By Cassie Hicks, M.A., CCC-SLP

Blog post written for use with Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle.

This is a great book for both readers and pre-readers. The story consists of repetitive sentence structures, making it easy for little ones to listen to and even attempt to read along with the reader.  

This story can even be sung with a tune even non-musical caregivers can handle.  Research has shown that children can more easily absorb and memorize information when it is presented in a song (Remember learning your ABC’s? It would be very difficult if we didn’t learn how to sing it in our heads!).  

Brown Bear is also great for early language learners as it introduces them to both animals and colors. For our friends who are 2 and up, it is great practice putting two words together to create a “color + animal” phrase.  

You can use the FREE visual aid download provided here to help your child practice these two-word combinations. Use your finger or your child’s finger to tap along to the story by touching each circle as it is read in the book. This technique helps combine your child’s senses (visual, auditory, and tactile) to promote comprehension and repetition of the story.

Have you tried these techniques with your pre-reader at home? Tell us about it in the comments!