Tools
Is This Book Available in Large Print? Here's How to Find Out
You want a specific book in large print. You search Amazon, get 200 results, and can't tell which ones are actually large print editions vs. regular books with misleading keywords. Your library website isn't much better. This is the single most common frustration people have with large print — and there's no single tool that solves it. But there are reliable methods.
Why Finding Large Print Is So Hard
Amazon's search is the worst offender. Search "large print" and you'll get regular editions that happen to mention "print" in the description, self-published books with slightly bigger fonts calling themselves large print, and actual large print editions all mixed together.
Goodreads doesn't have a large print filter at all. Google Books doesn't either. The major discovery platforms for readers simply weren't built to distinguish between print formats.
The reliable methods below work. They take a few minutes each, but they'll give you a definitive answer.
Method 1: The ISBN Trick (Fastest)
1 Search by ISBN on WorldCat
Every edition of a book has its own ISBN — the 13-digit number on the barcode. Large print editions get separate ISBNs from the regular editions. WorldCat (worldcat.org) is a global library catalogue that lists all editions.
Step 2: Search for the book title and author
Step 3: Look at the results — WorldCat shows format labels. Look for entries marked "Large print" or "Large type"
Step 4: Click the large print edition. WorldCat will show you which libraries near you hold it
WorldCat pulls from thousands of libraries worldwide, including Canadian ones. If a large print edition exists from any major publisher, it will show up here.
Method 2: Check the Major Large Print Publishers Directly
2 Search publisher catalogues
Most large print editions in Canada come from a small number of publishers. Checking their catalogues directly is more reliable than Amazon.
- Thorndike Press (Gale/Cengage): The biggest large print publisher in North America. Search their catalogue at gale.com/thorndike. They publish in 16pt type, cover bestsellers, mystery, romance, westerns, and Christian fiction heavily.
- Random House Large Print: Penguin Random House publishes large print editions of many of their titles. Search on penguinrandomhouse.ca and filter by format.
- HarperLuxe: HarperCollins' large print imprint. Covers their major authors. Check harpercollins.ca.
- Center Point Large Print: Independent large print publisher that covers many genres. Available through libraries and some bookstores.
If the book's regular publisher is one of the Big Five (Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Hachette, Macmillan), there's a decent chance they've issued a large print edition — especially for bestsellers and award nominees.
Method 3: Your Canadian Public Library
3 Search your library catalogue with format filters
Most Canadian library catalogues let you filter search results by format. The exact steps vary by system, but the idea is the same.
Toronto Public Library: Search the title, then use the "Format" filter on the left. Select "Large print books." If it shows results, TPL has it or can request it via interlibrary loan.
Vancouver Public Library: Search, then filter by "Large Print" under format/material type.
Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg: Same pattern — search, then look for a format or material type filter.
Even if your local branch doesn't carry the book, most Canadian library systems can get large print titles through interlibrary loan. Ask at the desk or use the online request feature. It takes a week or two but it's free.
Method 4: Amazon — But Do It Right
4 Use Amazon.ca's edition switcher, not the search bar
Don't search "large print [book title]" — you'll get garbage results. Instead:
Step 1: Search for the book normally on Amazon.ca. Find the correct book page.
Step 2: On the book's product page, look for the format options — "Hardcover," "Paperback," "Kindle," "Audible." If a large print edition exists, it often shows as a separate format option here.
Step 3: If you don't see it in the format switcher, scroll down to "Product details." Check the page count — large print editions usually have significantly more pages than the standard paperback (same book, bigger text = more pages).
Step 4: Check the publisher name. If it says "Thorndike Press," "Center Point Large Print," "Random House Large Print," or "HarperLuxe," it's a genuine large print edition.
The publisher name is the most reliable indicator on Amazon. If the publisher isn't a known large print imprint, be skeptical — even if the listing says "large print."
Watch out for fake large print on Amazon. Self-published books sometimes label themselves "large print" with fonts only slightly larger than standard. Check the publisher name. If it's a name you don't recognize and the book has very few reviews, it may not be genuine 16pt+ large print.
Method 5: Indigo / Chapters
5 Search Indigo.ca with format filter
Indigo is Canada's largest bookstore chain and carries large print editions from Thorndike Press and the major publishers.
Step 1: Go to
indigo.ca and search for the book title
Step 2: Look at the format options on the product page. Large print editions are listed separately.
Step 3: If available, you can order online or check in-store availability at your nearest Chapters/Indigo location.
Indigo's selection isn't as deep as the library system for large print, but they stock the popular titles and can special-order others.
What If the Book Doesn't Exist in Large Print?
This happens a lot. Many books — especially smaller press titles, Canadian literary fiction, and older backlist titles — were never published in large print. When that's the case, you have real alternatives:
- E-reader: Buy the ebook version and set the font to whatever size you need. A Kobo e-reader lets you go very large, adjust font weight, and borrow from your library. This is the closest thing to a universal large print solution.
- Libby/OverDrive: Borrow the ebook from your library through the Libby app and read on a tablet or phone with enlarged text. Free with your library card.
- CNIB Library: If you have a print disability (including low vision), the CNIB Library provides accessible format books — including DAISY audiobooks and digital text that can be magnified — at no cost.
- Audiobook: Check Libby for free library audiobooks, or Audible/Kobo for purchase. Our audiobooks guide covers all the Canadian options.
The Quick Check Workflow
30-second check: WorldCat → search title → look for "Large print" in format
If not found: Check your library catalogue with format filter → Indigo.ca → Amazon.ca edition switcher
If it doesn't exist: Get the ebook on a Kobo or through Libby and set the font large. Same book, your font size.
Genres Most Likely (and Least Likely) to Have Large Print Editions
Most likely: Bestselling mystery/thriller, romance, Christian fiction, popular non-fiction, book club picks. Publishers know their audience — these genres have the highest demand from large print readers.
Least likely: Literary fiction from small presses, poetry, academic/non-fiction from university presses, self-published books, most graphic novels. If the print run is small to begin with, a large print edition rarely gets produced.
Canadian authors: Hit or miss. If a Canadian author is published by a Big Five imprint (e.g., Margaret Atwood through McClelland & Stewart / Penguin Random House), large print editions usually exist. For smaller Canadian publishers, they're rare.