Alexis Irazoque, M.S., CCC-SLP
Reading with your child is a wonderful way to bond and support their language development. If your little one is learning the /l/ sound or /l/-blends, there are many engaging books that can help them work on these sounds while enjoying quality time with you.
Try practicing the /l/ sound with these children’s books
When it comes to learning speech sounds, daily practice will ensure your child makes the most progress. And reading together is an easy way to practice the /l/ sound!
Here, we’re sharing a list of children’s books that focus on the /l/ sound in fun and imaginative ways, including our speech therapists' favorites. Your child can read aloud or repeat the /l/ words after you say them. You can even turn it into a game by asking them to clap or raise their hand every time they hear a word with “l.”
In addition to practicing speech sounds, when you read aloud and talk with your child about the stories, you'll be giving them a valuable opportunity to grow their general language skills.
If you don’t own the recommended books, you don’t have to buy them! Check your local library, or search for a read-aloud version on YouTube. Let’s dive in and discover some great books to read with your child!
1. Is Your Mama a Llama?
The classic book Is Your Mama a Llama? is a great place to start. The word “llama” is repeated 13 times throughout the book, making it a perfect choice for a child practicing /l/ at the beginning of words.
This book also includes words with the /l/ sound in the middle of the word (“politely,” “really,” “certainly,” and “silly”) and words ending with the /l/ sound (“all,” “feel,” and “seal”).
2. The Very Lonely Firefly
If your child is working on /l/-blends, this one is a great choice for them! The Very Lonely Firefly includes plenty of practice words: flew, firefly, flashed, flickering, flashlight, glowing, reflecting, flooding, sparkling, glittering, and flashing.
It also includes these words beginning with the /l/ sound: “little,” “lonely,” “lightbulb,” “light(ing),” “lantern,” and “look(ing).”
3. Goodnight Moon
Goodnight Moon is a classic story to read while cuddled up at night. The repetitive language gives your child plenty of opportunities to practice their target speech sounds.
/l/: telephone, balloon, little, bowl, lady, light
/l/-blend: clocks
4. The Very Hungry Caterpillar
This classic Eric Carle book offers children lots of practice with /l/ and /l/-blend words. Check out all these /l/ words (but try not to get hungry!):
/l/: light, little, lay, leaf, caterpillar, look, still, chocolate, pickle, salami, lollipop, watermelon, felt, built, small, called, nibbled, hole, beautiful
/l/-blends: plums, slice, butterfly
5. Green Eggs and Ham
There are plenty of /l/ words in this silly, rhyming story. Here’s just one example: “I do not like green eggs and ham. I do not like them, Sam-I-am.”
Practicing speech at home leads to faster progress
When children are working on their speech articulation, home practice is essential. Consistency is the key to improving speech sounds, and practicing regularly at home allows your child to strengthen their skills outside of therapy sessions.
Reading books with your child is a fun, easy way to add speech sound practice to your daily routine. By using books that contain a variety of /l/ and /l/-blend words, you’re giving your child lots of chances to hear and produce these sounds in context.
To motivate your child to practice, focus on making the experience relaxed and positive. Celebrate your child’s successes, and encourage them to try their best without putting too much pressure on them. Use games, props, or other playful activities related to the books you read to make practice feel like a fun adventure.
You can also offer your child choices in which books they want to read or which characters they want to pretend to be. This gives them a sense of control and ownership over their practice. Remember, the goal is to help your child build their skills in a supportive and enjoyable way!
