Children can see things that adults don’t — but what if kids are having trouble seeing? According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, if children squint, have misalignment between their eyes, or are prone to dizziness and/or eye-rubbing, it can be a sign that they need glasses. This can mean vision screenings at school or eye appointments they aren’t prepared for, and the sometimes difficult adjustment to life with glasses. To help children understand the importance of vision development and embrace vision differences, we are providing you with five children’s books about glasses!
Douglas, You Need Glasses! by Ged Adamson
Douglas, You Need Glasses follows a mischievous dog who doesn’t know he needs glasses. Douglas ends up encountering situations where he chases a leaf instead of a squirrel, walks through wet cement because he couldn’t see a caution sign, and eats out of the neighbor’s dog’s bowl! When his owner, Nancy, takes him to an eyeglass store, he mistakes the eyeglass store for a shoe store. This book is cute with lots of humor that parents and children will both love.
So many people love adorable dogs like Douglas, which puts ease into parents and children right away! Additionally, by focusing on the consequences of Douglas not wearing glasses, it shows child readers that wearing glasses is a solution, not a hindrance. By making light of the situations Douglas encounters because he can’t see, it creates a positive light around using corrective eyewear. Kids then feel less nervous about having to wear glasses!
Super Sight by Jennifer Whitehead, Illustrated by Emily Reymann
Super Sight is an educational and validating celebration of eye patches and glasses! By helping the children who use these medical devices feel seen, the story’s message shows how glasses and eye patches are very useful and are nothing to be afraid of. In fact, the story focuses on embracing new experiences, regardless if it means wearing glasses for the first time or another life event. Not only that, individuality comes into play because we all have our own unique experiences, including those who wear glasses.
By expanding on the journey and new experience of wearing glasses, this title creates excitement for children, who want to feel validated in each new experience they face. A child’s world is small, but the journey is forever, and they will always have new experiences to look forward to — especially the positive experiences that make life easier for them.
I Can See Just Fine by Eric Barclay
I Can See Just Fine tells the story of a young girl named Paige who loves the violin, playing outside, and going to school. However, there are things she can’t see like her sheet music or the chalkboard! While Paige struggles with being able to see, she always insists that “she is just fine,” while dealing with the mishaps of not being able to see on the opposite page. When her parents take her to the eye doctor, Paige is nervous but deals with the checkup well, and even likes choosing the frames of her new glasses!
Just like any other kid, Paige was not comfortable about embracing a new experience. At first, she would rather have struggled to see than accept that she needs glasses. By focusing on Paige’s comments as a child denying she has issues seeing versus the opposite page showing her stumbling, it’s relatable to kids who are just starting to wear glasses. In the end, Paige braved the eyeglasses visit and could fully see. Some kids realize a lot of their worry is inside their head with that first eye doctor visit, but are so happy to have great eyesight!
Specs for Rex by Yasmeen Ismail
Rex is a dog who HATES his glasses. He hates how big, round, and red they are. In Specs for Rex, Rex tries to hide his glasses under his hair, in his sandwich, or anywhere he can find! He won’t wear them to school either. However, his friends and family slowly get Rex to appreciate these glasses, and show him that he is no different from anyone else.
Kids notice everything about each other that they can see. However, they may not “see” the need for glasses at first because they change a person’s appearance. However, glasses aren’t ugly or weird. With a great support system, children can start to see the value of glasses and celebrate their glasses — which make them unique!
Octavio and His Glasses by Marc González Rossell
Octavio is a young boy who found that he hadn’t been able to see well until he got his glasses. In Octavio and His Glasses, Octavio realizes he can see everything around him so vividly. He can see objects that are close AND far away! He can see things in the dark, too! Now, Octavio can read all of his favorite stories, and worlds that he loves open up in a different way for him. Now that Octavio can see everything, he can focus on what he can imagine.
By setting the narrative on the time after Octavio gets his glasses, it focuses on all the positive things that open up to him. The book coaxes children into realizing the incredible things that they can do if they need glasses but are worried about the new experience. By being able to see more clearly, Octavio can positively experience the world around him in a powerful and new way — the world is his oyster!
Our team hopes you had a great time learning about these hilariously brave kids (and dogs)! Glasses are a lens into positive experiences, especially when you have a great support system. Parents and children will love these books that teach children about how unique, joyful, and exciting it is to wear glasses!
Want to read about classic books you should re-read based on your sunglasses? Click here.
Read these books and more on our Mini Bookworms Delightful Recommendations bookshelf on Bookshop!
