Story books - a language building experience to share with your child.

🗣️ Getting Started…..

I love using children’s storybooks—like Dr. DeSoto by William Steig—to help kids build language, problem-solving, and social communication skills. This charming story has engaging characters, a clever problem to solve, and a fun ending that keeps children interested while encouraging rich conversation.

Note: Once Upon a Speech Path is not affiliated with or endorsed by the author or publisher of this book. This recommendation is offered purely for educational and therapeutic purposes.

💡 How to Introduce a Storybook to Your Child

Reading together is one of the best ways to support your child’s speech and language development at home. Here are a few ways to make the experience interactive and meaningful:

1. Start with a question.
Get your child thinking before you open the book:

• “Have you ever been to the dentist?”

• “What happens when you go to the dentist?”

• “Have you ever had a cavity? What is a cavity?”

These simple questions activate your child’s background knowledge and get them ready to listen and talk.

2. Talk about the cover.
Look closely at the illustration together. For example, you might say:

“Look at the mouse in the fox’s mouth. Would you trust the fox if you were the mouse?”

This builds vocabulary, critical thinking, and perspective taking.

3. Take a ‘picture walk.’
Flip through the pages before reading and look at the pictures. Ask your child what they think might happen in the story. Making predictions encourages comprehension and narrative skills.

❤️ Why It Matters

Reading together is more than just fun—it’s a powerful way to build your child’s speech, language, and thinking skills.
When you pause to ask questions, describe pictures, and talk about feelings, you’re helping your child learn how to:

• Use new words in conversation

• Understand stories and emotions

• Express their own ideas more clearly

These are the same skills we strengthen in speech therapy sessions—and practicing them at home helps children make faster, more lasting progress.