My Favourite Books to Use in Speech Therapy

I absolutely LOVE using books in speech therapy. I think they can be so versatile, fun, and educational for your child! Through all my years reading and looking for the best children's books and resources, I've collected a few of my favourite ones that have my kids rolling on the ground HOLLERING. Read till the end to find all the links for these books.

1. Don't Push The Button by Bill Cotter

Don't Push The Button by Bill Cotter: https://amzn.to/4hgoBez

Don't Push The Button is a FAN favourite. This book is funny, interactive, and you'll never know what to expect next! This story features Larry, who encourages readers to push a very tempting button, despite all the warning signs. This book is super light and playful, and the repetitive structure makes it perfect for targeting expressive and receptive language skills.

How to Use This Book in Speech Therapy:

• Receptive Language:

  • Comprehension Check: Ask children questions to gauge their understanding, such as, "What happened when Larry pushed the button?"

  • Practice following directions: With simple phrases such as "Shake the book."

• Expressive Language:

  • Expand Sentences: Prompt children to describe what’s happening using more detailed language. For instance, after Larry pushes the button, ask, "What do you think will happen next?"

  • Story Retelling: Encourage children to retell the story in their own words. This helps them organize their thoughts, use appropriate vocabulary, and practice sentence structure.

• Social Pragmatics:

  • Conversational Skills: The interactive back-and-forth between the character and the reader provides a great opportunity to model and practice conversational skills.

  • Emotion Recognition: Discuss emotions based on Larry's reactions in the illustrations, helping children identify and express feelings.
    

The humour and repetitive structure keep children engaged, while the surprise twists encourage them to think and respond creatively. This book is highly versatile and can be adapted for different language goals, whether it’s basic comprehension or more advanced expression.

2. Mix it Up by Hervé Tullet

Mix it Up by Herve Tullet: https://amzn.to/4bCnjcE

Mix It Up is one of the MOST visually pleasing books I've read, that invites readers to explore the magic of colour mixing through simple, interactive illustrations. This book encourages children to experiment with colours and actions in a hands-on way, making it a perfect resource for targeting cause and effect, colour recognition, and receptive language skills.

How to Use This Book in Speech Therapy:

• Cause and Effect:

  • Encourage children to follow instructions like “Tap the page” or “Shake the book” and observe the changes in the colours. This helps children understand the connection between actions and outcomes.

• Colours:

  • Use the book’s vibrant, simple illustrations to teach and reinforce colour names. Ask questions like, “What colour do you see here?” or “What happens when we mix these two colours?”

• Receptive Language:

  • Prompt children to follow directions in the book, such as “Press here” or “Turn the page,” helping with listening comprehension and understanding basic instructions.

  
  

The book’s simple yet beautiful illustrations make it visually appealing and accessible for younger children, while its interactive format keeps them engaged. I think this book does aa really great job at providing a fun and dynamic way to support language development while exploring creative concepts hands on.

Hey! Wake Up! by Sandra Boynton

Hey! Wake Up! by Sandra Boynton: https://amzn.to/4hqKVm0

Hey! Wake Up! is the PERFECT book to kickstart my morning therapy sessions with a burst of energy and fun. The playful text and adorable illustrations guide children through a lively morning routine, helping them stretch, roll out of bed, and get ready for the day ahead!

How to Use This Book in Speech Therapy:

• Morning Routine:

  • Use the book to engage children in a physical morning routine. Encourage them to mimic the actions in the story, such as stretching, yawning, and waking up, which helps build body awareness and motor skills.

• Expressive Language:

  • Ask children to describe the actions and how they feel as they follow along with the story, building vocabulary and sentence structure.

• Receptive Language:

  • Guide children to follow the simple instructions in the book, like "stretch," "reach," and "yawn," promoting listening comprehension and following directions.

  
  

The book’s cheerful tone, combined with its fun, interactive nature, creates a warm, positive start to the day. Hey! Wake Up! not only makes morning routines enjoyable but also supports early language development in a lighthearted way.

Let's Wrap it Up!

These fun and interactive books are fantastic tools for engaging children in speech therapy while supporting essential language skills. If you're looking to add these titles to your therapy collection, check out the books in the Amazon links below for easy access and quick purchasing!

Don't Push The Button by Bill Cotter - https://amzn.to/4hgoBez

Mix it Up by Herve Tullet - https://amzn.to/4bCnjcE

Hey! Wake Up! by Sandra Boynton - https://amzn.to/4hqKVm0

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