Free Braille Books for Children
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Where to Find Free Braille Books for Children
Access to interesting and fun reading material is just as important to blind children as sighted. While most public libraries do not keep braille books in their stacks, there are a number of sources where you can order free children's books in braille format.
It is essential for blind children to develop their literacy skills and become good braille readers. According to the National Federation of the Blind, the unemployment rate for blind adults is around 80%, and is much higher for those who cannot read braille than for those who are braille literate. Parents and teachers of blind children should make braille literacy one of the priorities of childhood.
Having access to interesting and readable braille materials is the best way to interest your child in reading. When reading for pleasure, your child should be using braille books that are a couple of reading levels below the materials they are using in school. So, if your child is reading Judy Blume books in school, which are at the 4th or 5th reading level, select a series such as Magic Treehouse, which is at the 2nd or 3rd reading level, for reading fun. This will allow your child to enjoy his or her reading skills, and increase mastery and reading speed.
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Looking for Free Braille Books?
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National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
Lending Library for Braille Books
You will have to provide documentation of your child's disability, which you can obtain from your child's ophthalmologist or teacher of the visually impaired (tvi).
Upon registration your child will have access to all of the braille and audio materials available in the National Library Service. You can browse through a catalog, request specific titles or let the librarian select some books for you.
All books are sent through the mail free matter for the blind. It is possible to visit some of the libraries in person. There is no charge to participate in this program.
- National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
- A lending library of braille materials for blind and visually impaired children and adults who are citizens or legal residents of the United States.
Kenneth Jernigan Library
Another Lending Library for Braille Books
- Kenneth Jernigan Library
- The Kenneth Jernigan Library allows your child to borrow books through the mail. Books are selected for your child based on reading level, or you may request specific titles.
Seedlings Angel Program
Two Free Braille Books Per Year
- Seedlings Braille Books for Children
- Seedlings offers every blind child two free braille books per year from their extensive catalog of children's and young adult titles.
American Action Fund
Free Braille Books for Your Child
In years past, my daughter received books from the Little House, My Weird School, and Junie B. Jones series. This year they are sending out a series of Fluffy books, as well as a biographical series with such titles as Lives of the Musicians and Lives of the Artists.
It is fun and rewarding for children to receive these free braille books regularly in the mail.
- American Action Fund
- Free braille books delivered through the mail to your child approximately once a month.
Braille Institute
Up to Twelve Free Braille Books Per Year
- Braille Institute
- Twelve free braille books per year for blind children ages 3 to 18 years of age.
Help Your Child Learn to Read Braille
Thumbs Up if You Love Braille Literacy!
Braille Literacy Gives Blind Children a More Promising Future
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Other Sources for Free Braille Books?
Please let me know if you have questions or comments! Do you know another source for free braille books for children which is not mentioned here?
I will be adding future lenses on where to buy braille books for children, as well as lenses about braille books for adults and how to access audiobooks for the blind.
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ChrissLJ Jul 17, 2011 @ 10:33 pm | delete
- Starting this fall, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library will add braille books to their inventory so children (ages 0-4) who are blind may also enjoy building their personal library. Best of all, it's free to parents and children. www.imaginationlibrary.com
I also like using "The Black Book of Colors" by Cottin when introducing sighted children to braille books. It uses raised illustrations (all in black) and vivid imagery to tell the story.
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vallain Jul 9, 2011 @ 6:57 pm | delete
- This is wonderful to know. Our library stocked in a couple of braille books, but they were terribly expensive. It was more as a novelty, and not useful to parents of blind children.
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Frischy
Jul 9, 2011 @ 9:02 pm | delete
- You are so right! Braille books are astronomically expensive. My daughter's favorite book when she was 3 years old cost about $75 from APH. That is why these free book programs are so essential for blind children and their families. Libraries may be able to get braille books on permanent loan from NLS to serve blind patrons. It is worth checking into.
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Frischy
Jul 9, 2011 @ 9:04 pm | delete
- You are so right! My daughter's favorite braille book when she was 3 years old cost around $75 from APH. That is why these free book programs are so essential for blind children and their families. Libraries may be able to get braille books on permanent loan from NLS to serve their blind patrons. It is definately worth checking into!
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Help Your Chld Improve Braille Literacy
Practical Tips From Another Parent
The Bridge to Braille: Reading and School Success for the Young Blind Child
Amazon Price: $79.99 (as of 06/01/2012)
Carol Castellano is the parent of a blind child who is now a successful adult college student. In this useful guide she shares her approach for ascertaining braille literacy for blind children. Carol is not only a pioneer in advocacy for blind children, she has been a mentor to me as I raise my blind daughter. I highly recommend this practical and informative book.
Braille Alphabet Puzzle
Sound Puzzle w Braille Pieces Talking Alphabet
Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 05/31/2012)
Fun alphabet puzzle can be enjoyed by both blind and sighted children. Puzzle says the name of the letter when the piece is correctly placed. The letters have braille on them. Learning the shape of print letters is fun and has many useful applications when your child is older.
Braille Alphabet Blocks
Uncle Goose Blocks - American Sign Language & Braille
Amazon Price: $30.95 (as of 05/31/2012)
A fun way for your child to learn the Braille alphabet! Wooden blocks contain both the print and Braille alphabets. My daughter had a set of these blocks as a baby and continued to love them throughout elementary school. Now that she is a teen, I am saving them for future grandchildren.
