digest Large Print Edition . Call 800-807-2780 or visit the Large Print Edition Subscription Pa ge .
• The New York Times Large Type Weekly. Call 800-631-2580.

By Maureen A. Duffy, M.S., CVRT

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