Large and giant print
If you have some vision but you struggle to read regular print, large or giant print may be for you.
The size of a font is described in point size. Large print is generally 16 to 18 point size. Giant print is anything larger than this. Regular print is usually 10 or 12 point.
Your local library is probably the best place to have a look at large print books and check they are right for you. Some high street book shops also sell large print books that you can browse through.
eBooks can offer many people a solution to reading larger print as many eBook readers offer the ability to enlarge the print size. Try them in a high street store to see how the text size may be of use to you or read our guide to eBooks and digital.
Buy large and giant print
You can buy large and giant print books and magazines from several places.
Buy large or giant print from RNIB
- We sell a range of large print books and magazines in our online shop including puzzle magazines.
- To keep up with what’s on TV and radio throughout the week, subscribe to our Big Print TV and Radio Guide, which also includes a recipe.
If you don't want to buy online, you can call us on
We are currently updating RNIB's Giant Print library.
Buy large or giant print from elsewhere
You can also try going to a search engine (like Google) and searching for 'large print books' or 'giant print books' - or whatever it is you want.
Try digital
Many eBook readers let you enlarge the typeface to a size that suits you, offering access to a huge range of book, newspaper and magazine titles.
It's not just about books, newspapers and magazines. You can change the text size and the colours of websites, meaning that everything you read online can be altered to suit you. The BBC's My Web My Way website explains how to do it.
Public libraries
You can borrow large print books from your local library. If they haven't got the title you want, ask if they can borrow it from another library for you.
eBooks are also available to borrow from some local library services, where the text can be enlarged to suit you.
Seniors with weakening eyesight can continue their love affair with reading with large print books. These books come in a variety of genres and contain large print; typically a size 14 font or larger. Most of these books are reprints of the original size, which was much smaller. Popular best-sellers of virtually every genre are usually reprinted in larger fonts, as are some magazines.
Large Print Book Suppliers
Book publishers often feature reprints of traditional, classic, and best-selling books in larger font to encourage students and senior citizens to develop and continue a love of reading.
Related ArticlesThorndike Press
Thorndike Press is considered the world's leading publisher of large print books; Thorndike Press first began this practice in The company continues to publish 1, new titles in larger font each year.
Library Reproduction Service
Library Reproduction Service offers custom-made, enhanced, large print copies of all published adult education textbooks and materials, in easy-to-use formats.
Bolinda
Bolinda's large print selections, available in both hardcover and softcover editions, are designed for easy reading. Shoppers have the choice of ordering titles and paying online anonymously, or they can join the company's free B Club for additional benefits. This company carries a wide selection of audiobooks as well, which can make traveling more pleasant.
Amazon
Amazon offers larger print editions of featured titles in everything from biographies to science fiction. Their catalog continues to expand as the company grows exponentially.
Large Print Book Clubs
Keep the large print books coming to your home with a book club specific to books in larger print. There are some book clubs to choose from that cater to readers who need large print, but not all book clubs offer large print books exclusively.
Doubleday Book Club
The Doubleday Book Club book club offers a wide variety of books in large print. Members can join the club and receive a variety of benefits, including 30 percent off publishers' edition prices. Doubleday provides a diverse collection of discount books, including easy-to-read mysteries, romance novels, and self-help books.
Brilliant Books Club
Curated by booksellers who choose books based on your preferences, the Brilliant Book Club offers annual or 6-month membership subscriptions with a monthly book delivery. Delivery dates can be catered to the reader's preference if they prefer fewer deliveries.
Large Print E-Readers
Most electronic readers offer large print editions of books. For example, the Kindle catalog has an extensive offering of large print books. Additionally, the font size of the Kindle can be adjusted larger or smaller with any book, as can the Nook e-reader.
Benefits of Large Print Books
For the elderly, reading is a popular senior activity that even the bedridden can enjoy. You don't have to be a senior citizen to enjoy reading, but for many elderly, poor eyesight can be limiting. Large print books provide senior citizens with an opportunity to continue their beloved hobby. The following benefits are evident for those who use these books.
- Encourages those in nursing homes to maintain an interest in the outside world
- Helps build and maintain vocabulary
- Provides mental stimulation
- Encourages reading comprehension
- Improves reading enjoyment
Finally, you don't have to pay for all the books you read. Swap books with friends and relatives and check out your local library for the latest best reads to enjoy. If your library doesn't carry a certain title in larger print, ask if they can order it through a library exchange service or from another branch.
© LoveToKnow Media. All rights reserved.
VisionAware
By Maureen A. Duffy, M.S., CVRT
Perhaps the most comfortable way to transition to reading with vision loss, at least in the beginning, is also the simplest: bigger print. Most major publishing houses today produce bestsellers and other materials in large print formats, which are available at retail book stores. Large print collections are also available at most public libraries.
Font Size
The standard font size for large print is 18 point, although you might need larger (or smaller) print, depending on your needs and type of vision loss. When advising your employer, senior center, or church, for example, on how to make brochures, newsletters, schedules, menus, programs, and other materials accessible for you, the best size type for these items is generally 18 point, which can be produced by regular printers.
It&#;s also best to use bold black print on a matte (not glossy or shiny) white or cream background and limit the use of graphics. Also, avoid using italics or all capital letters. Generally, lower-case lettering is easier to read.
Font Styles
Use plain, simple, &#;sans-serif&#; fonts, such as Arial or APHont (available online through the American Printing House for the Blind).
Serifs are details on the ends of some strokes that comprise letters and symbols. A typeface with these strokes and details is called &#;serif.&#; A typeface without these details is called &#;sans-serif,&#; from the French &#;sans,&#; meaning &#;without.&#; In many cases, the use of fonts with serifs can reduce the readability of print for people with low vision. Therefore, sans-serif fonts are the recommended print options.
This is an illustration and comparison of serif and sans-serif fonts:
For more information about making print more readable, see VisionAware&#;s Getting Started Kit: Tips for Making Print More Readable (PDF).
Use Strong Contrast
Strong contrast between the print and background is very important. Light lettering, such as white or light yellow, on a dark background may sometimes be easier to read than black lettering on a white or light-colored background. To enhance print contrast, you can also use a yellow acetate overlay, or filter to enhance the contrast between the print and page color.
Use a Reading Stand
Using a reading stand is a simple, effective solution that can help you to read material at the best angle and distance. A reading stand can also help you to keep your reading material in proper focus, which is sometimes hard to do if your hands shake or if you tire easily. A reading stand or clipboard can also help to stabilize the reading material and free up your hands.
Have a Low Vision Examination
If you have some remaining vision, it can be helpful to make an appointment with a low vision specialist, either an optometrist or ophthalmologist with additional training in this area, and discuss the ways that low vision optical devices and non-optical devices, such as magnifiers, small telescopes, improved lighting, or electronic video magnifiers, can supplement your reading needs.
For More Information
Large-print
Large-print (also large-type or large-font) refers to the formatting of a book or other text document in which the typeface (or font) are considerably larger than usual to accommodate people who have low vision. Frequently the medium is also increased in size to accommodate the larger text. Special-needs libraries and many public libraries will stock large-print versions of books, along with versions written in Braille.
The font size for large print is typically at least 18 points in size, equivalent to 24px for a web CSS font size. Different sizes are made to suit different visual needs, with a common rule of thumb to be at least twice the minimum acuity size.[1]
Publishing standards[edit]
The American National Association for Visually Handicapped (NAVH) provides the NAVH Seal of Approval to commercial publishers in the US, for books that meet their large print standards.[2] (Lighthouse International acquired NAVH in ).[3]
The standards[4] call for:
- Maximum limits on size, thickness, and weight
- Minimum limits on margins
- Type size at least 14 point, preferably 18 point[5]
- Sans serif or modified serif font recommended
- Adequate letter and word spacing
- Flexible binding recommended to allow open book to lie flat
Additional Guidelines[edit]
The American Publishing House for the Blind defines font sizes as:
- 12 pt. = regular print
- pt. = “enlarged” print (not considered large print)
- 18 and larger = large print
- 18 and larger, with other formatting changes = enhanced print
In addition to enlarging type size, page layout and font characteristics can have a positive effect on readability. Fonts designed for legibility make it easier to distinguish one character from another. Some characteristics of such fonts are:[6]
Here are the primary things to think about when selecting a font for use by persons with low vision:
- The upper case “I” and Roman Numeral I, the numeral 1, and the lower case l, should all look different from one another.
- The font should be wide-bodied with space between each letter.
- Letters which have a "bubble" inside them (known as a counter, such as o, d, g, e), should have ample space inside the counter.
- Punctuation should be rounded, large, and very visible.
- Font strokes should be solid and without gaps.
Examples of more-easily read fonts are Antique Olive, Tahoma, Tiresias, and Verdana.
Ratios[edit]
Companies offering the large-print formatting uses diverse formats (also called ratios) to support the larger font size.[7] Among these ratios, we find:
- Ratio , the content is enlarged on a single (1) portrait page and the common typological size is 18 points.
- Ratio , the content is enlarged on two (2) landscape page and the common typological size is 18 points.
- Custom ratios, the content is enlarged on multiple landscape pages and the common typological size is 28 points.
History[edit]
Among the first large print book publishers, the Clear Type Publishing Company published a collection of books in 36 point type, circa [8] The Ohio based company specialized in large print, publishing books in 36pt and 24pt.[9]
In Robert Irwin produced a series of textbooks in 36 point, for low-vision children in Cleveland, Ohio, schools. This type proved to be too large and was soon abandoned for the more popular 24 point. Research sponsored by Irwin in indicated 24 point type to be the most readable of the sizes evaluated. Further research by others in and supported 18 point or 24 point type.[10]
In the UK in , Frederick Thorpe began publishing standard print titles with type approximately twice the size of the original printing. The books were given plain dust jackets, color-coded to indicate categories like mysteries (black), general fiction (red), romances (blue), Westerns (orange), etc. These physically large editions were reported to be difficult for some readers to handle.
In and in Thorpe's company, Ulverscroft, began producing the books in 16 point type and normal-sized bindings, which the company claims increased the acceptance of Large Print in public libraries. 16 point type is smaller that the minimum recommended by the American Council of the Blind[11] which recommends 20 point, with 18 point as a suggested minimum.[12]
In the W3.org released the WCAG web accessibility standards, which define large text as 18pt, which is 24px in CSS.[13] Further, the standard specifies that users must be able to increase the font size % without breaking content.[14]
Today Large Print editions of some current books are published simultaneously with regular print editions by their publishers and usually feature the same full-color jackets and jacket design. Public libraries often have Large Print sections, and many bookstores carry some Large Print editions.
Recent developments[edit]
Since some companies have begun offering a variety of font sizes for large print books. ReadHowYouWant, ABEBooks, Largeprintbookco are some of the prominent Large Print Books Providers. Amazon also has a dedicated section for Large Print Books.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
Books example print large
Tom Clancy Line of Sight
Mike Maden
Jack Ryan Jr. finds that the scars of war can last a lifetime in this entry in Tom Clancy's #1 New York Times bestselling series.
Twenty-six years ago, Dr. Cathy Ryan restored the eyesight of a young Bosnian girl who had been injured during an attack in the Bosnian War. Today, her son Jack Ryan, Jr. has agreed to Read more >
Something in the Water
Catherine Steadman
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A shocking discovery on a honeymoon in paradise changes the lives of a picture-perfect couple in this taut psychological thriller debut—for readers of Ruth Ware, Paula Hawkins, and Shari Lapena.
“A psychological thriller that captivated me from page one. What unfolds Read more >
The Disappeared
C. J. Box
Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett has two lethal cases to contend with in this electrifying #1 New York Times-bestseller from C. J. Box.
Wyoming's new governor isn't sure what to make of Joe Pickett, but he has a job for him that is extremely delicate. A prominent female British executive never came home from the high-end Read more >
I Was Anastasia
Ariel Lawhon
“Compelling and utterly fascinating…drifts far into the mysterious lives of Anastasia Romanov and Anna Anderson.”—Lisa Wingate, author of Before We Were Yours
In an enthralling new feat of historical suspense, Ariel Lawhon&#;unravels the extraordinary twists and turns in Anna Anderson's Read more >
The Flight Attendant
Chris Bohjalian
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Midwives and The Guest Room, a powerful story about the ways an entire life can change in one night: a flight attendant wakes up in the wrong hotel, in the wrong bed, with a dead man--and no idea what happened.
Cassandra Bowden is no stranger to hungover mornings. Read more >
Night Moves
Jonathan Kellerman
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER •&#;The master of the psychological thriller makes all the right moves in this new novel of spellbinding suspense.
Even with all his years of experience, LAPD homicide detective Milo Sturgis knows there are crimes his skill and savvy cannot solve alone. That’s when he calls Read more >
Look for Me
Lisa Gardner
THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
“An utterly absorbing story about troubled families and twisted fates. You won’t be able to put it down—and it will haunt you long after you turn the final page.”—Shari Lapena
“A complex crime scene, a missing girl, a ticking clock: no one writes Read more >
Breakdown
Jonathan Kellerman
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER •&#;Jonathan Kellerman has been universally hailed as the master of psychological suspense, and the blockbuster new thriller featuring Alex Delaware and Milo Sturgis confirms his status as today’s preeminent practitioner of saber-sharp storytelling.
&#;
Psychologist Dr. Read more >
Tom Clancy Duty and Honor
Grant Blackwood
Even though he’s on forced leave from the clandestine intelligence group known as The Campus, Jack Ryan, Jr., still finds himself caught in the crosshairs after an attempt on his life is thwarted when he turns the tables on his would-be dispatcher. Convinced that the attack is linked to his recent covert actions with Read more >
Curious Minds
Janet Evanovich and Phoef Sutton
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Janet Evanovich, bestselling&#;author of the Stephanie Plum series, teams up with Emmy-winning writer Phoef Sutton for a brand-new series of mysteries featuring Emerson Knight and Riley Moon, a dynamic duo with instant and undeniable chemistry.
&#;
Emerson&#;Knight is introverted, Read more >
Home
Harlan Coben
Ten years after the high-profile kidnapping of two young boys, only one returns home in this gripping #1 New York Times bestselling Myron Bolitar thriller from the bestselling author and creator of the hit Netflix drama The Stranger.
A decade ago, kidnappers grabbed two boys from wealthy families and demanded ransom, Read more >
The Trespasser
Tana French
The bestselling novel by Tana French, author of the forthcoming novel&#;The Searcher, is “required reading for anyone who appreciates tough, unflinching intelligence and ingenious plotting” (The New York Times). She “inspires cultic devotion in readers”&#;(The New Yorker) and is “the Read more >
Escape Clause
John Sandford
Whenever you hear the sky rumble, that usually means a storm. In Virgil Flowers’ case, make that two. The exceptional new thriller from the writer whose books are “pure reading pleasure” (Booklist).
&#;
The first storm comes from, of all places, the Minnesota zoo. Two large, and very rare, Amur Read more >
The Whistler
John Grisham
From John Grisham, America’s #1 bestselling author, comes the most electrifying novel of the year, a high-stakes thrill ride through the darkest corners of the Sunshine State.
&#;
We expect our judges to be honest and wise.&#;Their integrity and impartiality are the bedrock of the entire judicial system. Read more >
Night School
Lee Child
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The incomparable hero of Jack Reacher: Never Go Back takes readers to school in his most explosive novel yet. After eleven straight global #1 bestsellers, discover the thrillers that The New York Times calls “utterly addictive.”
It’s , and Reacher is still Read more >
Turbo Twenty-Three
Janet Evanovich
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER •&#;In the heart of Trenton, N.J., a killer is out to make sure someone gets his just desserts.
&#;
Larry Virgil skipped out on his latest court date after he was arrested for hijacking an eighteen-wheeler full of premium bourbon. Fortunately for bounty hunter Stephanie Plum, Read more >
The Girl Before
JP Delaney
THE GLOBAL BESTSELLER • Soon to be a BBC One and HBO Max limited four-part series, starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw (The Morning Show; Misbehaviour) and multiple Golden Globe, BAFTA, and Emmy-nominated actor David Oyelowo (Selma; Les Misérables)&#;
&#;
“A pitch-perfect novel of psychological suspense” Read more >
Ready Player One
Ernest Cline
#1&#;NEW YORK TIMES&#;BESTSELLER&#;•&#;Now a major motion picture directed by Steven Spielberg.
“Enchanting . . .&#;Willy Wonka&#;meets&#;The Matrix.”—USA Today&#;•&#;“As one adventure leads expertly to the next, time simply evaporates.”—Entertainment Read more >
Vicious Circle
C. J. Box
The past comes back to haunt game warden Joe Pickett and his family with devastating effect in the thrilling new novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author.
The plane circled in the dark. Joe Pickett could just make out down below a figure in the snow and timber, and then three other figures closing in. Read more >
Tom Clancy Line of Sight
Mike Maden
Jack Ryan Jr. finds that the scars of war can last a lifetime in this entry in Tom Clancy's #1 New York Times bestselling series.
Twenty-six years ago, Dr. Cathy Ryan restored the eyesight of a young Bosnian girl who had been injured during an attack in the Bosnian War. Today, her son Jack Ryan, Jr. has agreed to Read more >
Something in the Water
Catherine Steadman
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A shocking discovery on a honeymoon in paradise changes the lives of a picture-perfect couple in this taut psychological thriller debut—for readers of Ruth Ware, Paula Hawkins, and Shari Lapena.
“A psychological thriller that captivated me from page one. What unfolds Read more >
The Disappeared
C. J. Box
Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett has two lethal cases to contend with in this electrifying #1 New York Times-bestseller from C. J. Box.
Wyoming's new governor isn't sure what to make of Joe Pickett, but he has a job for him that is extremely delicate. A prominent female British executive never came home from the high-end Read more >
I Was Anastasia
Ariel Lawhon
New York Times&#;Bestseller
"Compelling and utterly fascinating." —Lisa Wingate, author of Before We Were Yours
An enthralling feat of historical suspense that unravels the extraordinary twists and turns in Anna Anderson's fifty-year battle to be recognized as Anastasia Romanov. Is she the Russian Read more >
The Flight Attendant (Television Tie-In Edition)
Chris Bohjalian
Now an HBO Max series starring Kaley Cuoco and Rosie Perez, a powerful story about the ways an entire life can change in one night: a flight attendant wakes up in the wrong hotel, in the wrong bed, with a dead man—and no idea what happened.
Cassandra Bowden is no stranger to hungover mornings. She's a binge Read more >
Night Moves
Jonathan Kellerman
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER •&#;The master of the psychological thriller makes all the right moves in this new novel of spellbinding suspense.
Even with all his years of experience, LAPD homicide detective Milo Sturgis knows there are crimes his skill and savvy cannot solve alone. That’s when he calls Read more >
Look for Me
Lisa Gardner
A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
“An utterly absorbing story about troubled families and twisted fates. You won’t be able to put it down—and it will haunt you long after you turn the final page.”—Shari Lapena
“A complex crime scene, a missing girl, a ticking clock: no one writes Read more >
Into the Black Nowhere
Meg Gardiner
In this exhilarating thriller inspired by real-life serial killer Ted Bundy, FBI profiler Caitlin Hendrix faces off against a charming, merciless serial killer.
In southern Texas, on Saturday nights, women are disappearing. One vanishes from a movie theater. Another, from her car at a stoplight. A mother is ripped Read more >
Breakdown
Jonathan Kellerman
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER •&#;Jonathan Kellerman has been universally hailed as the master of psychological suspense, and the blockbuster new thriller featuring Alex Delaware and Milo Sturgis confirms his status as today’s preeminent practitioner of saber-sharp storytelling.
&#;
Psychologist Dr. Read more >
Tom Clancy Duty and Honor
Grant Blackwood
Jack Ryan Jr. is caught in the cross-hairs of a would-be tyrant in this exhilarating thriller in Tom Clancy's&#;#1 New York Times bestselling series.
Jack Ryan, Jr., is on his own. He's been ousted from his position at the Campus, the off-the-books intelligence agency that was set up by his father, the President. Read more >
Curious Minds
Phoef Sutton and Janet Evanovich
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Janet Evanovich, bestselling&#;author of the Stephanie Plum series, teams up with Emmy-winning writer Phoef Sutton for a brand-new series of mysteries featuring Emerson Knight and Riley Moon, a dynamic duo with instant and undeniable chemistry.
&#;
Emerson&#;Knight is introverted, Read more >
Home
Harlan Coben
Ten years after the high-profile kidnapping of two young boys, only one returns home in this gripping #1 New York Times bestselling Myron Bolitar thriller from the bestselling author and creator of the hit Netflix drama The Stranger.
A decade ago, kidnappers grabbed two boys from wealthy families and demanded ransom, Read more >
The Trespasser
Tana French
The bestselling novel by Tana French, author of the forthcoming novel&#;The Searcher, is “required reading for anyone who appreciates tough, unflinching intelligence and ingenious plotting” (The New York Times). She “inspires cultic devotion in readers”&#;(The New Yorker) and is “the Read more >
Escape Clause
John Sandford
Virgil Flowers faces double trouble in this exceptional thriller in the #1 New York Times-bestselling series
Whenever you hear the sky rumble, that usually means a storm. In Virgil Flowers' case, make that two.
The first comes from, of all places, the Minnesota zoo. Two large Siberian tigers have vanished Read more >
The Whistler
John Grisham
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER •&#;A high-stakes thrill ride through the darkest corners of the Sunshine State, from the author hailed as “the best thriller writer alive” by Ken Follett
We expect our judges to be honest and wise. Their integrity is the bedrock of the entire judicial system. We Read more >
Night School
Lee Child
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The incomparable hero of Jack Reacher: Never Go Back takes readers to school in his most explosive novel yet. After eleven straight global #1 bestsellers, discover the thrillers that The New York Times calls “utterly addictive.”
It’s , and Reacher is still Read more >
Turbo Twenty-Three
Janet Evanovich
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER •&#;In the heart of Trenton, N.J., a killer is out to make sure someone gets his just desserts.
&#;
Larry Virgil skipped out on his latest court date after he was arrested for hijacking an eighteen-wheeler full of premium bourbon. Fortunately for bounty hunter Stephanie Plum, Read more >
The Girl Before
JP Delaney
THE GLOBAL BESTSELLER • Soon to be a BBC One and HBO Max limited four-part series, starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw (The Morning Show; Misbehaviour) and multiple Golden Globe, BAFTA, and Emmy-nominated actor David Oyelowo (Selma; Les Misérables)&#;
&#;
“A pitch-perfect novel of psychological suspense” Read more >
Ready Player One
Ernest Cline
#1&#;NEW YORK TIMES&#;BESTSELLER&#;•&#;Now a major motion picture directed by Steven Spielberg.
“Enchanting . . .&#;Willy Wonka&#;meets&#;The Matrix.”—USA Today&#;•&#;“As one adventure leads expertly to the next, time simply evaporates.”—Entertainment Read more >
Vicious Circle
C. J. Box
The past comes back to haunt game warden Joe Pickett and his family with devastating effect in this thrilling novel from #1 New York Times–bestselling author C. J. Box.
The plane circled in the dark. Joe Pickett could just make out down below a figure in the snow and timber, and then three other figures closing Read more >
See More Books +
Sours: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/large-print-format-books/As if I have a schedule. She thought again. - Yes, I saw you with Yurka, I saw. I confessed, guessing what exactly she wants to find out, but does not know how. Zhenya blushed so much that it became visible even in the twilight of the attic.
Now discussing:
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I am 22 years old. I live in one of the largest cities in Russia. Everything really happened, except for the names, which he changed for a known reason. It all happened a month ago. I live with a girl in a civil marriage.