Books with Repetitive text

The text of picture books may be an important source of vocabulary for young children, and findings suggest lexical diversity in picture books that underlies the language benefits associated with reading to children (Montag, Jones, Smith, 2015). We should be selective, however, in the picture books with repetitive text we use in our treatment of Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS). I've gathered my top 25 favorite books with repetitive text that I've used for the last 18 years in Speech Therapy. You can download my recommended repetitive book list for Apraxia of Speech at the bottom of this post!

I use lists like this to help me catalog what books I own vs. the ones I borrow from the library (my productivity is better because I'm not searching for books). If you wish to add any of these classics to your own personal collection, I've provided my Amazon affiliate links. These links are at no cost to you but I get a small commission that supports this blog! So, thanks!

Why use books with repetitive text in Speech Therapy?

Research tells us when we use books, we are providing evidence-based practices. By incorporating books with repetitive text (short carrier phrases or repeated words) into a literacy-based speech therapy approach, you are developing phonemic awareness and pre-reading skills. Children with Apraxia are at risk for language and reading delays (Lewis, Freebairn, Hansen, Lyengar, and Taylor, 2004) so it's essential we not leave out books while we focus on motor-based treatment. 

Frequent practice of sounds and words helps to improve speech. For children with CAS, even the smallest unit of speech is often difficult. Books with repetitive text offer numerous opportunities to motor plan and practice phonemes in a fun, natural way. The more a child practices the motor plan necessary for production the more automatic it becomes. With increased practice, a child will improve production of a sound or word. In repetitive books, familiar phrases are anticipated allowing the child to feel less stress and frustration. Children will participate more and feel success.

In addition to helping with motor planning, books with repetition offer children with Apraxia the ability to naturally work on prosody, pitch, rate, and stress for more meaningful and intelligible speech (Chamberlain & Strode, 2004).

25 Books With Repetitive Text For CAS in Speech Therapy:

You view all of these books with repetitive text on my Amazon list: Repetitive Books or click on the individual links below. The repeated phrase is provided below as well for you to use in consideration for the sounds and phrases your students are targeting.

But Not The Hippopotamus by Sandra Boynton  “But not the hippopotamus”

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown “goodnight…”

Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell “so they sent me a …” and “I sent him back!”

Have You Seen My Cat? by Eric Carle “This is not my cat” and “Have you seen my cat.”

Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear? by Nancy Carlstrom “in the morning”

Five Little Monkeys Jumping On The Bed by Eileen Christelow “one fell off and bumped his head” and “mama called the doctor and the doctor said, no more monkeys jumping on the bead”

Mrs. Wishy Washy's Farm by Joy Cowley “wishy-washy”

Llama, Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney “Llama llama red pajama”

Go Dog Go by PD Eastman “Go dog go”

Are You My Mother? by PD Eastman “Are you my mother?”

Is Your Mama A Llama? by Deborah Guarino “Is your mama a llama?”

Jump, Frog, Jump! by Robert Kalan “Jump, Frog, jump”

I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin “I love my  ___ shoes” (fill in color name)

Brown Bear, Brown Bear by Bill Martin “___ ___ what do you see?” and “I see a __ looking at me”

The House That Jack Built by J.P. Miller “the house that Jack built”

Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss “I do not like green eggs and ham, I do not like them Sam I am”

No, David! by David Shannon “no, David”

Caps For Sale by Esphhyr “Caps, caps for sale 50 cents a cap” and a few more.

We're Going On A Bear Hunt by Helen Oxenbury “We're going on a bear hunt. We're going to catch a big one. We're not scared.” and “We can't go over it. We can't go under it. Oh No! We've go to go through it.”

One Duck Stuck by Phyllis Root “Help! Help! Who can help?”

That's Not My Puppy by Rachel Wells “That's not my puppy.”

I Don't Care, Said The Bear by Colin West *cumulative repetition of the story and “I don't care said the bear with his nose in the air”

I Went Walking by Sue Williams “I went walking” and “what did you see.” and “I saw a __ looking at me.”

Silly Sally by Audrey Wood “Silly Sally went to town, ____ backwards upside down.”

The Napping House by Audrey Wood “in a napping house where everyone is sleeping”

It's likely you have, or are familiar with many of these books. The question I most frequently get is, “Other than just reading the book and asking recall questions, how do I use books in therapy?”

How To Use Book with Repetitive Text in Speech Therapy:

For students with Apraxia of Speech, the primary focus should be reducing the stress load while:

1. Encouraging the child to fill in or repeat the carrier (repeated) phrase throughout the story. 
2. PAUSE with adequate time for the child to motor plan the phrase or word.
3. Call attention to the text by pointing to the words as you read.
4. Focus on natural prosody – use inflection and melodic tone.

Finally, if you are concerned about using some of these with your older students, I always try to find a paperback version – even Brown Bear, Brown Bear and Goodnight Moon come in a paperback format. Typically they are cheaper this way also. Scholastic is a great option to find cheaper paperback editions. I've found that the board book or hardback copies of books often is a turn off for my bigger kids. Just a TIP!

Do you have any favorite repetitive books that you use in Apraxia treatment? Let me know in the comments!

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Ashley