Board Book Recommendations By Theme From A Speech Therapist
I LOVE using board books in speech therapy! And I have become a bit obsessed with them! I have spent COUNTLESS hours searching for the best board books for early speech and language development and now I’m sharing them all with YOU!
I have categorized all of the board books by theme. Some books may be able to fit more than one theme, but I just picked the one that was most relevant!
If a board book is on this list that means it has been APPROVED by me as a book that I have personally used or would use in my speech therapy sessions! I am looking for some VERY specific things when I am looking for board books to use in speech therapy. I am very PICKY and not every board book makes the list!
These board books are ALL:
short and sweet
have a story or elements that are simple and interesting to keep children’s attention
have illustrations that are interesting for kids to look at and have some substance to them (not too simple or, on the other hand, not too much going on)
have repetitive, rhyming, or simple text that has fun and easy to say words
provide many opportunities for speech and language practice!
Are you ready for my list of board books for early speech and language development? Here we go!
List Of Board Books For Early Speech And Language Development By Theme:
Back To School Themed Board Books
The Little School Bus by Margery Cuyler
Bye Bye Time by Elizabeth Verdick
Manners Time by Elizabeth Verdick
Time For School, Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle
Rosie Goes To Preschool by Karen Katz
Find Spot At Preschool by Eric Hill
My Body’s Five Senses Themed Board Books
Tickle by Leslie Patricelli
All Better! By Bernd Penners
Little Dino Boo-Boos by Sophie Aggett
Feet Are Not For Kicking by Elizabeth Verdick
Hands Are Not For Hitting by Martine Agassi
I Hear by Helen Oxbury
I See by Helen Oxbury
I Touch by Helen Oxbury
I Love All Of Me (Wonderful Me) by Lorie Ann Grover
Home and Family Themed Board Books
My House by Byron Barton
Clean-Up Time by Elizabeth Verdick
Where’s Spot? by Eric Hill
Goodnight, Curious George by H. A. Rey
Cat’s First Baby by Natalie Nelson
Dog’s First Baby by Natalie Nelson
Health and Nutrition Themed Board Books
Yummy Yucky by Leslie Patricelli
Mealtime by Elizabeth Verdick
Yum Yum! An Interactive Book All About Eating by Yusuke Yonezu
Peek-A-Bo Bedtime by Cathy Hennessy
Pandas Love Pickles by Liz Lynch
Community Helpers Themed Board Books
Trashy Town by Andrea Zimmerman, David Clemesha
Friendly Fire Truck Touch And Feel Book by Little Hippo Books
My Bus by Byron Barton
Lift The Flap Community Helpers by Wonder House Books
Let’s Go, Rescue Trucks! by Scholastic
Fall and Halloween Themed Board Books
Duck And Goose, Find A Pumpkin by Tad Hills
Baby Loves Fall by Karen Katz
Happy Halloween from the Very Busy Spider Lift-The-Flap by Eric Carle
Little Blue Truck’s Halloween by Alice Schertle
The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Creepy Crawly Halloween Lift-The-Flap by Eric Carle
Look, A Monster! by Matthew J. Peterson
Bear Themed Board Books
No Sleeping There, Silly Bear! by Kayla Birch
I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen
Bedtime Bear by Patricia Hegarty
If I Were A Bear by Shelley Gill
Rainbow Bear by Bill Martin Jr.
Winter Themed Board Books
Snow by Leslie Patricelli
Snow Days by Deborah Kerbel
If You Were A Penguin by Florence Minor
Babies In The Snow by Ginger Swift
Winter In The Forest by Rusty Finch
Cake, Please! by Zoybooks
Animal/Zoo Themed Board Books
The View At The Zoo by Kathleen Long Bostrom
The Wheels On The Bus (Animals) by Jane Cabrera
I Thought I Saw An Elephant! by Templar Books
I Thought I Saw A Lion! by Templar Books
In The Small, Small Pond by Denise Fleming
Night, Night To The Animals by Little Hippo Books
Peekaboo Zoo by Rod Campbell
Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell
Loveblock by Christopher Franceschelli
Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? by Bill Martin Jr.
Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr.
List of Dinosaur Themed Board Books
I’m A Dirty Dinosaur by Janeen Brian
I’m A Hungry Dinosaur by Janeen Brian
I Thought I Saw A Dinosaur! by Templar Books
Night Night, Dino-Snores by Nicola Edwards
List of Transportation Themed Board Books
Toot Toot Beep Beep (All About Sounds)
Let’s Go Wheels On The Bus (Spin me!) by Scholastic
Drive Me! Race Car by IglooBooks
Night Night Truck by Roger Priddy
Go, Trains, Go! by Addie Boswell
Go, Trucks, Go! by Addie Boswell
Go, Bikes, Go! by Addie Boswell
I Thought I Saw A Bear! by Templar Books
Bo The Boat by Clare Short
List of Spring/Garden Themed Board Books
Spot’s First Walk by Eric Hill
Little Blue Truck’s Spring Time (Lift-The-Flap) by Alice Schertle
Curious George And The Bunny by H. A. Rey
I Hear Nature by Clay Hadden
List of Farm Themed Board Books
Oh Dear! A Farm Lift-The-Flap by Rod Campbell
Where Is My Baby? by Harriet Ziefert
Who Said Moo? by Harriet Ziefert
Biscuit’s Pet And Play Farm Animals by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
Spot Goes To The Farm by Eric Hill
Bug Themed Board Books
A Good Place by Lucy Cousins
Where’s The Bee? by Ingela P. Arrhenius
Where’s The Lady Bug? by Ingela P. Arrhenius
Night Night Lady Bug by Chris Ferrie
Little Yellow Bee by Ginger Swift
Hello, World: Backyard Bugs by Jill Mcdonald
Bugblock by Christopher Franceschelli
Ocean Themed Board Books
I’m The Biggest Thing In The Ocean! by Kevin Sherry
Uh-Oh! by Shutta Crum
Who’s Hiding At The Beach? by Katharine McEwen
Ocean Motions by Caspar Babypants
Little Blue Boat by Ginger Swift
Babies In The Ocean by Ginger Swift
Babies On The Beach by Ginger Swift
Hello, World: Ocean Life by Jill Mcdonald
Pet Themed Board Books
Let’s Go, Puppy! by Holly Rosensweig
Let’s Go, Kitty! by Holly Rosensweig
Goodnight, Good Dog Carl by Alexandra Day
A Ball For Daisy by Chris Raschka
Emotion Themed Board Books
Baby Happy Baby Sad by Leslie Patricelli
Hooray For Hat by Brian Won
Duck And Goose, How Are You Feeling? by Tad Hills
I Have Big Feelings by Anna Membrino
Try Again Time by Elizabeth Verdick
Sharing Time by Elizabeth Verdick
Calm Down Time by Elizabeth Verdick
Bye Bye Time by Elizabeth Verdick
Color Themed Board Books
Mr. Kitty Is Lost by Greg Pizzoli
Red House, Brown Mouse by Jane Godwin
Peek-A-Bo Rainbow Colors by Hannah Beilenson
The Rainbow Snail by Karin Åkesson
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr.
Core Words/Miscellaneous Board Books
The Birthday Box by Leslie Patricelli
Bigger! Bigger! by Leslie Patricelli
No No Yes Yes by Leslie Patricelli
Messy Time by Elizabeth Verdick
What’s Up Duck? A Book Of Opposites by Tad Hills
My Very Busy Day: Early Verbs For Little Ones by Ellen Leibsly
I Can Sign! by Anna Membrino
Wonderful Babies by Emily Winfield Martin
Bubbles: A Narwhal And Jelly Board Book by Ben Clanton
Blankie: A Narwhal And Jelly Board Book by Ben Clanton
A Day With Daisy by Alexandra Princiotta Lowe
Speech Made Simple by Melinda Ferreira Vargas
