10 Speech Therapy Books That Celebrate Diversity
- Clarifi Staffing Solutions
- Sep 8
- 3 min read
In the world of speech-language pathology, choosing the right book can be a powerful tool to foster language, comprehension, social communication, and emotional development. But not just any book will do. The best books are those that reflect the diverse world we live in, invite meaningful conversation, and provide opportunities to model language and communication goals.
If you’re a speech-language pathologist working in the schools, you already know how impactful storytime can be. But it becomes even more powerful when your students see themselves—or learn to understand others—in the characters they meet.
In this post, we’re spotlighting 10 speech therapy books that celebrate diversity, promote inclusion, and provide endless opportunities for speech and language enrichment. All of these are available through our Amazon storefront with 4-star ratings or higher!
1. Max and the Tag-Along Moon by Floyd Cooper
This soothing and beautifully illustrated story follows Max as he leaves his grandfather's house and notices that the moon appears to follow him on the drive home. It's a wonderful tool for targeting story retell, positional concepts, emotion vocabulary, and family relationships.
“The swervy-curvy ride and rhythmic text make this a calming and relatable story for many students.”
2. Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña
CJ and his grandmother take a city bus ride that introduces him to the vibrancy of their community. This book promotes descriptive language, sequencing, inferencing, and gratitude. Students can practice WH- questions, character thoughts, and expanding utterances.
“The rich urban setting offers plenty to talk about on every page.”
3. All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold
This feel-good book celebrates an inclusive school community where kids of all backgrounds learn and grow together. The repetitive text makes it ideal for early language learners and AAC modeling.
“Use it to model social scripts, school routines, and inclusive vocabulary.”
4. Dreamers by Yuyi Morales
A poetic and powerful immigration story that explores the emotions of moving to a new country. The vivid illustrations are ideal for descriptive language, inferencing, and perspective-taking.
“This is a book for building empathy and cultural awareness—plus it’s just plain gorgeous.”
5. Just Ask! by Sonia Sotomayor
Written by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, this book introduces readers to children with various disabilities who explain their experiences in their own words. It’s perfect for discussing differences, asking questions respectfully, and practicing self-expression.
“It opens the door to teach respectful language and introduce inclusive terms.”
6. We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom
This Caldecott Medal winner is written by an Indigenous author and illustrated by Michaela Goade. The lyrical text lends itself to figurative language, sequencing, and rich vocabulary exploration.
“A poetic way to introduce advocacy and environmental justice.”
7. Bringing in the New Year by Grace Lin
Celebrate Chinese New Year with this vibrant, culturally rich story that explains traditions, foods, and symbols of the holiday. It’s perfect for introducing cultural vocabulary and sequencing events.
“Try having students create their own new year traditions after reading.”
8. We’re All Wonders by R.J. Palacio
This adaptation of the novel Wonder invites younger readers to consider what it means to be kind and accepting. It targets perspective-taking, empathy vocabulary, and descriptive language.
“Great for teaching social communication and supporting SEL goals.”
9. When Charley Met Emma by Amy Webb
When a young boy meets Emma, a child with limb differences, he learns how to interact respectfully and make a new friend. Perfect for teaching pragmatic language, greetings, and inclusion.
“This book is gentle, powerful, and makes disability a natural part of the conversation.”
10. What the Jackdaw Saw by Julia Donaldson
This story incorporates British Sign Language and teaches about nonverbal communication in a fun and engaging way. It’s an amazing support for introducing sign vocabulary and building narrative skills.
“A unique and engaging way to talk about Deaf culture and gestures.”
Adding inclusive, diverse, and thoughtfully selected books to your therapy room doesn’t just build speech and language skills; it creates connection, expands understanding, and builds the foundation for compassionate communication. Every book on this list is more than just a story; it’s a bridge to language, identity, and inclusivity.
Looking to stock your SLP room with meaningful materials? Browse our curated Amazon storefront HERE and grab your favorites today!
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