Picture books with repetitive, predictable texts are one of the most enjoyable and effective tools for teaching young children early language skills. Young children love being able to anticipate and chime in with repeated texts. Needless to say, I am always on the hunt for picture books with predictable texts because Junior finds them so engaging and because there is so much he learns from them. So I created a list of picture books appropriate for each month of the year.

As with Five in a Row, I like to read the same picture book everyday for several days in a row with my son. Here are some of the things I try to accomplish:

• Monday – explore the book, talk about new vocabulary, count items on a page, act out a scene from the book
• Tuesday – look for rhyming words, practice saying rhyming words, work on prepositions (ie. where is the bear? in the den)
• Wednesday – work on articulating targeted sounds or multi-syllabic words, practice saying repeated phrases
• Thursday – fill in the blanks… I read a part and drop out a word/phrase and let Junior fill in
• Friday – encourage Junior to read along as much as possible, sequence events in the book with pictures

For each month, I list four to six books because some months have more than four weeks. Most of these books should be available in the public library, especially through inter-library loan.

January

• All You Need for a Snowman
• There was an Cold Lady who Swallowed Some Snow
• William’s Winter Nap
• Stranger in the Woods
• Three Little Kittens
• Old Bear and His Cub

February

• Ten in the Bed
• Bear Snores On
• Mama, Do You Love Me?
• I Went Walking
• Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes

March

• Silly Sally
• The Napping House
• The Very Hungry Caterpillar
• Going on a Bear Hunt
• The Gingerbread Boy
• Dig!

April

• Spring is Here
• We’re Going on an Egg Hunt
• William Wakes Up
• Bear Wants More
• The Little Red Hen

May

• Is Your Mama a Llama?
• This Little Chick
• Gossie and Gertie
• Barnyard Banter
• Each Peach Pear Plum

June

• Where’s Baby?
• Have You Seen My Duckling?
• Farmer Duck
• Mrs. Wishy Washy’s Farm
• Bear’s New Friend
• A Hippy Hoppy Toad

July

• Little Excavator
• One Duck Stuck
• The Pout Pout Fish
• The Gruffalo
• One Day in the Eucalyptus, the Eucalyptus Tree
• Good-night Owl

August

• Jump!
• Groovy Joe: Ice Cream and Dinosaurs
• Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed
• Chickens to the Rescue
• I Don’t Care, Said the Bear
• Who Sank the Boat?

September

• Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
• Drop it, Rocket!
• Mary Wore Her Red Dress and Henry Wore His Green Sneakers
• Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons
• Hooray for Hat
• To Market, to Market

October

• Caps for Sale
• Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat, Are You Waking Up?
• Kite Day: A Bear and Mole Story
• The Lady with the Alligator Purse
• The Little Old Lady who was Not Afraid of Anything

November

• Froggy Gets Dressed
• Joseph had a Little Overcoat
• Flora’s Very Windy Day
• Share, Big Bear, Share
• Bear Says Thanks
• Thank You, Thanksgiving
• Such a Little Mouse

December

• Bear Stays Up for Christmas
• Christmas in the Manger
• Room for a Little One: a Christmas Tale
• Who is Coming to Our House?

Want a print-out of this list? Download it here:

What books would you add to this list?