What springs to mind when you think about large print books? For some, it may be along the lines of, “Oh, the massive books my grandma used to read.” While large print books of the past often were quite hefty, that is not the case today. In other words, these are not your grandmother’s large print books.
Today’s large print books are roughly the same size as their regular print counterparts. Yes, the text is larger, but a magic combination of lightweight paper and narrow margins keeps the book size comparable to the regular print version.
While large print books are great for readers with vision challenges, they offer other benefits as well. Reading large print after looking at screens on our devices throughout the day can relieve digital eye fatigue. For language learners and less confident readers, a larger font size surrounded by more white space slows down the eye, which can improve word recognition and comprehension.
Large print is a great addition to everyday activities. Larger fonts are easier to read while using a treadmill or stationary bike. Evening readers may read longer before dozing off, since fewer words per page means more frequent page turning. Large print is also great for grandparents reading to grandkids (the entire Harry Potter series is available in the NOLS large print collection).
Many popular titles in the library’s collection are available in large print. Browse the library shelves or search the catalog online at nols.org to find your next read in a large print format. Some titles available in large print are listed below to get you started:
• “Crow Talk” by Eileen Garvin — Set in the Pacific Northwest, this is a story of love, grief, friendship, and the healing power of nature.
• “The Rulebreaker” by Susan Page — A deep dive into the life and times of Barbara Walters, the groundbreaking broadcaster who reinvented the television interview.
• “The Wide Wide Sea” by Hampton Sides — This fast-paced nonfiction work examines a momentous voyage that culminated in Captain James Cook’s death, and left a complex and controversial legacy still debated to this day.
• “The Six” by Loren Grush — The untold story of America’s first women astronauts, selected by NASA in 1978.
• “The Day Tripper” by James Goodhand — After an encounter along the River Thames in 1995, Alex awakens in 2010. As he continues to awaken in a different year each day, Alex pieces together what happened after that day by the river, learning that small acts have profound impact.
For more
Stop by the Sequim Library temporary location at 609 W. Washington St. to browse the shelves or get help from staff to find your next great read.
You can also explore the catalog at nols.org or contact staff by phone at 360-683-1161 or sequim@nols.org.
Corrina Desmarais is the Older Adult Services Librarian for the North Olympic Library System.
