All books are excellent tools for encouraging language development. The repetitive nature of these books reduces the “cognitive load,” allowing the child to focus on comprehension (language) and production (articulation) of the content. Books provide new vocabulary in context, visuals to help aid comprehension, and can be used to address various skills depending on how they are used: receptive language, expressive language, articulation skills, and fluency.
These books allow children to fill in the words, phrases, and characters’ names as the content becomes more familiar. Non-repetitive books often result in the child attempting to participate in reading by either imitating the readers’ words or by answering questions the reader presents. The ability to fill in words and phrases can lead to increased participation, turn-taking, and decreased frustration for the child.