In the realm of early childhood development, a Speech Pathologist recognizes the immense value of children’s books. During the crucial period from birth to age three, neurological development takes on a rapid pace, setting the foundation for future learning.
Children’s books serve as hidden treasure troves in this journey. They are packed with benefits that not only support but significantly enhance a child’s language development. These literary tools are indispensable in the field of speech and occupational therapy, as they aid in building fundamental cognitive, emotional, and communicative skills.
A child’s senses and cognitive skills are fully engaged through intricate storylines, colorful illustrations, rhyming words, and catchy phrases. This immersive experience stimulates the acquisition and expansion of vocabulary, comprehension, and phonetic awareness.
These carefully chosen texts also introduce children to a variety of contexts, enhancing their understanding of the world around them. The Speech Pathologist, in their dedicated efforts, utilizes these books as a pathway to help children connect, communicate, and comprehend more effectively. Hence, the influence of children’s books in the arena of speech and occupational therapy cannot be overstated.
Best books for literacy and language development in 2023
Below we provide a list of Language and Literacy Development Books for children from birth to three y.o. that have won the Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards in 2023:
- Baby Lou, written by Katrina Germein and illustrated by Karen Blair
- Blueberry Farm, written and illustrated by Stephen Michael King
- Bush Mob Counting, written and illustrated by Helen Milroy
- Everything You Want to See, written and illustrated by Kyle Hughes-Odgers
- I Love You, written by Mike and Linda Dumbleton and illustrated by Tom Jellett
- I’m a Dirty Dinosaur: Hide and Seek, written by Janeen Brian and illustrated by Ann James
- It’s Busy in the City, written and illustrated by Jedda Robaard
- My First Book of Aussie Animals, written by Gordon Winch and illustrated by Stephen Pym
- My First Book of Aussie Birds, Written by Gordon Winch and illustrated by Stephen Pym
- Our Home our Heartbeat, written by Adam Briggs and illustrated by Kate Moon and Rachael Sarra
- Snap! written and illustrated by Anna Walker
- This Little Joey, written and illustrated by Renee Treml
- What to Say When You Don’t Know What to Say, written by Davina Bell and illustrated by Hilary Jane Tapper
- Where’s My Baby? written and illustrated by Gregg Dreise
Baby Lou
Written by Katrina Germein and illustrated by Karen Blair
Told in rhyming text and covering early-learning concepts such as colour and texture, this little book is perfect for encouraging tiny fingers to explore and young minds to develop.
Blueberry Farm
Written and illustrated by Stephen Michael King
Welcome to Blueberry Farm. The sun is shining, and the trees are filled with song. It’s going to be another beautiful day. From the award-winning author and illustrator who brought you Three, Rainbow Bear and Koala Ark.
Bush Mob Counting
Written and illustrated by Stephen Michael King
The characters in Bush Mob Counting are from the ‘Tales from the Bush Mob’ Series of books about a group of animals Eagle, Sugar Glider, Bat, Platypus, Koala, Wombat, Kookaburra, Echidna and Kangaroo, who work together to solve problems.
Everything You Want to See
Written and illustrated by Kyle Hughes-Odgers
From a tiger in a car to an electric guitar, from a horse to a monster (of course!) this dynamic board book shows a whole range of fun things that kids love to look at and talk about.
I Love You
Written by Mike and Linda Dumbleton and illustrated by Tom Jellett
I’m a Dirty Dinosaur: Hide and Seek
Written by Janeen Brian and illustrated by Ann James
Everyone’s favourite muddy little dinosaur is back. Pre-schoolers will love to play hide and seek and look for Dirty Dinosaur and friends in this bright, fun lift-the-flap board book.
It’s Busy in the City
Written and illustrated by Jedda Robaard
From the best-selling pre-school author Jedda Robaard comes this hilarious and engaging new board book series that follows the chaos and fun of a day in the city!??
My First Book of Aussie Animals
Written by Gordon Winch and illustrated by Stephen Pym
Can you find all the Aussie animals? This vibrant lift-the-flap book features an animal hiding on each page spread. The bright, bold illustrations are accompanied by interesting yet accessible facts about the hidden animals. Children will love learning about Australia’s fascinating wildlife.
My First Book of Aussie Birds
Written by Gordon Winch and illustrated by Stephen Pym
Discover lots of exciting Aussie birds in this bright and colourful children’s board book. Perfect for reading aloud, children will delight in this magical menagerie of Aussie birds.
Our Home our Heartbeat
Written by Adam Briggs and illustrated by Kate Moon and Rachael Sarra
Adapted from Briggs’ celebrated song ‘The Children Came Back’, Our Home, Our Heartbeat is a celebration of past and present Indigenous legends, as well as emerging generations, and at its heart honours the oldest continuous culture on earth.
Snap!
Written and illustrated by Anna Walker
Tap, tap tap …
Frog thinks there’s no one else in the forest, but you never know what’s just around the corner …
This Little Joey
Written and illustrated by Renee Treml
A wonderful new board book starring Australia’s many marsupial joeys, by bestselling author Renée Treml.
All baby marsupials are known as joeys, yet they come in many different shapes and sizes.
What to Say When You Don’t Know What to Say
Written by Davina Bell and illustrated by Hilary Jane Tapper
I’m not brave enough today. Maybe next time.
You’re hurting my feelings right now.
Want to join in?
A warm and whimsical guide to negotiating life’s little moments and big emotions with empathy, kindness and words from the heart.
Where’s My Baby?
Written and illustrated by Gregg Dreise
Where’s my baby? by Gregg Dreise is a board book that encourages young readers to learn new adjectives in English and the names of iconic Australian animals in the First Nations language, Gamilaraay, in an enjoyable way.
Conclusion
This collection of books is vibrant illustrations and engaging narratives, promises to nourish the language and cognitive abilities of children from birth to three years old. Each story presents an opportunity for interaction and engagement, allowing the young mind to explore, question, and absorb.
These books are not just sources of entertainment; they are tools for developing crucial early literacy skills. In the hands of a speech pathologists, these books become powerful tools for enhancing children’s phonetic awareness, vocabulary, comprehension, and narrative abilities in an inviting and relaxed environment. They serve as an integral part of speech therapy, helping children enhance their phonetic awareness, vocabulary, comprehension, and narrative skills in a natural, relaxed setting. Reading, after all, is not merely about identifying words but about understanding context, interpreting emotions, and cultivating empathy – skills that are fundamental to human interaction and communication.
These meticulously curated books engage children’s minds and hearts, turning the learning process into an enchanting experience. They serve as building blocks, setting a strong foundation for language, cognition, and social-emotional skills. Thus, fostering a love for books early in life will help children traverse the path to literacy and beyond with joy and confidence.