This month, we’re sharing some of our therapists’ favorite fall and back-to-school-themed books for speech therapy. Books are one of the best ways to target a variety of speech and language goals, and we write about it often enough here that we have a whole blog tag devoted to our favorite books!
The first few weeks of the school year are a lot of process for most kids. If you’re like me, you might be tempted to ask how their day was right when they get home. Instead, greet your child with an assortment of books, a snack, and a quiet and cozy reading spot. Cuddling up and reading together is a great way to wind down after a long day and build in recovery time. There are also so many benefits to reading aloud to kids at any age. So on that note, here are a few of our favorite titles for you to have on hand this time of year!
Mags
Although I do not have physical copies of all of these books, I usually use a Youtube version and pause to ask questions and work on goals. Here are a few of my favorite fall books for speech therapy:
All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold
A fun rhyming book that encourages inclusive classrooms and repeats the message “All are Welcome Here.” You can work on minimal pairs and narrative story structure from a speech perspective.
The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson
This is a wonderful social story that can be used to prepare older school-age kids for starting the first day of school. It gives language to different experiences at school and how to embrace your unique self! From a speech perspective, you can work on narrative story structure and language around self-advocating for your differences/needs in a school setting. While reading, ask the child to complete these sentences:
- No one else is quite like me because…
- This is why I am special:…
The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams
A fun, fall-themed book that tells the story of a scarecrow. It incorporates actions such as “wiggle” and “clap” and can be great for kids who benefit from movement breaks and sensory support.
There’s a Ghost in this House by Oliver Jeffers
This book is fun because it is interactive! You have to find the ghost on each page. You, as the reader, can see the ghosts while the main character cannot see the ghosts! It can be fun and silly to try and be the first one to find the ghost on each page. From a speech perspective, you can work on /g/ such as in “ghost” as well as /s/ and s-blends, such as “I spotted the ghost!” or “I see them!”
Sarah
We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt by Steve Metzger
A fun, seasonal take on the classic We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, this book is full of all sorts of descriptive and location vocabulary, verbs, and is also a great way to work on story sequencing.
Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson
This is a silly book that kids love. It tells the story of a nice witch and her cat and the other travelers that join them on their increasingly crowded broom. It provides wonderful opportunities to work on more complex descriptive vocabulary, unfamiliar vocabulary, and rhyming.
Jenny and Carolyn
Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten by Joseph Slate
This is a classic book that is perfect for preschoolers, especially those who are about to go to or have just started kindergarten. We like to use it to target alphabet knowledge and early literacy, and also to address sequencing, temporal awareness, and social language around getting ready for school. It’s also fun to read and compare what the students are doing to your own get-ready-for-school routine!
The Teacher From the Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler
Sometimes our imaginations can run away from us and tell us all sorts of tales. This is a great book for working on true/untrue, real/unreal, and answering perspective-taking questions like “Do you think his teacher is as scary as he thinks?” It can also be a fun way to work on comparing, asking kids to compare their own teacher to the teacher from the black lagoon.
The Magic School Bus at the Waterworks by Joanna Cole
The Magic School Bus book that started it all! A trip with Ms. Frizzle is always an adventure, and this book takes readers on a wild ride through the water cycle. It’s great for older kids working on concepts such as fact vs fiction, and can also be a great jumping off point for a sequencing activity. What can the magic school bus do that other busses can’t do?
Junie B Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus by Barbara Park
Junie B is the ultimate kindergartener and preschoolers and early grades alike love reading about her antics. This book is great for talking about social situations and expected/unexpected behaviors as well as emotion words and perspective taking.
As we settle into sweater weather and find more opportunities to cuddle up and read, we hope that you’ll tell us about some of your favorite books as well. Happy fall, y’all!
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