In my week of making lists, I wanted to add a post with recommendations for the best books for speech therapy for toddlers.

If you need specific therapy ideas, I’ve devoted 3 entire podcasts to this topic and you can find those here:

Making Books Better Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

Here’s the list of books — along with potential goals to help you plan how to use the books to target language skills in toddlers with language delays.

Please keep in mind that many of the books I’m including are picture books meaning there’s no storyline, but the pictures are engaging and perfect for building a busy toddler’s attention, sharing an experience together (to target joint attention), learning how to link meaning with words, and finally, naming pictures. Some books are listed under multiple goals — which is even better! I’ve included a few more books that I love and use mostly for “just reading” to help a child learn to listen to a whole story at the bottom of the list.

This information is discussed in detail in podcast #415.

1. Demonstrate awareness and enjoyment of books measured by attending/listening with joint attention, not mouthing book immediately, righting the picture, and turning pages.

Little Blue Truck

See Touch Feel Books by Roger Priddy

2. Point at pictures for awareness (not accuracy – that’s coming up!)

Bright Baby Board Books by Roger Priddy

To teach pointing…

Press Here

 

Poke A Dot

 

Introduce sliding books for kids who need practice isolating their index fingers to point. 

For more specific strategies for helping children learn to point, watch this video.

 

Slide and Find

 

Brown Bear Sliding Version

 

Cheerios books – to target pincer grasp

3. Complete simple actions with books.

Watch the show for more specific ideas, but in this phase, you’re modeling an action for a child to imitate such as kissing a baby, patting a puppy, knocking on a door, etc.

 

Roger Priddy Bright Baby

 

Follow the directions in the book for imitating actions: 

Pat the Bunny

 

Repeat One Action for the Entire Book

Never Feed a Shark

 

Modify Books like Moo Baa La La La

 

Song-Themed Books

5 Little Monkeys

To teach a child to imitate using Peer Modeling:

Shake a Leg

Elmo Says

From Head to Toe – Eric Carle

 

4. Identify familiar pictures on request.

(We’ll do much more about targeting receptive language with books in the next developmental range in show #416!)

 

Bright Baby Board Books

In my podcast #416 Making Books Better for Toddlers with Language Delays Part Two, I demonstrated strategies for the following goals with specific books for speech therapy sessions and recommend to parents. Here’s that list for you. For detailed instructions for using these books to meet the following 6 early literacy goals for kids with language delays who are in the 18 to 36 month developmental period, please watch show #416!

Goal #1… Identify familiar pictures on request.

A child will point to the picture you name as you say, “Show me the ___,” “Where’s the ____?” “Find the ____.” or “I see the ___. You find the ____.”

Begin with simple picture books and when a child is ready, increase your complexity. (more about that in show #417!)

 

Roger Priddy Books

SPANISH EDITION

 

Here’s the book I use for making “sets” of objects to match with pictures. See details in show # 416.

Not the same book sound book as I used in the podcast, but very similar:

Goal 2: Match pictures to objects

Select a book with familiar objects and find an object (try for one per page) so that the child can match the object to the picture.

Goal 1: Child will imitate play sounds and exclamatory words while reading books.

Goal 2: Child will imitate familiar words during verbal routines using books.

Goal 6: Child will name pictures.

Select counting books with familiar words and instead of counting the objects name them sequentially. For example, on a page of 3 dogs, you’ll say, “Dog. Dog… (expectant waiting for the child to fill in “dog.”)

In my podcast #417 Making Books Better for Late Talking Toddlers (18 to 36 months), I demonstrated strategies for the following goals with specific books I use in therapy sessions and recommend to parents. Here’s that list for you. For detailed instructions for using these books to meet the following 6 early literacy goals for kids with language delays who are in the 18 to 36 month developmental period, please watch show #417.

Previous books lists for 415 (part 1 of this series) and 416 (part 2 of this series)

1. Identify pictures of familiar actions or verbs.

Go Dog Go

 

Open the Barn Door

 

Mrs. Wishy Washy

 

Spot Goes to the Park

Pat the Bunny

Maisy Goes to Preschool

What Are They Doing?

First 100 Words

 

2. Identify pictures of first location words or prepositions.

Dear Zoo

Big Red Barn

 

3. Find 2 pictures on request as a prequisite for following two-part commands. 

100 First Words Book

Baby ABC

 

Troubleshooting Ideas:

ACTIVE BOOK – younger – Eric Carle

Active Book – older-  Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly

Make any book active just by giving a job on every page

Design activities around personal preferences to help with attention/participation/and general listening.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night?

Priddy Pop Up

 

4. Identify objects by function. 

100 First Words

The Going to Bed Book

Llama Llama

5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed

 

5. Answer yes/no questions

6. Teach negation “not”

GREAT BOOKS TO HELP BUILD A CHILD’S ABILITY TO LISTEN TO AN ENTIRE STORY!