Tom Gates Books for Reluctant Readers and Dyslexia

Tom Gates books are illustrated novels by Liz Pichon that engage reluctant readers and children with dyslexia using doodles, lists and comic-style storytelling on every page. Used by primary schools and parents at home, they make reading feel achievable for children aged 7 to 12.

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Written and illustrated by Liz Pichon and published by Scholastic, the Tom Gates series follows the everyday adventures of Tom, his band DogZombies, his older sister Delia, and his best friends Derek and Amy. Each page mixes story text with cartoons, hand-lettered headings, doodles, lists, and bursts of dialogue, so the eye keeps moving and the pages feel less daunting than a traditional chapter book.

That visual format is the reason teachers, librarians, and SENCOs recommend the series so often for reluctant readers and for children with dyslexia. The illustrations carry meaning alongside the words, the typography varies constantly, and the chapters are broken into short, manageable sections - all of which lower the cognitive load for a child who finds reading tiring.

Why are Tom Gates books popular with reluctant readers and dyslexic children?

Tom Gates books work for reluctant readers because the page itself is engaging before a single word is read. The hand-drawn doodles, varied fonts, lists, and comic-strip panels give a dyslexic or reluctant reader natural pauses, visual cues, and a sense of progress. Many families tell us a Tom Gates book is the first chapter book their child has finished cover to cover. The humour also matters - laughter keeps a child turning pages even when the reading is hard work.

What age are Tom Gates books for?

Tom Gates books are aimed at children aged 7 to 12, roughly Year 3 to Year 7. The interest age stretches higher because the humour, friendship dynamics, and band storyline appeal to older children too. For a confident reader, that is around Year 3 upwards. For a dyslexic or reluctant reader, the illustrated format means the books often suit children whose reading age is a year or two behind their interest age - one of the reasons they sit so well alongside Barrington Stoke titles in a SEND book corner.

How do I choose the right Tom Gates book?

Most Tom Gates titles can be read as standalones, so a new reader does not need to start at book one. For a child just discovering the series, the activity-led titles like Big Book of Fun Stuff are a gentle way in, because the puzzles and drawing pages build confidence before a longer story. For schools building a reluctant-reader shelf, mixing a few of the main novels with one or two activity books gives pupils a choice of entry points. Bulk and school purchase orders are welcome - call 01394 671 818 for a quote.

Who is the Tom Gates series for?

For schools, SENCOs, and teachers, Tom Gates is a reliable choice for the SEND book corner, the school library, and the reluctant-reader intervention shelf. The visual format makes the series accessible to pupils with dyslexia, and the humour earns it a place in mainstream Key Stage 2 classrooms as well. For parents, Tom Gates is often the breakthrough series - the one that turns "I do not like reading" into "can I have the next one?" A short stack on the bedside table beside a reading ruler or coloured overlay is a strong setup for a dyslexic child who is just starting to read for pleasure.

 

Need advice? Call us to have a chat - 01394 671 818 or email us hello@thedyslexiashop.co.uk

Frequently asked questions

What age are Tom Gates books suitable for?

Tom Gates books are aimed at children aged 7 to 12, roughly Year 3 to Year 7. The interest age stretches higher because the humour and friendship storyline appeal to older children, and the heavily illustrated format means the series often suits dyslexic and reluctant readers whose reading age sits a year or two behind their interest age.

Are Tom Gates books good for children with dyslexia?

Yes. Tom Gates books are widely recommended for dyslexic readers because each page mixes story text with doodles, varied fonts, lists, and cartoons, which lowers the cognitive load and creates natural pauses. They are not technically a dyslexia-friendly publisher in the Barrington Stoke sense, but the visual format makes them one of the most approachable mainstream series for a child with dyslexia.

What is the reading age of Tom Gates books?

Most Tom Gates books carry a reading age of around 7 to 9, while the interest age stretches to about 12. That gap is what makes the series so useful for SEND and reluctant readers - the content is age-appropriate for older primary children, but the words and the visual breaks are accessible to a child whose decoding is still developing.

Who wrote the Tom Gates books?

The Tom Gates series is written and illustrated by Liz Pichon, a British author and illustrator. The series is published by Scholastic and has won multiple awards including the Roald Dahl Funny Prize and the Waterstones Children's Book Prize. [UNVERIFIED - please check exact award list]

Do Tom Gates books need to be read in order?

No. Each Tom Gates book is written as a standalone, so a new reader can start with whichever title appeals to them. For a child just discovering the series, the activity-led titles like Big Book of Fun Stuff are a gentle entry point. Schools building a reluctant-reader shelf often stock a mix of main novels and activity books so pupils can choose.

Why do schools use Tom Gates books to support reluctant readers?

Schools and SENCOs use Tom Gates for the SEND book corner and the reluctant-reader shelf because the doodle-led format gives pupils a sense of progress on every page. The chapters are short, the humour holds attention, and the visual cues help dyslexic children parse the page. For bulk school orders, call 01394 671 818 - we offer 30-day credit on school purchase orders and free delivery on orders over £100.

Can I get Tom Gates books on a school purchase order?

Yes. We accept school purchase orders with 30-day credit terms and offer free delivery on orders over £100. Add your titles to the basket, choose "Pay by PO" at checkout, and enter your PO number. For multi-academy trust orders or larger quantities, email sales@thedyslexiashop.co.uk for a tailored quote.