I love using books in speech therapy. You can use them to target virtually any goal. I tend to use fiction books (check out my book list here), but I recently discovered a series of nonfiction books that I LOVE! You have to check out the Let’s Read and Find Out (Science) series.
NOTE: The links below are Amazon Affiliate links for your convenience, but I may receive compensation if you click through and purchase one of the books. *
I am not affiliated with the author or publisher of this series. This blog post is a review of the books.
Why am I so excited about these books?
1. It’s hard to find good nonfiction books to use in therapy.
I can’t tell you how many nonfiction books I’ve picked up (and put down) because they wouldn’t work well for my mixed groups. I love these books because they have a story line to keep students interested and engaged, but they are still jam-packed with information.
2. The books are leveled.
They offer Stage 1 and Stage 2 books. Stage 1 is supposed to be for preschool and kindergarten students, but I could see myself using these with 1st and 2nd grade students, too. The Stage 2 books are written for primary grade students. Finally something that I can use with my 3rd through 5th graders!
3. The books are high interest (even for older students).
They are picture books, but I know my older students will love these. The books don’t look baby-ish and even include some real pictures. They offer so many topics (space, animals, weather, and more!) that there is bound to be a handful of books that will interest even the pickiest students.
4. The vocabulary is fabulous!
Because they are nonfiction, the books are packed with Tier 3 vocabulary. They also include great options for Tier 1 and Tier 2 vocabulary. The perfect combination!
5. The books naturally support a variety of skills.
Some of the books lend themselves incredibly well to certain goals (e.g., My Five Senses and Sounds All Around for describing). They do some of the prompting for you!
6. The books include many possible targets.
You can easily pull out articulation, grammar, and language targets–even social skills! Many of the books include suggestions for interactive activities that require students to problem solve and work collaboratively. The hands-on activities are also a great extension activity to continue working on other speech and language targets, as well!
7. The books are perfect for mixed groups.
Because you can use the books to target so many goals, they’re perfect for those mixed groups!
8. The topics addressed are perfect for themed therapy.
If you’re in the SLP Now Membership, then you’ll love these books, because many of them align perfectly with the included themes. The Open-Ended Activity Packs will also make it easy for you to structure your therapy and target your students’ goals.
9. The topics addressed align well with topics that students will learn about in class.
Students are learning about these topics in the general education classroom. What a great way to reinforce what they’ve learned in class and support the general education curriculum!
10. The books are affordable.
You can find them on Amazon for $4-6 dollars a piece. Considering how expensive therapy materials can be, these books will give you a lot of bang for your buck. I could easily see myself using ONE book for 3-4 weeks of therapy (with some extension activities). These books would also be great to recommend to parents!
UPDATE: You can also get some great deals on AbeBooks!
If you want to take a peek at the books, check out this video!
Here are some of the books I’ve checked out!
Molly C. says
Thank you so much for posting about these books, Marisha! These are exactly the type of books I have been looking for. I can’t wait to use them this school year!
Marisha says
That’s so good to hear, Molly! Let me know how it goes! 🙂