Having both Speech Pathology Week and Book Week in August is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the power of stories.
Reading together helps build children’s language, literacy, imagination and connection with the people
who matter most.
Sharing books doesn’t need to be complicated. Whether your child is just beginning to enjoy picture books
or is reading independently, there are simple ways to make book time fun and meaningful.
Here are some favourite books from the Australian Reading Spine, along with Speech Pathology tips to
support your child’s language and literacy development.
Early Years (0–5 Years)
At this age, children learn language best through interaction. Focus on enjoying the book together
and following your child’s interests.
Books We Love
- Where is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
- We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury
- Spot series by Eric Hill
Reading Tips
Follow your child’s lead. Watch what your child is looking at and comment on it.
Examples:
- “The sheep is hiding behind the tree!”
- “Look at the hungry caterpillar eating the apple.”
This helps model language and introduces new words in a natural way.
Pause and wait. Give your child time to point, look, gesture or respond. Even if they
are not using words yet, they are still communicating.
Enjoy repetition. Repeated phrases, sounds and favourite books help children learn and
remember new language.
Early Primary School (5–8 Years)
As children begin developing more advanced language and literacy skills, books provide wonderful
opportunities to build vocabulary, comprehension and storytelling skills.
Books We Love
- The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
- The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr
- Wombat Stew by Marcia K. Vaughan
Reading Tips
Talk about new words. When you come across an unfamiliar word, pause and explain what it means.
Examples:
- “A feast is a very big meal.”
- “Cautious means being careful.”
Make connections. Help your child link the story to their own experiences.
- “Have you ever felt like that?”
- “Does this remind you of something we have done together?”
Ask WH questions. These questions help children think about story structure and comprehension.
- Who is the story about?
- Where does the story happen?
- What is the problem?
- How are the characters feeling?
- What do they do to solve the problem?
- How does the story end?
Late Primary School (8–12 Years)
As reading becomes more complex, children benefit from strategies that support independence,
comprehension and confidence when tackling new words.
Literacy Tips Inspired by SPELD NSW
- Sound out the word. Encourage children to say the sounds they know aloud
- Look for syllables in the word. Encourage children to break longer words into
smaller parts they recognise. - Use the sentence for meaning. After reading the word, pause and talk about what it means in the sentence to help build your child’s understanding.
- Read on and revisit. Sometimes the surrounding text provides clues to help work
out a tricky word. - Keep talking about books. Discuss characters, themes, predictions and favourite
moments to deepen understanding and critical thinking.
There are many helpful strategies available for both beginning and more advanced readers through
SPELD NSW’s Reading Strategies Bookmarks.
The Most Important Tip? Enjoy Reading Together
The best reading experiences happen when children feel engaged, connected and relaxed. Whether you’re sharing a favourite picture book, exploring a new chapter book or listening to a recorded story together, every reading moment supports language, literacy and a lifelong love of books.
This Speech Pathology Week and Book Week, take some time to curl up with a great book and enjoy the magic of reading together.
