How We Use Books in Speech Therapy to Build Language Skills

Books are one of the most powerful tools we use in speech therapy, and it’s not just about reading the words on the page. Storybooks help children build vocabulary, comprehension, sentence structure, and social communication in meaningful, engaging ways.

Here’s how we use books to support language development:

Build Vocabulary Naturally We highlight new words, describe pictures, and connect concepts to real-life experiences so children learn in context.

Strengthen WH-Question Skills Books are perfect for practicing Who, What, Where, When, and Why questions in a way that feels playful and predictable.

Model Sentence Structure We use repeated lines, expansions, and simple scripts to help children practice longer, clearer sentences.

Encourage Story Retelling Retelling the story—using pictures or props—helps children develop sequencing, memory, and expressive language.

 Support Social-Emotional Learning Books open the door to discussions about feelings, perspective-taking, and problem-solving.

Using books in therapy creates a shared moment of connection, curiosity, and communication. With the right strategies, a simple story becomes a powerful language-learning experience. 

Here are some of the Therapists Favorites:

1. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

2. Goodnight Moon 

3. The Very Hungry Caterpillar 

4. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

5. Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes