There are not many collateral references for students with lower level reading skills. Perhaps they may be encouraged by the quality of the books to work through them. For the student working independently on word problems the number of references is large. Such students could even use text books.
Asimev Isaac,
Realm of Algebra
. Greenwich, CT: Fawcett, 1961. Teaches Algebra. Reminds student that Algebra is arithmetic. It gives the student the chance to see math outside of a text book.
Hogben Lancelot,
The Wonderful World of Mathematics
. Garden City, NY: Garden City Books, 1955. A pictorial history of mathematics from the caveman to modern times. The student will see many uses for mathematics, learn about the problems that inspired mathematics. This is most likely the only book for the slow reader. It will not teach the solution of word problems, but it will serve as a motivator for studying math.
Jacoby, Oswald with William H. Benson,
Mathematics for Pleasure
. Greenwich, CT: Fawcett, t962. A collection of problems. Some are brain teasers, the answer in the statement of the problem, the others are algebra. There is a discussion prior to each problem set. There are worked solutions to all the problems. A review not an introduction.
Sawyer, W.W.,
Vision in Elementary Mathematics
. Baltimore, MD: Penquin Books, 1964. This book teaches algebra, it works from the premise that one learns more easily it one understands rather than memorizes. The book guides the student to discover math. Sawyer talks to the student as a friend, he gives pep talks.