This post is designed for speech-language pathologists looking for SLP-approved, fall-themed books for speech therapy sessions. These are tried-and-true books I’ll be using this October in my speech room.
Fall Feelings
Ah, fall. I absolutely love the fall. I also love teaching my students about fall themes: apples, back to school, and pumpkins. In this post, I’ll share what I’m using in my speech room this month.
(This post contains Amazon affiliate links)
Why is it hard to choose books?
This post is for SLPS who want some high-quality books to use every year during fall-themed lessons. Finding a good book isn’t as easy as it seems. For me, books that last in my speech room are ones that:
work for mixed groups
are easily adaptable for mixed groups
contain a variety of vocabulary
are engaging
After years of working on my collection, I do have some tried-and-true books that I keep coming back to. I’ll share some here, along with helpful targets you can work on with these books.
October Reads: 5 Terrific Fall-Themed Books
The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything
Title The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything Author Linda Williams Theme Halloween Age Range Preschool and Elementary Potential Targets Clothing names and functions, Wh-questions, Sequencing
The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear
Title The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear Author Don and Audrey Wood Theme Late Summer/Early Fall strawberry picking Age Range Preschool and Elementary Potential Targets Wh questions (especially where), Inferencing, Emotions/Feelings
Fall Mixed Up
Title Fall Mixed Up Author Bob Raczka Theme Fall, Leaves Age Range Elementary Potential Targets Verbs, Descriptors
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves
Title There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves Author Lucille Collandro Theme Fall, Leaves Age Range Preschool, Early Elementary Potential Targets Sequencing, Vocabulary, Multiple Meaning Words, Grammar
It’s Pumpkin Day Mouse
Title It’s Pumpkin Day Mouse Author Laura Numeroff Theme Pumpkins Age Range Preschool, Early Elementary Potential Targets Where, Past-Tense Verbs, Emotions
Honorable Mention
Stellaluna (great for Elementary students)
Eek! Halloween (great for Preschool students)
We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt (great for Preschool students)
Conclusion, October Reads: 5 Terrific Fall-Themed Books
After reviewing this book list, you should have some ideas of new books to use this month in your speech room, as well as some ideas of targeted objectives you can work on as you teach from those books.
For me, it’s always helpful to get book recommendations from other speech-language pathologists. As SLPs, we really do look for specific criteria in books, so the best place I find book recommendation lists is from other SLPs.
If you have other October book suggestions, contact me and I may include them in a future blog post.
Wherever you live, here’s to hoping for those crunchy fall leaves, blue skies, and some great speech-room reads.
Sarah Lockhart is a speech-language pathologist with experience in private practice, school settings, telepractice, and travel SLP settings. She owns a private practice in Southern Oregon.
