RNIB to make accessible books free for children with sight loss

Thousands of books in braille and audio formats are to be given away to children with sight loss this month by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).

Thirteen children s book titles have been chosen and will be available free on request from the charity until Thursday, March 31.

The offer aims to support World Book Day, which is organised by UNESCO and is marked in more than 100 countries around the world, with 2022 being the 25th year of celebrations.

This aims to encourage parents, children, and young people of all ages to spend at least 10 minutes a day sharing a book together and celebrate reading for pleasure, helping to promote wellbeing for everyone.

James Bartlett, reading services manager, said: “RNIB is proud to support the twenty-fifth anniversary of World Book Day, which is a great way to encourage children, and adults, to read. The braille and audio versions of these books ensure that blind and partially sighted young people have the option to access stories just like any other person.”

To request a free book in braille or audio (Daisy CD) format, call the RNIB helpline on 0303 123 9999 or email helpline@rnib.org.uk

The titles available to order at RNIB are:

• Rocket Rules: Ten Little Ways to Think Big! by Nathan Byron
• Hey Duggee: World Book Day Badge
• Dinosaur Roar and Friends! by Peter Curtis
• Jemima the Pig and the 127 Acorns by Michael Morpurgo
• Grimwood: Five Freakishly Funny Fables by Nadia Shireen
• My Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Silly Book of True and False by Matt Lucas
• The Worst Class in the World in Danger by Joanna Nadin
• Peak Peril by Sharna Jackson
• The Wizard and Me by Simon Farnaby
• Think Like a Boss by Rashmi Sirdeshpande
• The Last Word by Ben Bailey Smith
• Boy, Missing by Sophie Mackenzie
• Ha Ha Cnec by Huw Aaron

Like all RNIB services, this invaluable resource is highly reliant on public donations and fundraising activities. If you’d like more information about the ways you can support services like RNIB’s accessible books (or any of RNIB’s vital work), please visit www.rnib.org.uk/donate

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