The ESV Dyslexia-Friendly Edition from Crossway features a special typeface, layout, and overlays designed to make the Bible easier to read for individuals with dyslexia. It was developed in partnership with 2K/Denmark and Cambridge University. I do not have dyslexia, so I can’t determine how well the tools work, but I can show what’s included. I’m reviewing the hardcover edition, ISBN 9781433598142, printed in China.
Crossway provided this Bible in exchange for an honest review.
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This Bible is available at (includes some affiliate links)
and many local Bible bookstores
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Table of Contents
Materials and Construction
The hardcover has a texture that almost feels like cloth-over-board. It’s dark blue with silver printed on the front and spine. It includes an extra-long light blue ribbon. The overall size is 6.25 x 9.25 x 1.5 inches, and it weighs 2 lbs, 6.5 oz. It comes in a sturdy two-piece box.
The paper is around 30GSM or more. It has a rough texture that makes it easier to grab and turn. The paper has a little more show-through than I’d like. I’m not sure if it would become distracting to those with dyslexia, but I could see it as a potential problem. It’s offwhite in color and has no glare.
Interior Design
The 2016 edition of the ESV text is presented in a double-column paragraph setting. It includes a 10-point font that’s bottom-weighted to help readers differentiate similar letterforms. There is a lot of whitespace between each letter, word, between the lines, and between the paragraphs. Some paragraphs have a line at the end. I think this is to help find your place on the page. It doesn’t include this information anywhere, but I can see how the lines could help with orientation. Section headings are extra-large. The book name and page numbers are in the footer. It was printed with line-matching to reduce the show-through. This is a black-letter text, and it’s dark and consistent. Most lines have 7-8 words, and they’re left-justified, leaving a ragged right edge. Poetry was printed in a poetic setting and is divided well. Verse numbers are large.
Color Overlays
The ESV Dyslexia-Friendly Edition includes 10 color overlays that can overlap to create 30 color combinations. These help reduce visual strain, which should help with dyslexia. These do not reduce the page show-through. They come in a sleeve and include a page with instructions.
Maps
It has 8 maps printed on thick paper. They’re printed in full color using earth-tones. The pages do have a shine under direct light. They include distance, topography, borders, routes, rivers, kingdoms, etc. It doesn’t have an index to maps. The maps are labeled well, and I find them easy to use.
Maps include:
- The World of the Patriarchs
- The Exodus from Egypt
- The Twelve Tribes of Israel
- Israel Under Saul, David, and Solomon
- Jerusalem in the Time of Jesus
- Palestine in the Time of Jesus
- Paul’s First and Second Missionary Journeys
- Paul’s Third Missionary Journey and His Voyage to Rome
Conclusion
The ESV Dyslexia-Friendly Edition was designed based on research and should be a great help to those with dyslexia. The extra spacing and bottom-weighting should help most dyslexic readers. For those who need a little more, the overlays provide extra help, but it could take some work to find the right color combination. The text is clear of other distractions, so there are no footnotes or references to get in the way, making this a good reader’s edition.
Are you dyslexic, and have you tried this Bible? Let us know about your experience in the comments.
_________________________________________________________
This Bible is available at (includes some affiliate links)
and many local Bible bookstores
_________________________________________________________
Crossway provided this Bible in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to give a positive review, only an honest one. All opinions are my own.
