Teacher hopes debut book will help dyslexic children discover their potential

A teacher turned author says she hopes her debut book is helping children struggling with dyslexia to realise their other talents and build their confidence.

Marissa McCudden, a primary school teacher in the Glasgow area, was inspired to write the book as her own daughter Claudia suffered self-esteem issues when comparing her writing and reading skills with those of classmates.

Claudia has gone on to excel in a number of other areas, namely gymnastics, and Ms McCudden wants other youngsters to realise they are talented in other areas and that dyslexia does not make a person less intelligent.

Ms McCudden’s book, titled There’s Lots Of Different Types Of Clever, highlights the many other talents and skills exhibited by school pupils, including art, music, maths and fixing things.

Ms McCudden, 46, said: “It was based on my daughter’s struggles with dyslexia and she was my inspiration for the book.

“She would really struggle, especially with homework, because after a full day at school, they’re extra tired, and if she would have to concentrate extra hard there would be tears over homework.

“She’d say she’s not clever or that she’s stupid, and she was at the time a county champion gymnast, three years running.”

The book, written in a dyslexia-friendly font and format, aims to show youngsters that school is not necessarily the be-all-and-end-all and that their talents are just as valuable as reading and writing.

“The goal of the book is really just to nurture their self-esteem, build their confidence and to let them believe they can achieve anything they want to achieve, and although school is mainly academic, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a measure of your success,” she said.

“There’s lots of people who maybe struggle at school who are really successful outside of the academic world, so it’s really to build their confidence.”

Having read the book to her own class, Ms McCudden said: “The response has been really positive and they’re all really enthusiastic. What I love is that there is a ‘clever’ for everyone.

“You see the children identifying and relating to one thing or another in the book, so hopefully it will inspire children to look at different avenues and what is available for them in the developing young workforce and looking at the life skills we need.”

The story was illustrated by Michael Spy, 46, who had no experience in graphic design but was a keen artist in his school years.

Ms McCudden drew comparisons to her and Mr Spy’s journey in creating the book, given that she had the writing skills but lacked his illustration skills, and vice-versa.

She said: “Individually, we weren’t able to create what we needed to but when we came together as a team, which is a theme of the book, using a variety of ‘clevers’ for different people, we were able to produce the book, which we are very proud of.”

Having launched the book in September, the duo hoped to sell around 250 copies in the first year.

So far, they have sold around 170, meaning they are on track to beat their initial target.

They hope to release more books in the same vein, and Ms McCudden has finished the words for two future books.

They hope to reach older children struggling with dyslexia and other additional support needs (ASN).

Ms McCudden said the book “would make a great present” over the festive season, adding: “I’ve had loads of friends and family come to me and open up about children with dyslexia or autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), and it’s really hit home and that it’s exactly the message the children need to hear.

“If people would leave a review, and even if anyone got in contact in terms of their own experience with their child, that would be amazing.”

Mr Spy normally works as a customer manager for a software company, and says his two children contributed to the ideas for the drawings.

Since the launch, he has hosted a number of illustration workshops in primary schools.

He also read the book to some of the younger pupils at his children’s school.

He said: “One of the teachers came up to me and said that some of the boys were so inspired by it they started making their own graphic novels, which made my day.

“I think that if you’ve got a passion, be it art or sport or whatever it is, just go for it.

“You’re never too young or too old to tap into that talent or that ‘clever’ or whatever it is that you’ve got, just as long as you’re having fun with it, that’s what matters.”

The book can be purchased online.