Whether you’re crawling to the finish line of the school year or already planning your summer therapy sessions, I’ve got two summer-themed books that will seriously level up your sessions. To me, summer means sunshine, pool days, BBQs, longer evenings, ice cream (lots of it), and more time with family and friends. These books capture all the best parts of summer and are perfect for sparking conversation, imagination, and language growth in your students.
? Book 1: Plantzilla by Jerdine Nolen
If you haven’t read Plantzilla yet, you’re in for a treat. This quirky story is about Mortimer, a former third grader who becomes obsessed with the class plant. He even begs his teacher to let him take it home for the summer. Spoiler: Plantzilla is no ordinary plant. Things get weird—and funny—real fast. Mortimer’s parents aren’t quite sure what to make of the situation either.
There’s also a follow-up book called Plantzilla Goes to Camp, and it’s just as entertaining!
? Activity Idea: Letter Writing with a Twist
This book is told through a series of letters between Mortimer, his parents, and his teacher. That format is perfect for turning your session into a creative writing activity!
Letter writing can feel big and scary for students with expressive or receptive language difficulties, so break it down step-by-step:
- Pre-teach vocabulary and concepts—like what plants need to survive, or what makes a letter work. I love using quick videos like this one or this one to build some background knowledge.
- Then, walk through the parts of a letter: address, greeting, body/message, closing, and envelope. Make it visual. Act it out. Talk about what happens when parts go missing—like if there’s no address, how does the letter get delivered?
- Bonus: You can pair this with some plant-themed crafts or even grow your own little class Plantzilla!
Skills targeted:
- Sequencing
- Asking/answering WH-questions
- Inferencing
- Problem-solving
- Written expression
⭐️ Want a done-for-you speech activity for Plantzilla? Check out my Story Sidekick!
? Book 2: Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall
This one is a favorite of mine for so many reasons. Jabari has passed his swim lessons, but he’s still not ready to jump off the diving board. Sound familiar? This story is all about facing your fears and learning to be kind and patient—with yourself and others. It’s a great convo starter, especially for kids dealing with anxiety or transitions (hellooo, summer!).
? Activity Idea: Beach Bag Sorting Game
Here’s a super fun and flexible activity that works for articulation and language goals.
Grab a small paper bag (or cut out a beach bag from construction paper) and tell your students they’re going to the beach or pool. Then, let them “pack” it:
- For articulation students: Put small objects or pictures that target their sounds into a box. Have them pull them out one by one and decide if it belongs in the beach bag or not.
- For language students: Use mini objects or cards to spark discussions. What belongs? What doesn’t? Why? You can easily hit WH-questions, categories, inferencing, and even compare/contrast.
My students always crack up at the random stuff they “accidentally” pack (like a winter boot or a spatula). It makes for some awesome spontaneous language opportunities.
Skills targeted:
- WH-questions
- Inferencing
- Problem-solving
- Categorization
- Articulation carryover
⭐️ Grab the Story Sidekick for Jabari Jumps to use in your speech sessions this summer!
? Summer is for reading!
These two books—Plantzilla and Jabari Jumps—are summer session staples for me. They bring out tons of natural language and are super adaptable no matter what goals you’re targeting.
Need more book-based activity ideas or want the printable companion for Jabari Jumps? Let me know in the comments or shoot me a message—I’ve got loads to share!
