Looking for books with repetitive phrases? Here are 50 Repetitive Books for Children with Apraxia of Speech.
One of the things I remember most about getting our diagnosis of Childhood Apraxia of Speech was the feeling of helplessness. While I understood that speech therapy would be key to helping our son communicate, that was only one time each week. I’m with him 24 hours, 7 days each week. What could I do at home?


For us, it’s reading books. When we read books together, he not only looks at the books while I read it, sometimes he also watches my mouth as I read the words. Then, he imitates what I modeled for him.
And it wasn’t something I had to force. He just started doing that.
While there are some great children’s books out there, the ones that we’ve found to be most helpful in his language development are books that have repetitive words and phrases. These have become favorites for all the kids, and it’s a great way to practice sounds without being forceful with learning.
Places to Find Reasonably Priced Repetitive Books
Books can be pretty pricy. But they don’t have to be. You could ask friends and family for books for birthdays and holidays. Here are some places you can usually find books for below retail:
- Goodwill
- The Salvation Army
- Book Fairs
- Discount stores (i.e., Marshall’s, Big Lots, TJ Maxx, etc.)
50 Repetitive Books for Children with Apraxia
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Helen Oxenbury
To Market to Market by Anne Miranda
If You Give a Pig a Pancake by Laura Joffe Numeroff
If You Take A Mouse to the Movies by Laura Joffe Numeroff
If You Give a Pig a Party by Laura Joffe Numeroff
If You Give a Cat a Cupcake by Laura Joffe Numeroff
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff
If You Give a Dog a Donut by Laura Joffe Numeroff
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr.
Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? by Bill Martin Jr.
Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr.
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr.
The Little Red Hen by Paul Galdone

Moo Baa La La La by Sandra Boynton
Red Hat, Yellow Hat by Sandra Boynton
Goodnight Moon by Margret Brown
Dear Zoo: A Lift The Flap Book by Rod Campbell
Have You Seen My Cat? by Eric Carle
1, 2, 3 to the Zoo by by Eric Carle
Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear? by Nancy White Carlstrom
Who’s Making That Mess? by Jenny Tyler Stephen
Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed by Eileen Christelow
Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman
Up to Ten and Down Again by Lisa Campbell Ernst
Is Your Mama A Llama? by Deborah Guarino
Jump, Frog, Jump! by Robert Kalan
Wodney Wat’s Wobot by Helen Lester
It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles Shaw
“Buzz, Buzz, Buzz” Went Bumblebee by Colin West
I Don’t Care! Said the Bear by Colin West
I Went Walking by Sue Williams
The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams
The Napping House by Audrey Wood
The Big Book of Exclamations by Teri Kaminski Peterson
Pacifiers Are Not Forever by Elizabeth Verdick
Oh, The Thinks You Can Think! by Dr. Seuss

The Little Engine that Could by Watty Piper
Caps For Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina
Mrs. Wishy-Washy’s Farm by Joy Cowley
She Sells Seashells: A Tongue Twister Story by Grace Kim
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly by Nadine Bernard Westcott
White Snow, Bright Snow by Alvin Tresselt
The Pirate Who Couldn’t Say Arrr! by Angie Neal
Froggy Gets Dressed by Jonathan London
Sheep in a Shop by Nancy Shaw
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Audrey and Don Wood
The Yak Who Yelled Yuk by Carol Pugliano-Martin
The Giant Jam Sandwich by John Vernon Lord
Kate
Friday 31st of March 2023
FREE books at your public library.
Melodee Konde
Sunday 9th of August 2020
"Happy Face Sad Face". "Little Face Big Face" by Bill Cotter- great for initial "f"
IowaSLP
Wednesday 22nd of August 2018
I'm a pediatric speech therapist and I created these repetitive, interactive books for kids with Apraxia targeting various word structures. Check it out: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Interactive-Books-Activities-for-Apraxia-BUNDLE-CVCV-CV1CV2-C1V1C2V2-3151141
Virginia Beamsley
Saturday 10th of February 2018
I look forward to trying some of the titles that I have not used yet. I have been trying to find "The Pirate Who Couldn't Say Arr". It is out of print and is being sold for $200-$800 and higher. Very frustrating and wonder which SLPS can afford that. You may want to take it off the list. (unless someone knows where I could find it at a reasonable and fair price.) Thanks for the list!
Whitney
Monday 12th of February 2018
Hi, Virginia! Yikes! It was available when I created the list. It is available as an audiobook, but I understand that is not ideal. I do appreciate your feedback! I can't afford a $200-$800 book either, but if someone sees it at a yard sale or secondhand store, I would like for people to know that it's a great book to have. I wouldn't buy it for $200-800 though. Here's a companion lesson that might help: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-Pirate-Who-Couldnt-Say-Arrr-Speech-Language-Companion-Pack-509455?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_PfunK6h2QIVFIZ-Ch0sXwfAEAYYASABEgIbRfD_BwE
Lynn
Sunday 23rd of July 2017
This is a great list! My 7 year old daughter also has apraxia of speech and she has dyspraxia also. We do FIAR as our school curriculum and it's been wonderful. Many of the books you listed are FIAR books. My daughter also loves to listen to them after we have read them.
Whitney
Monday 24th of July 2017
I didn't realize that! I'm thinking about starting FIAR in the Fall!