Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP. Over 33 years experience in AAC. OMazing Kids AAC and app consulting. Creator of several AAC Feature Matching resources (https://omazingkidsllc.com/omazing-kids-aac-resource-links/). Includes info about unique features to support Gestalt Language Processors
{One Book + Interactive iPad Activity: Target Several Goals} I’m loving the newest book in my Winter collection… The First Day of Winter by Denise Fleming! It’s a fun twist on the familiar tune The 12 Days of Christmas. I made an interactive activity to use on my iPad (iESLp app for the win…. zero printing, cutting or laminating). I used the book & activity in several sessions this week to target goals for plurals, possessive ‘s endings, colors, following directions, sequencing, quantity concepts, /s/- blends & more. Too hilarious that one of my patients figured out why the snowgirl was getting all dressed up….. to go on a date with her boyfriend Frosty. Ummm I hadn’t even noticed the tiny detail in the background on the last page… lol!
I used an app to create .png images of the red cap with a gold snap and the orange berries mouth by erasing the background from some orange beads. Glad I grabbed the app when it was free awhile back: Aftercut : Background Eraser & Easy Photo Editor, https://appsto.re/us/FeIt4.i.
{Book Reviews} 5 Great Books for SLPs: Being Frank, Dragon and Captain, Hammer and Nails, Hey! That’s My Monster & I Need My Monster by Flashlight Press
Being Frank by Donna Earnhardt
Honesty is the best policy.” That’s Frank’s motto. But Frank’s overly frank comments tend to annoy his friends and teachers. Not even his own mother is all that fond of Frank’s “tell all” attitude. So Frank turns to his grandpa for help. “Everyone is mad at me for being frank. I’m not sure honesty is the best policy anymore.” A few outrageous hats, a spicy jar of relish, and some grandfatherly wisdom help Frank realize that truth is best served with more sugar and less pepper.
What I love as a SLP: This book is perfect to help kids with Autism or other special needs understand the concept of filtering the “truth” in a way that is considerate of another person’s feelings. The analogy of the truth being “best served with more sugar and less pepper” is fabulous!
Dragon is a boy who always wears his dragon robe. And Captain is a boy with a three-sided hat. But as the boys’ imaginations take over, we see them as they see themselves, and the backyard as the boys see it: a dark forest, a craggy cliff, and the immense sea. Illustrated like a comic book but for kids at the picture book age level.
What I love as a SLP: I have been looking for a comic style picture book for younger kids after reading a post about using that style of books to help kids with Autism and other special needs understand the turn taking aspect of conversations. This book is exactly what I have been needing! I love the large illustrations and simple dialogue depicted on each page or two-page spread. This style of book also lends itself well to showing kids a sequence of events. It is also filled with lots of great vocabulary, verbs, adjectives, spatial concepts, predicting, inferencing, teamwork and imagination. The pirate theme is sure to be a hit with my patients! Even the end pages are illustrated as pirate’s map.
Book read aloud video:
Hammer and Nails by Josh Bledsoe
Darcy has plans. She and her friend are going to play dress up, do each other’s hair, and polish their nails. Daddy has plans, too. He’s going to read the paper, mow the lawn, and fix the fence. When Darcy’s friend cancels and she’s sure her day is ruined, Daddy suggests a Darcy-Daddy Day. Now they can tackle their to-do lists together. But will Darcy enjoy hammering? Will Daddy do nails? You bet! Join Darcy and Daddy as they discover the fun in trying new things, especially with someone you love.
What I love as a SLP: This book has great illustrations depicting emotions and a fabulous storyline of a day that a child thought was ruined by a change in plans instead turning into a fun-filled day with her Dad. I love that the day is a mixture of what the things she wanted to do and the things her Dad needed to accomplish. This book is filled with great examples of “flexible thinking” and discussing options. Lots of great vocabulary, verbs, adjectives, spatial concepts, taking turns, trying new things, silliness/humor and showing that even chores like mowing, laundry or fixing a fence can be fun if you use your imagination and are working together.
No video of this book yet but I’ll add one here later if one is made. In the meantime a cute picture:
Hey, That’s MY Monster!, companion to the best-selling I Need My Monster, is an irresistible monster-under-the-bed story for all monster-loving kids. The perfect balance of giggles and shivers will keep you under your covers, and you’ll soon be sleeping soundly.
What I love as a SLP: This book has all the same great qualities as “I Need My Monster” with the added opportunities for pronouns (he, she, his, her). It is also fun to compare the monsters found in both books.
Book Trailer:
I Need My Monster by Amanda Noll
One night, when Ethan checks under the bed for his monster, he finds a note instead: “Gone fishing. Back in a week. –Gabe”. What will Ethan do? He needs a monster under his bed. How is he supposed to get to sleep if his monster is gone? Substitute monsters appear, but none are just right. Herbert’s teeth aren’t sharp enough, Mack’s slobbering induces giggles, Cynthia’s tail isn’t scary at all, and Ralph has nail polish on his claws! This will never work! How will Ethan ever get to sleep without his monster?
What I love as a SLP: This book is filled with great vocabulary, verbs, adjectives and is fun to use to compare/contrast the monsters. I also used it on Halloween with several patients working on articulation. It was fun to find words with their target sounds. The illustrations are exquisite and the story is the perfect level of “just a little scary but mainly funny”. The end sheets are illustrated with lots of different monsters… fun for a game of “I spy”.
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Angela Moorad is the founder of OMazing Kids, LLC and is an ASHA certified & licensed pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and Kids Yoga Teacher with over 27 years experience working in a variety of settings (early intervention, schools, teletherapy & a nonprofit pediatric rehab hospital for children with developmental disabilities). She is an app beta tester for educational & therapeutic app developers and loves sharing info about great apps, products, books & toys to use with kids of all abilities.
OMazing Kids AAC Consulting 