Engaging Preschoolers with Interactive Storytime: Using Books, Props, and Play
Using props during storytime can make stories more meaningful and memorable for children. Props can include pictures, stuffed animals, and toys that children can hold and move as the story progresses.
As a speech-language pathologist, I often use books in my therapy sessions to create engaging and interactive themes that help target communication goals. Using books with young children encourages receptive and expressive language skills, facilitates “reading” and listening comprehension, expands vocabulary and syntactic skills, and promotes a love of reading.
As a speech-language pathologist, I often use books in my therapy sessions to create engaging and interactive themes that help target communication goals. Using books with young children encourages receptive and expressive language skills, facilitates “reading” and listening comprehension, expands vocabulary and syntactic skills, and promotes a love of reading.
“Language and literacy develop concurrently and influence one another. What children learn from listening and talking contributes to their ability to read and write and vice versa. For example, young children's phonological awareness (ability to identify and make oral rhymes, identify and work with syllables in spoken words, and the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate the individual sounds—phonemes—in spoken words) is an important indicator of their potential success in learning to decode print,” according to a Preschool Policy Brief by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) at Rutgers University, April 2006.
Research tells us that children who fall behind in oral language and literacy development before formal schooling are less likely to become successful readers, and their achievement lag is likely to persist throughout primary grades and beyond. Therefore, it is crucial for SLPs, teachers, and parents to make reading and literacy fun and engaging. It’s not about sitting down to read or listen to an entire book; it’s about engaging children in the story, the pictures, and the words. We can do this by giving kids a “part” in the story with their words, sounds, movements, or props.
Engaging Children with Props:
Using props during storytime can make stories more meaningful and memorable for children. Props can include pictures, stuffed animals, and toys that children can hold and move as the story progresses. For example, books like "5 Little Ducks," "The Gingerbread Baby," and "Tip Tip Dig Dig" are perfect for incorporating props to engage children. I have a variety of book companions ready-made in my store that include props and activities to use in speech therapy, the classroom, and at home.
Types of Books That Engage Children
Books with Repetitive Text: Repetitive text helps children comprehend and remember the story due to repeat phrasing. "The Pout Pout Fish," "5 Little Ducks," and "It’s Mine" are excellent examples of books with repetitive text included in my water-themed companions.
Books That Encourage Movement: Movement helps children attend to longer stories and builds imitation skills and memory. Books like "Tip Tip Dig Dig," "The Napping House," and "Dinosaurumpus" are great for incorporating actions such as stirring, pouring, and whisking, using real-life objects. Click here for Movement themed book companions
To grab the bundle of book companions for year-round props and activities, including books with incorporated movement, repetitive text, lift-the-flap books, and interactive books, click below.
Want to know more about the types of books that best engage preschoolers?
Click to see this blog post, Top Children’s Books for Speech and Language Development. I’ve highlighted the top children’s books, linked all of the books and categorized them by type.
By using books, props, and play, we can create interactive and engaging storytimes that not only make reading fun but also support the speech and language development of young children.
Happy reading!
Best Christmas and Winter Books for Kids Ages 3-5
Best Christmas and Winter Books for Kids Ages 3-5
Winter and Christmas books are some of my favorite to use in speech therapy for facilitating language skills in preschoolers. Following is a list of books I use in my speech sessions each season with different target goals in the descriptions. I wanted to post this blog now if you are thinking about gift for this age children.
Winter and Christmas books are some of my favorite to use in speech therapy for facilitating language skills in preschoolers. Following is a list of books I use in my speech sessions each season with different target goals in the descriptions. I wanted to post this blog now if you are thinking about gift for this age children.
For more information on choosing books for children, go to Choosing Books for Preschoolers to Encourage Communication Skills
Each title has a link to the book on Amazon (these links are affiliate links, so I get a few cents if you purchase one- at NO extra cost to you). You can also find most of these books at your local library!
Holiday Books
Holiday and Winter Books can target an array of speech and language goals
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
This is a classic book with simple colorful contrasting pictures of a journey of a little boy and his adventures through the snow. I use the concepts of “toes pointed in” and “toes pointed out” when walking to incorporate some motor movement into speech therapy. I use my book companion for this story each winter! We also work on opposites like “down the hill” and “up the hill”. You can have tons of supplemental craft extension activities with this sweet story.
The Snow Globe Family by Jane O’Conner.
This story is about a real family living in a house, then the snow globe family living in a snow globe in the real family’s house and only the baby sees the snow globe family. This is for 4-5 year olds and is also great for older children also. It lends itself to working on “pretend” versus “real”, “big” versus “little” and working on finding solutions for problems. This one has fun extension activities like making snow globes.
Merry Christmas Big Hungry Bear by Audrey Wood
This is really a perfect Christmas book for this age! A little mouse initially tries to hide his presents from the big hungry bear, then realizes that the bear needs some presents too!
This story has repetitive text and the reader is talking to the mouse keeping children interested in knowing how this will end up! I target asking the mouse questions for information and kids love to join in talking to the mouse. We also target “big and small” when talking about the bear versus the mouse, what they wear, the presents and where they live.
Are You Grumpy Santa by Gregg Spiridellis
Santa is grumpy in the beginning of this wonderful rhyming story then comes around. This is fun to read and kids think this grumpy Santa is hysterical because of all the reasons he is grumpy (itchy suit, he’s on a diet..). This one is for 4-5 year olds and is perfect for working on emotions like “grumpy, happy, sad, frustrated, annoyed”.
Merry Christmas, Stinky Face by Lisa McCourt
Stinky Face loves Christmastime...but he still has plenty of questions. What if a big, wintry wind blows his Christmas tree away? What if one of the reindeer gets his antlers stuck in the branches that hang over the roof? His Mama knows how to answer these questions. This one is fantastic for working on “wh” questions!
Snowmen at Christmas by Caralyn Buehner
This is one book in a series of 5 about Snowmen at different time (Winter, Night, Play). There are hidden items throughout the story that children can try to find (although it’s not easy even for me!). Working on concepts like “behind’, “under” and “on top” when describing where the snowmen are as well as using descriptive language when describing the different snow people works well in this book. There is quite a bit of text, but remember, you do not have to read it all if you have a younger child.
Llama Llama Jingle Bells by Anna Dewdney
This is a book for younger children or children with difficulty attending to longer stories. It has rhyming phrases where children can attempt to fill in the words. The pictures are engaging and good to work on pointing to pictures named.
The Snowman by Raymond Briggs
This is a story about a little boy who makes friends with a snowman. I like the “lift the flap” version of this book with my younger children. There is very little text (or no text in the original version), so children can use their own words to tell the story.
Dream Snow by Eric Carle
This is one of my favorite winter books! A farmer dreams that snow has covered him and his farm animals. There is a snow cover plastic page covering each animal in the story, so children can guess what is under each page. This works well for answering and answering “who” questions and labeling animals and using animal sounds for minimally verbal children.
Max’s Christmas by Rosemary Wells
Max has plans to stay up late to see Santa Claus, but his big sister, Ruby, won’t let him. Max asks questions throughout the book making it perfect for working on “wh” questions with children. It has limited text which is perfect for younger wiggly listeners!
Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett
The repeated phrasing in this story makes it easy for children to “help” tell the story. The people and animals that the Gingerbread Baby meet continue to grow lending this story to working on sequencing of events with children. There is a “hint” with the side pictures of what is coming next, that children love to guess! You can find a ready made book companion here!
The Night before Christmas by Clement Moore
Need I say more? Just had to include this for those of us who had to read this every Christmas Eve!
Check out my Winter Book Companion Kit in my TPT store for activities to use with some wonderful winter and holiday books!
Top Children’s Books for Speech and Language Development
I'm excited to share some of my top picks for children's books that nurture speech and language development. I have divided them into categories that promote engagement and language learning. Books that get kids moving, books with repetitive text, lift the flap books, interactive books, chained or circular stories and books with limited text are all types of books that can help with speech and language development.
“Remember, the best part is not just reading the books but also engaging your child in conversation, asking questions, letting them add to a story with words and phrases and creating new language with literacy.”
As a speech-language pathologist, I get to dive into the magical world of children's books every day, and if my bookshelves could talk they would tell you I have a bit of an obsession!
There's something about watching kids light up as they explore the wonders of language through books. Not only do I love books, but I love sharing them with friends!
I'm excited to share some of my top picks for children's books that nurture speech and language development. I have divided them into categories that promote engagement and language learning. (Amazon affiliate links included on titles)
BOOKS WITH INCORPORATED MOVEMENT
Who says reading has to be a sit-still activity? Incorporating movement into storytelling is a genius way to keep those little minds engaged. So, get ready to wiggle, jump, and roar as you read some fantastic books that'll have your kiddos imitating animal moves and dancing with joy!
Movement helps kids attend to longer stories. By incorporating movement it builds imitation skills and assists with memory or concepts.
Tip Tip Dig Dig by Emma Garcia
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Rosen and Oxenbury
Press Here by Herve Tullet
Is Everyone Ready for Fun? By Jan Thomas
I’m a Dirty Dinosaur by Janeen Brian
Toot Toot Beep Beep by Emma Garcia
Tap Tap Bang Bang by Emma Garcia
Plinka Plinka Shake Shake by Emma Garcia
5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed Eileen Christelow
Stir Crack Whisk Bake by America’s Test Kitchen Kids
BOOKS WITH REPETITIVE TEXT
Children's books with repetitive text are like musical earworms that stick in your head (in the best way!). They'll have your little ones predicting what comes next and filling in the blanks like pros. So get ready for some rhyming, rhythmic fun! Familiar text helps children comprehend the story and remember due to repeat phrasing.
Bear Wants More by Karma Wilson
Too Many Carrots by Katie Hudson
The Seals in the Bus by Lenny Holt
The Bear Came over to My House by Rick Walton
Today is Monday by Eric Carle
Thank You Mr. Panda by Steve Antony
Brown Bear Brown Bear by Eric Carle
Polar Bear Polar Bear by Eric Carle
The GingerBread Baby by Jan Brett
Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle
Pete the Cat I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin
Pout Pout Fish books by Deborah Diesen
Duck in the Truck by Jez Alborough
Sheep in a Jeep by Nancy E. Shaw
I say Ooh You say Aah by John Kane
LIFT THE FLAP BOOKS
Surprise! There's nothing quite like the excitement of lifting a flap to reveal hidden treasures within a book. These interactive gems not only captivate kids' attention but also help target important language skills like answering questions, predicting what's behind that flap, and learning about "open and close" concepts.
Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell
Oh Dear by Rod Campbell
Peek a Who by Nina Laden
Open the Garage Door by Christopher Santoro
Find Spot books by Eric Hill
Do Cows Meow by Salina Yoon
Gotta Go Buffalo by Haily Meyers
Tree by Britta Teckentrup (Peek through book)
Inside Outside by Lizi Boyd (Peek through book)
How Does Bunjee Feel?: An Interactive Lift Flap Book by Josie Mott
INTERACTIVE BOOKS
Moveable parts and tasks to complete during storytime? Yes, please! These interactive books keep those little hands busy and their minds buzzing with curiosity.Interactive books keep kids engaged and moving with moveable parts. Kids love to have a task during book reading!
Nita’s Day by Kathy McMillian (sign language)
Nita’s First Signs Kathy McMillian (sign language)
Find the Duck by Stephen Cartwright
Find the Puppy by Stephen Cartwright
All Better by Henning Lohein
The Cheerios Play Book by Lee Wade
Print and Laminate Books by SpeechieTrish
Hey, Seymour Books by Walter Wick
Drive the Firetruck and Drive the Car by Dave Mottram
Poke-a-Dot: Construction Vehicles (Board Book with Buttons to Pop) and other “Pop” books by Melissa and Doug
Hi-Five Farm! (A Never Bored Book!) by Ross Burach
CHAIN OR CIRCULAR STORIES
Wait, did the story just go back to the beginning? You bet! Chain or circular stories are like literary roller coasters that take you on a looping journey. Not only are they entertaining, but they also help reinforce storytelling skills and make kids feel like master storytellers themselves.
The storyline is linked so the ending goes back to the beginning in these books.
The Napping House by Audrey Wood
If you Give a….. Books by Laura Numeroff
I know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a …Books by Various Authors
Little Blue Truck Books by Alice Schertle
5 Little Ducks by Various Authors
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
WORDLESS OR LIMITED TEXT
Who needs words when pictures can speak a thousand of 'em? Wordless or limited text books are a feast for the imagination. They encourage kids to create their own stories, build vocabulary, and improve their narrative expressive language skills.
Carl’s Birthday by Alexandra Day
Not a Box by Antoinette Portis
Not a Stick by Antoinette Portis
Mix it up By Herve Tullet
Moo Baa La La La by Sandre Boyton
Maybe by Chris Haughton
Goodnight Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann
Flashlight by Lizi Boyd
Big Bear Little Chair by Lizi Boyd
Let’s Go Puppy by Holly Rosensweig
Wishy Washy: A Board Book of First Words and Colors for Growing Minds by Tabitha Paige
Gravity by Jason Chin
Let the language adventures begin!
Remember, the best part is not just reading the books but also engaging your child in conversation, asking questions, letting them add to a story with words and phrases and creating new language with literacy. Happy reading! 📚✨