A community for family and friends of babies, toddlers, and young kids in glasses, eye patches, or contacts.
Books For Kids
by Ann Z & Ann W
Note: this page contains affiliate links to purchase the books listed. I receive a small commission when you purchase items following those links. That money goes towards the maintenance of this site.
Copyright Trindles and Read. Used with Permission. (Image description: a young girl sits in a large chair reading a book. Surrounding the chair are characters from many children’s books. Underneath, text reads, “It takes a library to raise a child”)
Since Ann Z and I are both librarians, our site wouldn’t be complete without a list of books. This particular list is children’s books that feature glasses as a subject, characters who wear glasses, or characters who patch or wear contacts.
Follow the links to find nearby libraries that stock the book, or to order the book from Amazon.com.
For more reviews of children’s books for specific situations, take a look at Little Parachutes (they have a category for glasses, as well as categories for all sorts of topics and situations).
If you are ever interested in writing a book review of any other books that you think would fit here, please let me know (ann@shinypebble.com). We are not paid for our reviews.
Glasses: a board book by Ann Zawistoski photos by Heide Woodworth – Review of Glasses on Children’s Book Review(as this is my book, I’m linking to a review at a different site, Children’s Book Review)
Books that have glasses or characters wearing glasses, even though they’re not specifically about wearing glasses:
These are books that have nothing to do with wearing glasses, but they have pictures of kids wearing glasses, or just pictures of glasses (in the case of some of the word books). I wanted to add this category because I think it’s nice to have some books that depict glasses as just a normal thing without making a big deal out of it.
Thanks for all the wonderful suggestions.
Another great book is called All Children Have Different Eyes. Here is a link with more information about the book: http://www.lowvisionkids.com/
GREAT NEW BOOK! I’ve been meaning to tell you about it for ages, but it kept slipping my mind. It’s called “Princess Peepers” by Pam Calvert, and it’s about a little princess who *loves* wearing her funky glasses, but then feels bad about them when she gets teased by the other non-glasses wearing princesses. She decides to go without, and all sorts of craziness happens. It’s wonderful, you’ll have to check it out!
My name is Meredith Braunstein and my husband and I just wrote a children’s book called Don’t I Look Smart?!. It can be found on Blurb.com. If anything please tell me what you think. I would love to hear comments.
This book was written for our beautiful son Zachary who is 3 years old. He’s been wearing glasses since 9 months and has embraced them. 🙂
Randy Kazandy, Where Are Your Glasses is a new book for kids selling like hot cakes. Kids are even sleeping with the book under their pillows. A book in rhyme with hidden glasses throughout the story make this a one of a kind book. Randy Kazandy is getting his first pair of glasses and he doesn’t like them so he has many tricks up his sleeve. But, mom on guard will not be outsmarted by dear Randy and has a plan. The book ends triumphantly and Randy Kazandy has a motto: “I love being me” that is catching on. The book is sold everywhere and now on the Jobson Optical website. Please visit randykazandy.com and whimpublishing.com for more information about Randy Kazandy. Free games on the website to strengthen kids eyes. This book has a gentle lesson of self acceptance.
I found a great book about a little girl who neds a patch. My daughter loves it!
The Pirate of Kindergarten By George Ella Lyon
Ginny was not born a pirate. But since her birth she was headed in that direction.
This book tells the story of Ginny’s voyage towards earning herself an eye patch – a voyage made mostly at school.
My four year old son loves the book Tracks by David Galef. Since it is out of print it has been a bit of a pain to get but it was worth it. Luc loves trains. So being able to find a book with trains and about someone with glasses was a real find. I am so glad I was able to find this website and this list of books. It has really made our transition to glasses easier.
The “Third Grade Detectives” series by George E. Stanley and the “Magic Treehouse” books by Mary Pope Osborne both have boy main characters wearing glasses.
Hi, we are looking for a children’s book about how to take care of your glasses for our 3 year old and his classroom – about being gentle, other kids not pulling them off, putting them away during nap, keepign them clean, etc… Any thing like this out there? Thanks!
HI Mary! Sorry, but I don’t think I’ve seen any books that deal with glasses “care”. Some of the other books listed might mention it in passing, but nothing springs to mind. Maybe this is a book opportunity staring you in the face! 🙂 Good luck!
If there was a book about eye care would you get it for your son or daughter? Ex: Cleaning glasses, putting them back in case, when to wear them. thanks!
I just could not leave your web site prior to suggesting that I really loved the usual information an individual provide in your guests? Is going to be again continuously in order to check out new posts
“Ella: The Little Ladybird with a Big Heart” by Alex.T.Smith is our favourite book at the moment! It retells the story of Cinderella, however ‘Ella’ is a beautiful specs wearing ladybird who drops her sparkly glasses at the Grand Bug Ball and Pierre the handsome painter uses them to find her! It’s gorgeously illustrated and set in Paris.
Oh, that sounds lovely! Thanks for sharing! It looks like it’s only available from Amazon UK at the moment, I hope it makes it over here some time soon!
Wonderful books. I have been hunting the internet for good books to read my little ones so thanks! Here is a list with more books for kids but not category-specific like this one, check it out books for children. Hope it helps.
Another good book is “I Really Absolutely Must Have Glasses” from the Charlie and Lola series. Lola really wants glasses because they are so pretty, and she is upset that she doesn’t need them. My glasses wearing daughter loved it. It is a great book for making kids feel good about their glasses.
I came across another one: Glamorous Glasses by Barbara Newman.
“Bobbie and Joanie are best friends and best cousins, and they do everything together. So when Joanie has to get glasses, Bobbie figures she’ll get them, too—especially once she discovers the fabulous frames on display at the eyeglasses store. Meanwhile, Joanie has the opposite reaction. Glasses make her feel different and look different. And they’re uncomfortable. So the ever-resourceful Bobbie comes up with a perfect plan to make both of them happy.”
I am lost. Age 3 I was told my daughter may need reading glasses, six months later her left eye started to turn in. 1st optometrist orders a mild prescription glasses for hyperopia and astigmatism. The eye turned in worse, I seek a second optometrist he prescribes od +4.50 and os +5.50. Now, confused I seek my physicians advice. He sends me to children’s hospital to see an opthomologist who diagnoses her with Anisometropia, amblyopia and strabismus and agrees with optometrist number two. She wants to put her in high powered lenses, if the eye still turns then patching and less
Ikely surgery. I call optometrist number one as I bought glasses from him a few months earlier. He disagrees with that approach and wants to increase the prescription a little at a time. He said its like giving a person with a headache 4 Tylenol when 1 may work. He also said that the way the glasses will look may affect her self esteem which im not going to lie, i worry a bit about too. First and formost should i try his little by little approach? Would this risk damaging her eye or is it actually better to do it this way. I’m so confused, what should I do? I’m scared I’m messing up. I love her so much, I just want to do everything I can for her.
There is a wonderful book I discovered when we went to the eye doctor for the first tie with my four year old son today. It was called, “I Can See Just Fine!”. It was funny and adorable! What perfect timing it was to find the book and read it several minutes before my son was examined!
I just looked that up, what an awesome and fun book! (though a little long for the very young kids) It’s out of print now (being from 1968), but it is still available at a lot of libraries: http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/301726
I have independentely published a book called No Glasses for Me that I think you might be interested in. It is about a little boy who becomes very upset when he finds out he will have to wear glasses. He thinks the children in his school will tease him. He discovered that having some unique glasses make the other children envy him instead of teasing him.
Can you add that My Bright Blue Glasses can also be purchased through the author at (www.facebook.com/mybrightblueglasses) or barnesandnoble.com? Right now it just shows up as being available on amazon.
Thanks. Cynthia
Oh good question! The book “Blueberry Eyes” is about eye surgery. I haven’t read it, but I’ve heard good things. Another parent said that her daughter enjoyed the book Pinkalicious because the girl gets pink tears, and that can happen in eye surgery — but that book really isn’t about eyes or surgery at all.
We received “Blueberry Eyes” yesterday and my son has already requested it five times! It is out of print, unfortunately, but you can get it used from online stores like Amazon. Thanks again for this suggestion – it was great to have something that is specific to an eye surgery; most of the books we found at the library were dealing with more involved procedures.
After 15 years of research, we are pleased to present you The Eye Patchbook (Het Oogplakboek).
We developed ‘The Eye Patchbook’ to improve compliance with patching therapy and it is available now on: http://www.stammetjes.nl/het-oogplakboek/
We integrated the explanation: ‘How to wear a patch on the better eye, so the lazy eye can be trained.’ into a comic book without words. A four-year old child can recognize itself in the story and, therefore, be more willing to comply with the treatment. Inside the booklet you find calenders and stickers and information for parents in several languages: English, Dutch, French, German, Spanish, Turkish and Arabic. It will enhance compliance with your child.
This program has been scientifically tested in collaboration with the ophthalmology department of the Erasmus MC in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Kind regards,
José Vingerling
Hi there. We have a book that we love for you to add to your list. “Donde estan mis gafas?” by Maria Pascual. (Translates to “Where are my glasses?”) It is a wordless picture book about a man who has lost his glasses and is looking everywhere for them. Of course the reader can see them the whole time! It has very unique and funny illustrations (a dog’s mouth full of toys, an eye chart bedspread, potty humor, etc.) We got this book when my daughter was 4 and she is nearly 7 now and we still read it about once a month or so. Here is the link on Amazon:
And again, this book is not just for Spanish speakers, it is really for any language at all because the story is told in pictures and not words.
Many of these are not in print any more. Are there any recent releases that you recommend? My little guy is getting his first pair of glasses this week. Thanks!
How old is your son? Arlo Needs Glasses is still in print and is pretty fantastic, though it’s a pop-up book, and so babies and toddlers sometimes tear it apart.
Hello! I have a book I’d like to add to this thread. I wrote Ava the Monster Slayer; A Warrior Who Wears Glasses about my daughter who was diagnosed with accommodative esotropia at age two! After reading the book on one of my many school visits, a young boy raised his hand and said, “I had no idea girls with glasses could do such things!” So cute! Here’s the link to Amazon to check it out! https://tinyurl.com/yythggr7
For Little Eyes 
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Thanks for all the wonderful suggestions.
Another great book is called All Children Have Different Eyes. Here is a link with more information about the book: http://www.lowvisionkids.com/
Mashawna
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That sounds like a great book! Thanks Mashawna.
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My two year old loves ‘The Goody Good glasses.’ Its a Veggie Tales book. Its short and rhymes. Its a sweet and positive book.
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Ooh, thanks! I added it.
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GREAT NEW BOOK! I’ve been meaning to tell you about it for ages, but it kept slipping my mind. It’s called “Princess Peepers” by Pam Calvert, and it’s about a little princess who *loves* wearing her funky glasses, but then feels bad about them when she gets teased by the other non-glasses wearing princesses. She decides to go without, and all sorts of craziness happens. It’s wonderful, you’ll have to check it out!
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i have a blog that contains stories…. very nice to read, especially for your children.
also, download the other story book.
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My daughter’s new favorite book is My Travelin Eye by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw.
You already have it on your list, but I just wanted to say that it’s a wonderful book that kids AND their parents will enjoy!
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Hello Everyone,
My name is Meredith Braunstein and my husband and I just wrote a children’s book called Don’t I Look Smart?!. It can be found on Blurb.com. If anything please tell me what you think. I would love to hear comments.
This book was written for our beautiful son Zachary who is 3 years old. He’s been wearing glasses since 9 months and has embraced them. 🙂
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I found a book called Jill’s Glasses at a used book store this week. My daughter asks me to read it a dozen times a day or more.
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Thanks Natalie! That sounds like a great book. I’ll add it to the list here.
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Randy Kazandy, Where Are Your Glasses is a new book for kids selling like hot cakes. Kids are even sleeping with the book under their pillows. A book in rhyme with hidden glasses throughout the story make this a one of a kind book. Randy Kazandy is getting his first pair of glasses and he doesn’t like them so he has many tricks up his sleeve. But, mom on guard will not be outsmarted by dear Randy and has a plan. The book ends triumphantly and Randy Kazandy has a motto: “I love being me” that is catching on. The book is sold everywhere and now on the Jobson Optical website. Please visit randykazandy.com and whimpublishing.com for more information about Randy Kazandy. Free games on the website to strengthen kids eyes. This book has a gentle lesson of self acceptance.
LikeLike
I found a great book about a little girl who neds a patch. My daughter loves it!
The Pirate of Kindergarten By George Ella Lyon
Ginny was not born a pirate. But since her birth she was headed in that direction.
This book tells the story of Ginny’s voyage towards earning herself an eye patch – a voyage made mostly at school.
No other kid there had the honor.
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That sounds like a fantastic book! Thanks for the tip!
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Does anyone know where I can get a doll or stuffed animal that wears glasses?
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Ok, I wanted to update my own question to say that I found some dolls that wear glasses that are fairly inexpensive – http://www.growingtreetoys.com/product/groovy-girls-red-she-said. I think they’re cute!
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My four year old son loves the book Tracks by David Galef. Since it is out of print it has been a bit of a pain to get but it was worth it. Luc loves trains. So being able to find a book with trains and about someone with glasses was a real find. I am so glad I was able to find this website and this list of books. It has really made our transition to glasses easier.
LikeLike
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The “Third Grade Detectives” series by George E. Stanley and the “Magic Treehouse” books by Mary Pope Osborne both have boy main characters wearing glasses.
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One of my favorites growing up: “Rupert the Rhinoceros”
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Hi, we are looking for a children’s book about how to take care of your glasses for our 3 year old and his classroom – about being gentle, other kids not pulling them off, putting them away during nap, keepign them clean, etc… Any thing like this out there? Thanks!
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Mary, you’re probably not reading this, but the Pearl and Wagner book (http://littlefoureyes.com/2012/02/29/book-review-pearl-and-wagner-four-eyes/) has a section at the end that talks about care of glasses.
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I did read this – thanks, I’ll check this book out!
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HI Mary! Sorry, but I don’t think I’ve seen any books that deal with glasses “care”. Some of the other books listed might mention it in passing, but nothing springs to mind. Maybe this is a book opportunity staring you in the face! 🙂 Good luck!
LikeLike
If there was a book about eye care would you get it for your son or daughter? Ex: Cleaning glasses, putting them back in case, when to wear them. thanks!
LikeLike
I just could not leave your web site prior to suggesting that I really loved the usual information an individual provide in your guests? Is going to be again continuously in order to check out new posts
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Hi, was trying to get hold of Princesses Wear Glasses for my 3-year old daughter. do you know if it is available in the UK?
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Hi Joe, I’m not sure about that. I’ll ask Kristin about it!
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Hi Joe, we DO sell to the UK. Please feel free to email us for more information!
info@peepseyewear.com
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“Ella: The Little Ladybird with a Big Heart” by Alex.T.Smith is our favourite book at the moment! It retells the story of Cinderella, however ‘Ella’ is a beautiful specs wearing ladybird who drops her sparkly glasses at the Grand Bug Ball and Pierre the handsome painter uses them to find her! It’s gorgeously illustrated and set in Paris.
LikeLike
Oh, that sounds lovely! Thanks for sharing! It looks like it’s only available from Amazon UK at the moment, I hope it makes it over here some time soon!
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Is it alright to insert a portion of this on my website if I post a reference to this web-site?
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Wonderful books. I have been hunting the internet for good books to read my little ones so thanks! Here is a list with more books for kids but not category-specific like this one, check it out books for children. Hope it helps.
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Another good book is “I Really Absolutely Must Have Glasses” from the Charlie and Lola series. Lola really wants glasses because they are so pretty, and she is upset that she doesn’t need them. My glasses wearing daughter loved it. It is a great book for making kids feel good about their glasses.
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Hi Ann,
Those were great lovely books for children with vision difficulties. Indeed, a good motivation for them.Thanks for the helpful ideas and suggestions.
ShayneM
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I came across another one: Glamorous Glasses by Barbara Newman.
“Bobbie and Joanie are best friends and best cousins, and they do everything together. So when Joanie has to get glasses, Bobbie figures she’ll get them, too—especially once she discovers the fabulous frames on display at the eyeglasses store. Meanwhile, Joanie has the opposite reaction. Glasses make her feel different and look different. And they’re uncomfortable. So the ever-resourceful Bobbie comes up with a perfect plan to make both of them happy.”
LikeLike
I am lost. Age 3 I was told my daughter may need reading glasses, six months later her left eye started to turn in. 1st optometrist orders a mild prescription glasses for hyperopia and astigmatism. The eye turned in worse, I seek a second optometrist he prescribes od +4.50 and os +5.50. Now, confused I seek my physicians advice. He sends me to children’s hospital to see an opthomologist who diagnoses her with Anisometropia, amblyopia and strabismus and agrees with optometrist number two. She wants to put her in high powered lenses, if the eye still turns then patching and less
Ikely surgery. I call optometrist number one as I bought glasses from him a few months earlier. He disagrees with that approach and wants to increase the prescription a little at a time. He said its like giving a person with a headache 4 Tylenol when 1 may work. He also said that the way the glasses will look may affect her self esteem which im not going to lie, i worry a bit about too. First and formost should i try his little by little approach? Would this risk damaging her eye or is it actually better to do it this way. I’m so confused, what should I do? I’m scared I’m messing up. I love her so much, I just want to do everything I can for her.
LikeLike
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There is a wonderful book I discovered when we went to the eye doctor for the first tie with my four year old son today. It was called, “I Can See Just Fine!”. It was funny and adorable! What perfect timing it was to find the book and read it several minutes before my son was examined!
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Your list is missing the best one. Spectacles by Helen Raskin
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I just looked that up, what an awesome and fun book! (though a little long for the very young kids) It’s out of print now (being from 1968), but it is still available at a lot of libraries: http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/301726
Thanks!
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I have independentely published a book called No Glasses for Me that I think you might be interested in. It is about a little boy who becomes very upset when he finds out he will have to wear glasses. He thinks the children in his school will tease him. He discovered that having some unique glasses make the other children envy him instead of teasing him.
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Thanks, that sounds like a great book! Do you have a link to where it can be ordered from?
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Can you add that My Bright Blue Glasses can also be purchased through the author at (www.facebook.com/mybrightblueglasses) or barnesandnoble.com? Right now it just shows up as being available on amazon.
Thanks. Cynthia
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How about Cali and The BFF Crew: Be-U-TEE-FULL, where Cali’s bestie Lyvia has to wear glasses and doesn’t feel so good about ends up loving it! You can find it here on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Be-U-Tee-Full-Cali-Crew-Journi-Roe/dp/1492147028) or on their website (http://www.thebffcrew.com/). Also, they have a second book coming out this week on bullying!
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That sounds like a great book, thank you!
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Thanks for this great list! Do you have any book recommendations for children preparing for an eye surgery?
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Oh good question! The book “Blueberry Eyes” is about eye surgery. I haven’t read it, but I’ve heard good things. Another parent said that her daughter enjoyed the book Pinkalicious because the girl gets pink tears, and that can happen in eye surgery — but that book really isn’t about eyes or surgery at all.
Good luck!
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We received “Blueberry Eyes” yesterday and my son has already requested it five times! It is out of print, unfortunately, but you can get it used from online stores like Amazon. Thanks again for this suggestion – it was great to have something that is specific to an eye surgery; most of the books we found at the library were dealing with more involved procedures.
LikeLike
After 15 years of research, we are pleased to present you The Eye Patchbook (Het Oogplakboek).
We developed ‘The Eye Patchbook’ to improve compliance with patching therapy and it is available now on: http://www.stammetjes.nl/het-oogplakboek/
We integrated the explanation: ‘How to wear a patch on the better eye, so the lazy eye can be trained.’ into a comic book without words. A four-year old child can recognize itself in the story and, therefore, be more willing to comply with the treatment. Inside the booklet you find calenders and stickers and information for parents in several languages: English, Dutch, French, German, Spanish, Turkish and Arabic. It will enhance compliance with your child.
This program has been scientifically tested in collaboration with the ophthalmology department of the Erasmus MC in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Kind regards,
José Vingerling
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Hello, lovely page.
Any books about contact lenses?
Tx
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Hi Pascal, I only know of one: “Samantha wears a contact lens and patch…just like you!” http://littlefoureyes.com/2013/09/11/book-review-and-giveaway-samantha-wears-a-contact-lens-and-patch-just-like-you/
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Hi there. We have a book that we love for you to add to your list. “Donde estan mis gafas?” by Maria Pascual. (Translates to “Where are my glasses?”) It is a wordless picture book about a man who has lost his glasses and is looking everywhere for them. Of course the reader can see them the whole time! It has very unique and funny illustrations (a dog’s mouth full of toys, an eye chart bedspread, potty humor, etc.) We got this book when my daughter was 4 and she is nearly 7 now and we still read it about once a month or so. Here is the link on Amazon:
And again, this book is not just for Spanish speakers, it is really for any language at all because the story is told in pictures and not words.
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Tesco Opticians have published a great blog with info on some popular kid’s books for kids that wear glasses https://www.tescoopticians.com/help-and-advice/tesco-opticians-blog/books-for-kids-who-wear-glasses/
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Many of these are not in print any more. Are there any recent releases that you recommend? My little guy is getting his first pair of glasses this week. Thanks!
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How old is your son? Arlo Needs Glasses is still in print and is pretty fantastic, though it’s a pop-up book, and so babies and toddlers sometimes tear it apart.
LikeLike
Hello! I have a book I’d like to add to this thread. I wrote Ava the Monster Slayer; A Warrior Who Wears Glasses about my daughter who was diagnosed with accommodative esotropia at age two! After reading the book on one of my many school visits, a young boy raised his hand and said, “I had no idea girls with glasses could do such things!” So cute! Here’s the link to Amazon to check it out!
https://tinyurl.com/yythggr7
LikeLike