The Giant Print Library Family stories for younger readers
Updated: October2012
Any UK member of our library service may borrow up to a maximum of 6 books per service for a 3 month loan period.
Most of the books have been produced by the National Blind Children's Society and are in 24 point type with identical covers to the ordinary print versions of the books.
Please be aware that due to their size, many of the books are split into two or more volumes, and these will have the same covers.
For details on borrowing any of the titles listed or for further information regarding the Giant Print collection please contact Liz Farrell or Hazel Sharrock, Children's Librarians at RNIB National Library Service on 0161 429 1975.
Family stories
Ahlberg, Allan.
The man who wore all his clothes. 2002. Suggested reading age 7+. 1v.
One morning Mr Gaskitt puts on all his clothes, Mrs Gaskitt picks up a robber in her taxi, Gus and Gloria have trouble with a teacher. Horace the cat goes to a friend's house to watch TV and the car radio gets things wrong. But then what happens? And why does Mr. Gaskitt wear all his clothes? Find out in this action-packed, fun-filled day in the life of the Gaskitt family.
Alcott, Louisa May.
Little women. 1868. Suggested reading age 11+. 2v.
Book 1 in the Little Women series.
"Little women" tells the story of a year in the life of the March family. We hear of the troubles and joys of each character: maturing Meg, gifted Jo, gentle Beth and lively Amy, as they extend their kindness to all around them.
Byars, Betsy.
A Blossom promise. 2008. Suggested reading age 11+. 1v.
The launch of Vern's raft when the valley is flooded does not go exactly as planned. But a Blossom promise always holds…
Cassidy, Cathy.
Dizzy. 2004. Suggested reading age 9+. 1v.
Dizzy's mum left when she was small. But every year, on her birthday, something arrives in the post - a present or a card with her mum's loopy writing on. But this year is different. This year's present it is her mum, in person. And she's a human whirlwind.
Cassidy, Cathy
Sundae girl. 2011. Suggested reading age 13+. 1v.
Jude's family are crazy, quirky, bizarre ...her mum brings her nothing but trouble and her dad thinks he's Elvis! All she wants is a hassle-free life - but it's not easy when she's chasing a trail of broken promises. Things go from bad to worse, but could the floppy-haired boy from school be her knight on shining rollerblades ...?
Choldenko, Gennifer.
Al Capone does my shirts. 2004. Suggested reading age 11+. 2v.
When Moose Flanagan and his family move to AlcatrazIsland, home to the prison and some well-known criminals, he is not hoping for much. But, with some ingenious plans and the help of his new friends, things get quite exciting for Moose - particularly when his sister Natalie gets involved.
Choldenko, Gennifer.
No passengers beyond this point. 2011. Suggested reading age 9+. 2v.
After losing their house to foreclosure, three siblings - India, Finn and Mouse - have less than 24 hours to pack their belongings and fly, without their mother, to stay with an uncle in Colorado. But when they land, a mysterious driver meets them at the airport in a pink car adorned with feathers.
Cole, Stephen.
My dad is an armed robber! 1999. Suggested reading age 9+. 1v.
Life is mad as toast for Emily and Joe Parker, the indestructible children of a family that is falling apart. Dad's moved out, Attila the Hun's roaming the front room, and Mum's going loopy over a builder called Roger.
Coolidge, Susan.
What Katy did. 1872. Suggested reading age 9+. 1v.
Book 1 in the Katy did series. (Other books in this series are also available.) Katy was irrepressibly full of energy and fun until the day of her accident. Then she learned patience the hard way, sitting still and managing the family from her chair until the great day when her health was quite restored.
Creech, Sharon.
Heartbeat. 2004. Suggested reading age 9+. 1v.
Twelve year-old Annie's best friend Max thinks she's spoilt because she has two parents and a grandfather, and he's in a bad mood. But Annie's mother is having another baby and her grandfather is getting old and forgetting things.
Creech, Sharon.
Ruby Holler. 2003. Suggested reading age 11+. 2v.
Thirteen-year-old fraternal twins Dallas and Florida have grown up
in a terrible orphanage but their lives change forever when an eccentric but sweet older couple invites them each on an adventure, beginning in an almost magical place called Ruby Holler.
Cresswell, Helen.
Ordinary Jack. 1977. Suggested reading age 9+. 2v.
Book 1 in the Bagthorpe saga (Absolute zero and Bagthorpes Unlimited are also available). It's hard to be ordinary when the rest of your family is brilliant. The only member of the family who is even less distinguished than Jack is his dog Zero. Uncle Parker decides that Jack must have an undiscovered talent.
Dogar, Sharon
Waves. 2007. Suggested reading age 15+. 2v.
For fifteen-year-old Hal Ditton and his family, summer has always meant six glorious weeks by the sea. But this year is different - Charley, Hal's sister, is lying in a coma…
Doherty, Berlie.
Granny was a buffer girl. 1988. Suggested reading age 11+. 1v.
18-year-old Jess learns of Bridie and Jack, her mother's parents, whose love kept them together in spite of family divisions; of Granny Dorothy's daily toil in the dirt and grime of the buffering-shop; and of her parents' first meeting, and of course, there's Jess's story too.
Dowell, Frances O'Roark.
Dovey Coe. 2000. Suggested reading age 13+. 1v.
When accused of murder in her North Carolina mountain town in 1928, Dovey Coe, a stronged-willed twelve-year-old girl, comes to a new understanding of others, including her deaf brother.
Fine, Anne.
Goggle-eyes. 1990. Suggested reading age 11+. 1v.
When Helly Johnston is miserable because her mother is thinking of getting married again, Kitty Killin comes to the rescue. She's been through it all herself with the man in her own mother's life: the silver-haired, chocolate- bearing "Old Goggle-Eyes".
Garnett, Eve
The family from One End Street. 1937. Suggested reading age 9+. 1v.
There are seven children in the Ruggles family - three girls and four boys - and though they are poor, they manage to have a lot of fun. All the Ruggles are lovable, interesting and very individual - from capable Lily Rose down to baby William.
Gibbons, Alan.
The edge. 2002. Suggested reading age 13+. 2v.
Danny and his mother are on the run from her boyfriend Chris, a violent man who beats them both up. Chris pursues them from London to the north, where they take refuge with Danny's grandparents. But even there, nothing is safe. Danny is conspicuous as the only mixed-race boy in the community.
Kennen, Ally
Beast. 2006. Suggested reading age 13+. 2v.
In the depths of a reservoir lives a monstrous creature. Its existence is unknown to anyone except the teenage boy, Stephen, who feeds it. Now the creature has grown huge and escaped the rusting cage. Stephen goes to his homeless Dad for help. Contains language that some readers may find offensive.
King-Smith, Dick
Sophie's snail. 2005. Suggested reading age 5+. 1v.
Book 1 of the Sophie series. Small, but very determined, Sophie loves animals and is going to be a farmer when she grows up. Sophie's fond of most creatures - especially little ones like snails - but there's one she cannot stand: her prissy new neighbour Dawn!
Lively, Penelope.
Staying with Grandpa. 1997. Suggested reading age 7+.
A small girl is sent to stay with her grandparents. Her mother has told her that it might be a bit dull as they lead a quiet life. But each day brings a new drama !
Lowry, Lois.
Anastasia Krupnik. 1986. Suggested reading age 11+. 1v.
Book 1 in the Anastasia Krupnik series (Book 2, Anastasia again! Is also available). Anastasia often feels swamped by her family, but after the arrival of a baby brother serious action is called for.
McCombie, Karen
Six words and a wish. 2011. Suggested reading age 11+. 2v.
Ever since Jem's sister Gracie ran away from home, Jem has wondered whether or not she is to blame. She said something to Gracie before her disappearance, and it's preying on her mind. But, one summer, a series of spooky coincidences makes Jem wonder if there's more to Gracie's disappearance than she thought.
McKay, Hilary.
Saffy's angel. 2001. Suggested reading age 11+. 1v.
Book 1 in the Casson Family series (other books in this series are also available).After Saffron Casson discovers that she's adopted, life is never quite the same. Her artistic parents and siblings adore her, but Saffy wants a piece of her past. So when her grandfather bequests a stone angel to her, Saffy knows she has to find it.
Mark, Jan.
Turbulence. 2005. Suggested reading age 11+. 2v.
Clay delivers papers like the Wild West heroines she loves to watch on film with her Dad. Gran is more into B movie horror. It's a normal family of sorts - and then another 'normal' family moves into the street and things become decidedly weird.
Montgomery, L.M.
Anne of Green Gables. 1908. Suggested reading age 11+. 3v.
Book 1 of the Anne Shirley series. (The sequel is also available).
Anne, an eleven-year-old orphan, is sent by mistake to live with a lonely middle-aged brother and sister on a Prince Edward Island farm and proceeds to make an indelible impression on everyone around her.
Nesbit, E.
The railway children. 1906. Suggested reading age 9+. 2v.
Roberta, Peter and Phyllis don't realise how happy they are until Father suddenly goes away. They and their mother have to leave their city home to live in a remote country cottage. Realising that they must help her, they turn to the railway station for something to do…
Pitcher, Annabel.
My sister lives on the mantelpiece. 2011. Suggested reading age 13+. 1v.
Ten-year-old Jamie Matthews has just moved to the Lake District with his Dad and his teenage sister, Jasmine for a 'Fresh New Start'. Five years ago his sister's twin, Rose, was blown up by a terrorist bomb. His parents are wrecked by their grief, Jasmine turns to piercing, pink hair and stops eating. The family falls apart. But Jamie hasn't cried in all that time. To him Rose is just a distant memory. Jamie is far more interested in his cat, Roger, his birthday Spiderman T-shirt, and in keeping his new friend Sunya a secret from his dad. And in his deep longing and unshakeable belief that his Mum will come back to the family she walked out on months ago. When he sees a TV advert for a talent show, he feels certain that this will change everything and bring them all back together once and for all.
Rosoff, Meg.
How I live now. 2004. Suggested reading age 13+.1v.
Daisy is sent from New York to England to spend a summer with cousins she has never met. She's never met anyone quite like them before - and, as a dreamy English summer progresses, Daisy finds herself caught in a timeless bubble. It seems like the perfect summer. But their lives are about to explode. War breaks out.
Rushton, Rosie.
Tell me I'm OK, really. 2000. Suggested reading age 13+. 1v.
This is the story of a girl who's mother is mentally ill and is trying to come to terms with it. It is a sweet, readable and inspiring book.
Suzuma, Tabitha
Without looking back. 2009. Suggested reading age 11+. 2v.
Twelve-year-old Parisian boy Louis Whittaker has a lot on his plate - his parents are locked in a custody battle over him and his brother and sister. Dad's rarely allowed to visit them but suddenly he whisks them away on a surprise holiday to England, right in the middle of the school term. Then Louis comes across a poster - a missing person's poster and it has his face on it.
Ure, Jean.
Fruit and nutcase. 1998. Suggested reading age 9+. 1v.
Mandy's funny, and sometimes sad, story of life with her loving but irresponsible parents, her troubles at school and her interfering grandmother gives her so many things to worry about, Mandy begins to think that she's in danger of turning into a real fruit and nutcase!
Ure, Jean.
Skinny Melon and me. 1996. Suggested reading age 9+.
Cherry's teacher says that keeping a diary is a good way to unclog your head. Cherry's mum has remarried - will Cherry learn to like Slimey Roland? Will Mum reveal her secret? Or will the ups and downs of family life prove too much for all of them?
Whybrow, Ian.
The sniff stories. 1990. Suggested reading age 11+. 1v.
Ben tries to pretend that what his family gets up to has nothing to do with him. But it is hard to act dead cool when you are sharing a house with a loony dog, a fingers-into-everything two-and-a-half- year-old, and parents with a social conscience.
Wilder, Laura Ingalls
Little house on the prairie. 2000. Suggested reading age 9+. 2v.
Book 3 in the Little House series. (Some of the other books in this series are also available). The sun-kissed prairie stretches out around the Ingalls family, smiling its welcome after their hard journey across America. But looks can be deceiving and they soon find that they must share the land with wild bears and Indians.
Wilson, Jacqueline.
The bed and breakfast star. 1995. Suggested reading age 9+. 1v.
Elsa is going to be a big star one day. She does her best to cheer her family up - but no-one seems to laugh any more. Not since they lost their lovely house and had to move into a bed and breakfast hotel.
Wilson, Jacqueline
Clean break. 2006. Suggested reading age 9+. 2v.
Clean Break is told from the point of view of Em, or Emerald as she likes to be known, and is about what happens to her mum, gran, and two half-siblings, Maxie and Vita, when the man of the house leaves them for another woman.
Wilson, Jacqueline.
The diamond girls. 2005. Suggested reading age 9+. 2v.
(Many other books by Jacqueline Wilson are also available.)
Dixie is the youngest of the Diamond girls and the narrator of the story. Her sisters--Rochelle, Jude and Martine are all very different and each has their own needs, strengths and weaknesses.
Wilson, Jacqueline.
Double act. 1996. 1v. Suggested reading age 9+.
Ruby and Garnet are twins. Since their mother died they have lived with Dad and Gran, but now "nasty" Rose is moving in, and they must deal with their new home and new "mother", who turns out not to be so nasty after all.
Wilson, Jacqueline.
The illustrated mum. 2000. Suggested reading age 9+. 2v.
Covered from head to foot with glorious tattoos, Marigold is the brightest, most beautiful mother in the world. That's what Dolphin thinks (she just wishes her beautiful mum wouldn't stay out partying all night or go weird now and then.) Her older sister, Star, isn't so sure any more. She loves Marigold too, but sometimes she just can't help wishing she were more normal...
Wilson, Jacqueline.
Lily alone. 2011. Suggested reading age 9+. 2v.
Lily isn't home alone - but she sort of wishes she was; looking after her three younger siblings is a lot of work. When Mum goes off on holiday with her new boyfriend and her step dad fails to show up, Lily is determined to keep the family together.
Wilson, Jacqueline.
Little darlings. 2011. Suggested reading age 9+. 2v.
Sunset lives a life of luxury with her beautiful ex-model mum, her world-famous ex-rocker dad and two little celeb siblings. But life on the red carpet is no compensation for rowing parents, constant nagging, intensive media scrutiny and no real friends. Destiny, on the other hand, is an only child living on a rundown estate with a sickly but devoted mum who constantly tells her that she's really the daughter of a famous former rock star...When the two girls meet in unlikely circumstances, they are surprised to find in each other something they've been missing all their lives...
Wilson, Jacqueline
The story of Tracy Beaker. 1992. Suggested reading age 9+. 1v.
Ten-year-old Tracy, who lives in a children's home because her mother was forced to give her up, dreams of getting a good foster family where she can be happy until her mother comes back for her.
Wilson, Jacqueline.
The suitcase kid. 1993. Suggested reading age 11+. 1v.
My family always lived at Mulberry Cottage. Mum, Dad and me - and Radish, my Sylvanian rabbit. But we didn't live happily ever after. Now Mum lives with Bill the Baboon and his three kids. Dad lives with Carrie and her twins. And where do I live? I live out of a suitcase.