Celebrating Literacy Month: Top 5 Book Recommendations for Speech-Language Pathologists (SLP's)
As we welcome September and celebrate Literacy Month, it’s a perfect time to explore books that can significantly impact speech therapy sessions by increasing exposure to new concepts and vocabulary, all while creating a love for reading! At AbleNet, we understand the importance of integrating engaging and educational materials into therapy sessions, especially when working with clients who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices.
To honor Literacy Month, we’ve curated a list of top books that are fun and beneficial for language development. We love to see how you can incorporate them into your practice.
1. Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes
Pete the Cat is a beloved character in children’s literature, and for good reason! Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin is a standout choice for SLPs working with young clients. This book is fantastic for identifying and labeling vocabulary, particularly colors. Its repetitive text and call-and-answer style make it easy for children to follow along and participate, which is essential for engagement in therapy. And don’t forget about the “I Love My White Shoes” song! This catchy song enhances the interactive experience, making learning fun and memorable. While all Pete the Cat books are great therapy resources because of their rhythmic text and vibrant illustrations, this story displays problem-solving, flexibility, and resilience.
It also allows your clients to identify their shoes and clothes and label the color of both their boots and their friend’s shoes! Remember to incorporate AAC devices into a shared book-reading activity by labeling the colors and the animals you see on the device!
Consider incorporating sporting activities, art, and even water play into your Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes lesson plan!
2. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault is a classic book choice because it promotes early literacy skills in a structured yet fun way. This book introduces the alphabet in a lively and engaging way through its rhythmic text and interactive storyline. This is a great time to target letters, letter sounds, basic concepts, and opposites like up/down and in/out.
Use an AAC device to highlight these basic concepts. The accompanying song for Chicka Chicka Boom Boom allows for incorporating actions and movement into your session, like stomping and clapping, which is great for sensory seekers. Using magnetic letters on a board is an engaging way to make the book dynamic for therapy sessions, allowing your clients to identify, sort, and label upper- and lower-case letters.
The book’s visual appeal and the fun, bouncy rhythm help capture children’s attention and support letter recognition and phonemic awareness.
3. Pig and Elephant Books (by Mo Willems)
The Pig and Elephant series by Mo Willems, featuring titles such as Elephant & Piggie: We Are in a Book! and Elephant & Piggie: Today I Will Fly!, is exceptional for addressing emotions, problem-solving, and social skills.
These books provide a humorous and relatable look at friendship and interpersonal dynamics, making them ideal for discussing social scenarios and emotional regulation. The clear dialogue and engaging illustrations help children understand and express their feelings and enhance their social communication skills.
Be sure to locate and use emotions on the device while reading the story! The simple illustrations make it great for labeling facial expressions and body language and practicing empathy and understanding. These books’ simple dialogue and plot make it great for early story comprehension questions. See if your reader can predict what will happen next or recall the solution after reading!
4. Jump!
Jump! by Scott M. Fisher is an excellent choice for developing literacy through rhyming and repetition. The rhyming text is particularly beneficial for phonological awareness, a key component of reading development.
The repetitive nature of the book makes it easier for children to predict and participate, reinforcing their understanding of language patterns. Additionally, Jump! incorporates action words and animals, offering opportunities for identification and labeling. Labeling actions and animals on the AAC device while reading is a great way to discuss categories and device organization.
Jump! leaves ample opportunities for movement breaks, which can be particularly engaging for sensory seekers, and allows readers to act out the different animals!
5. My Brother Otto
My Brother Otto by Meg Raby is a thoughtful and educational book that addresses sensory and language differences in a child’s world. This story promotes acceptance and understanding of diverse abilities and preferences.
It features a speech-generative device, aligning with our AbleNet mission of ensuring everyone can access communication and find their voice. It is excellent for our AAC users to see characters that represent them. The book provides a fantastic opportunity for discussing inclusivity and using AAC devices in a relatable context. It helps children appreciate differences and fosters empathy, making it a valuable tool for promoting social and communication skills.
If you are working with an AAC user, ask them how the book made them feel and use it as a chance to talk about their preferences and favorite activities.
Let's Celebrate Literacy Month
Incorporating these books, as well as so many others, can significantly enhance the learning experience for your clients. Early introduction of literacy skills is critical for children, especially complex communicators, because literacy is the key to truly independent and effective communication.
Each book in our list offers unique benefits, from reinforcing vocabulary and phonics to promoting social skills and understanding differences. As we celebrate Literacy Month, let’s use these wonderful resources to support and inspire the children we work with, making literacy both enjoyable and impactful.
Happy Literacy Month from all of us at AbleNet! We hope these book recommendations bring joy and growth to your therapy sessions.
