Toe by Toe: Highly Structured Multi-Sensory Reading Manual for Teachers and Parents

This system is different. Yes, you do need a few minutes of peace a day, but even I can do that. There is no huge barrier to overcome - it starts with the letters of the alphabet and moves on not step by step but as it says toe by toe.

After three weeks on the system my son gained nearly six months in reading age and better still he looked forward to doing his exercises each day. I showed him the end of the book and explained that reading that was where we were going to get to - together, toe-by-toe. He wantes to make it and he can see that he can do it - little by little. Now we are two months in - we haven't reassessed his reading age but he read a whole page of Harry Potter to himself recently, just like his friends do. Nine weeks ago he couldn't read the word 'dam' or 'set'. He seems six inches taller almost!

This has a lot to do with the fact that the book also implicitly boosts self confidence - there are no huge gaps to fill, and the exercises are each only minutely more advanced than the previous one so there is a good deal of familiar territory mixed in with the new things.

I simply have no criticisms for this book. As far as I am concerned this book is IT for dyslexia. Buy it and use it!


It works. Takes a year or more to complete but worth it.   May 24, 2002
59 out of 59 found this review helpful

This book goes through every small step of learning to read. If you like structure and rules then this method will help. You need a long term committment as with all dyslexic progress it is slow but it definately helps. You need a helper as well as the dyslexic. Not just for teachers, I work ten minutes a day with my daughter and we have both benefitted. I feel this is something I can do to help. You can make positive progress with this scheme but you need to keep at it.


Amazing   November 7, 2003
Deborah (Heywood, Lancs United Kingdom)
46 out of 46 found this review helpful

I can't stress enough the difference this book has made to my son. We are only two months into toe by toe and already his reading has dramatically improved. Its the best 25 you will ever spend.


A must for those who struggle with dyslexia   April 29, 2007
Kim Betts (UK)
23 out of 23 found this review helpful

Our daughter is dyslexic and we were advised to purchase this book. The book has been invaluable in helping our daughter to understand the sounds and learn to read words. She has greatly improved in her ability to read words although she does still struggle to read fluently. The book is very addictive both for ourselves and our daughter and it is very difficult to keep to the designated 20 mins maximum - she often wants to continue. I would thoroughly recommend this book to any parent/carer who is responsible for a child who is struggling to read. Absolutely fantastic.


This book has changed my sons life.   May 10, 2005
Esther Ewers (New Zealand)
45 out of 46 found this review helpful

3 months ago my 10 year old son, who is dyslexic, could not read the word 'say' and was very frustrated and angry with himself. I took him out of school to teach him myself a year ago because he was so unhappy. I have spent a lot of money and time trying to help my son learn to read.
Then I ordered toe by toe and it is the best thing that I have ever done for my son! It is realy simple for me and my son to follow and after just 3 months he is reading words like 'flakes' and 'children'. Best of all he is happy.