Reading with your little one is a special experience – one to be cherished. It’s in these small moments that we get to spark conversations with our tiny talkers; exploring new characters, animals, and scenarios they’ve never seen before.
While reading with your child at home on a regular basis is great for entertainment and spending quality time together, the act of reading together can actually support language development! As a team of passionate Speech Pathologists (who work with A LOT of little ones!) we are bursting at the seams with recommendations for language rich picture books.
So, if you’re looking for some new books to add to your reading list that can help you to stimulate language at home, keep on reading. Pssst – this is also a great list to come back to when you need ideas for baby shower or birthday gifts!
Best Language Rich Picture Books
Dear Zoo
One of the biggest hits at SpeechEase Speech Therapy (on the bookshelf at least!) is the ‘Dear Zoo’ picture book by Rod Campbell. This classic has been around since 1982 and has been a favourite with toddlers and Speech Pathologists ever since.
This is a classic lift-the-flap book that you can use to stimulate conversation and support your child’s acquisition of language. Throughout the book your little one will be introduced to lots of different animals, which can spark conversations about where the animals are from, what they might sound like, and what your child enjoyed when you last visited a zoo together.
Who Said Roar
This interactive book filled with funny pairings and colourful animals will be sure to delight your little one! Work your way through the book to find out who said ‘Roar’ and practice matching animal noises with the correct jungle animal.
Reading this language rich picture book with your little one will give you plenty of opportunities to play around with funny voices and animal sounds and is a great one for engaging multiple kiddos if you happen to be caring for more than one tiny talker!
Where Is The Green Sheep
In this fun picture book, your little one will go on a journey to find the green sheep. With plenty of colours to learn and name, this picture book is a great tool for supporting your child’s vocabulary growth. This book is also helpful for practicing asking (and answering) questions, and getting familiar with grammatical concepts that will serve them well when they start school.
Spot Books
Who doesn’t love the Spot books? Eric Hill has many adorable tales of Spot that you and your little one can enjoy reading together. There are lift-the-flap versions and Spot book bundles that you can use to fill out your bookshelf quickly.
This series of books are great for encouraging interaction and conversation with your child, and the beloved character is sure to bring back some nostalgia for those of you who grew up with the Spot books too!
The Very Cranky Bear
If you’re on the hunt for a language rich picture book that’s bursting with concepts to expand your child’s vocabulary, look no further than The Very Cranky Bear!
This book is filled with rhymes, colours, animals, environments and emotions – all concepts that will help to develop your child’s language skills and spark conversation.
Here’s a quick sample of what the story is about so you get an idea:
“In the Jingle Jangle Jungle on a cold and rainy day, four little friends found a perfect place to play. Moose had marvellous antlers and Lion, a golden mane. Zebra had fantastic stripes and Sheep … well, Sheep was plain. When four friends encounter a cranky bear, Moose, Lion and Zebra all think they know how to cheer him up. But it is plain, boring Sheep who has the answer.”
We hope you found our list of language rich picture books helpful! Our team were thrilled to share the books they love from their speech therapy sessions. If you’d like to see more recommendations like this on our blog in the future, send us a DM on Instagram (@speechease) and let us know.
Want more tips on how you can support your child in reaching their speech therapy goals faster at home? Have a read of our guide to incorporating home practice into everyday routines.