Use these Cumulative storybooks to practice different speech therapy skills in the classroom. The books’ repetitive nature helps kids grasp concepts and words during sessions. Continue reading to learn more about cumulative texts!
With their wide-reaching abilities to address multiple goals, cumulative storybooks can be an effective therapy tool. Using a literacy-based approach, we are automatically aligning to the classroom curriculum. Incorporating cumulative storybooks in speech therapy is particularly beneficial to students with Apraxia of speech as the repetitive text takes the burden off their motor-planning system. Additionally, books with repetitive text allow kids with speech sound disorders to practice their target sounds. Cumulative storybooks have vital macrostructure elements such as problem/solution, clearly defined characters, and setting. They are handy for working on predicting, as the ending is always different than the sequential events leading up. Here are my top cumulative storybooks in speech therapy (you can print the list at the bottom)!
What are Cumulative Storybooks?
Cumulative storybooks are stories that build upon themselves, repeating elements from previous pages while adding new parts to the narrative. These books often have a rhythmic, predictable pattern, making them ideal for engaging young readers. A famous example is The House That Jack Built, where each new sentence includes elements from earlier in the story, gradually creating a longer and more detailed tale.
For speech therapists, cumulative storybooks are a powerful tool to support language development. The repetition in these stories helps reinforce vocabulary, sentence structure, and sequencing skills. Children can anticipate what’s coming next, which builds confidence in their speech and comprehension. Therapists can also use these books to work on memory, prediction, and story retelling. Additionally, cumulative storybooks can be adapted to target specific language goals, such as articulation or expanding a child’s expressive language, making them a versatile and engaging resource for speech therapy sessions.
Cumulative Storybooks In Speech Therapy
There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly by Simms Taback. Kids love this storyline because of its absurdity. So many opportunities to discuss the impossibility of swallowing all that she does. I also like to do a follow-up parallel story for kids to create.
Around the Table That Grandad Built by Melanie Heuiser Hill. I love the diverse faces and food featured in this story. It would be great to discuss family togetherness and meals around Thanksgiving.
The Napping House by Audrey Wood and Don Wood. It is a beloved classic – kids will love the unexpected storyline.
One Day In The Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus Tree by Daniel Bergstrom. The boy gets eaten by the snake. This one is great for character analysis because he’s a clever kid!
The Jacket I Wear In The Snow by Shirley Neitzel. This is an excellent book for winter clothing categories!
The Gigantic Turnip by Aleksei Tolstoy is a great book for fall. It has an easy vocabulary around farm animals and planting vegetables. Since it incorporates counting, kids can easily participate as they read. I also love highlighting how the text features align with the sentence’s meaning.
Go Away Big Green Monster by Ed Emberley is a fun book ideal for Preschool and Kindergarten students. It features body parts, which would be fun during October.
Stuck by Oliver Jeffers. Sadly, I can relate to this story as a mom of 2 boys. There is a tree in my front yard with a drone, a basketball, and a hockey stick. Kid, you NOT!
The Sandcastle That Lola Built by Megan Maynor. I love this for a summertime theme. Lola recruits helpers to build a magnificent sandcastle…hopefully, a wave doesn’t get it!
The Pinata That The Farm Maiden Hung by Samantha Vamos is a cheerful and clever bilingual tale. Lively illustrations accompany the Spanish words, which is great for inferencing strategies.
The House That Jack Built by Simms Taback. This classic has many variations, but I love the award-winning illustrator of this version!
This is the Nest that Robin Built by Denise Flemming. This is a great springtime book rich with action verbs and adjectives!
I hope you have some of these listed above in your library! If you enter your email below, I’ll send you this printable list! What are your favorite cumulative storybooks to use in speech therapy? I’ll add them to my list.
PLEASE PIN THE IMAGE BELOW! thanks so much
