Abby Barnes, M.S., CCC-SLP
When children are learning a new speech sound like /w/, regular practice is key. One easy way to practice is by reading children’s books, and stories like Where the Wild Things Are, We're Going on a Bear Hunt, and Winnie the Witch are packed with /w/ words. Reading them together gives your child many chances to hear and say the sound in a fun, low-pressure way. Here are 7 recommended /w/ books, plus simple tips for turning story time into speech practice.
Key takeaways
Books with repeated /w/ words, like "What do you see?" or "We’re going on a bear hunt," give children lots of natural speech practice.
Clapping, pointing, or raising a hand each time your child hears a /w/ word turns reading into a great game for practice.
You don’t need to buy the books. You can find them at local libraries or use read-aloud videos that work just as well!
A child who is still struggling with the /w/ sound after age 3 may benefit from an evaluation with a speech-language pathologist.
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Screener for childrenWhen do kids learn the /w/ sound?
Most children can say the /w/ sound by about age 3. It is an early developing sound, so many toddlers can use it in their speech. However, some kids may need extra practice. For kids older than age 3 who are struggling with the /w/ sound, a speech evaluation is likely recommended.
How do you make the /w/ sound?
To make the /w/ sound, your child rounds their lips into a small circle, like they are blowing out a candle. Their tongue stays back and relaxed, then they turn their voice on.
You can show your child how to do this in a mirror so they see how their lips move.
Best children’s books for practicing the /w/ sound
Daily practice helps children make the most progress with speech sounds, and reading together is an easy way to fit it in. Alexis Irazoque, M.S., L/SLP, a speech therapist with Expressable, explains, “As you read together, your child can repeat each /w/ word after you. It’s OK to pause the story to allow some time to practice!” Irazoque recommends these 7 books to work on the /w/ sound with your child.
1 Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak
The classic Where the Wild Things Are follows Max on a trip to an island of monsters. It’s full of /w/ words, including wild, where, was, with, went, wore, wolf, and weeks. Ask your child to give a big "wild rumpus" cheer every time they hear “wild”!
2 We're Going on a Bear Hunt, by Michael Rosen
The repeated lines in We're Going on a Bear Hunt make it perfect for practice. Watch for words like we, we're, what, wide, wavy, swirling, and whirling. Your child can act out each obstacle in the story while saying the /w/ words.
3 Winnie the Witch, by Valerie Thomas and Korky Paul
In Winnie the Witch, Winnie has a black cat named Wilbur and a magic wand. Winnie, witch, and Wilbur all start with /w/, so your child gets lots of practice with just the characters. Try giving the cat and the witch silly voices.
Both children and adults can benefit from speech therapy to speak more clearly. Get easy tips for practicing speech sounds at home.
4 Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, by Bill Martin Jr and Eric Carle
This rhyming favorite repeats "what" on almost every page. It also includes a white dog. “Brown Bear, Brown Bear is one of my favorites for toddlers and early talkers,” says Irazoque. “It’s simple, repetitive, and naturally allows your child to practice easily.”
5 Woodpecker Wants a Waffle, by Steve Breen
In Woodpecker Wants a Waffle, three of the title words start with /w/: woodpecker, wants, and waffle. This makes it a fun pick for children who enjoy funny food stories. Have your child say something silly like "I want a waffle!" in different voices.
6 Superworm, by Julia Donaldson
Superworm is a rhyming story starring a long, strong worm and a villain called the Wizard. Your child can practice /w/ in the middle of the word in "Superworm" and at the start of worm and wizard. As a speech therapist, Irazoque notes the importance of learning rhyming. She explains, “Rhymes help children identify speech sounds and rhythms. That’s another reason I recommend this book.”
7 Will the Wolf, by Melissa Palmer
This picture book is part of the Speech Bubbles 2 series, which was written by a speech therapist. Each story is built to practice one speech sound. Will the Wolf focuses on /w/ and is aimed at children ages 2 to 8. (This one may be easier to order online than to find at your library.)
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How can you practice the /w/ sound while reading with your child?
You can practice /w/ by pointing out the target words, saying them slowly, and letting your child copy you. Keep it playful and lighthearted. Your child will be learning without even realizing it!
Try these ideas:
Play "Catch the /w/." Ask your child to clap or raise a hand each time they hear a /w/ word.
Show the lips. Say the word slowly with rounded lips, and let your child copy you in a mirror so they can watch themselves.
Repeat favorite lines. Pick a line with a /w/ word and say it together a few times.
Take turns. Read one page, then let your child “read” the next one by naming the pictures.
Talk about the story. Ask questions like “Where is the wolf?” or “What is Winnie doing?” to help your child naturally use some of the /w/ words.
Short, regular practice works better than long sessions. Even a few minutes of /w/ words at bedtime adds up over weeks.
Keep it positive. Celebrate tries, not just perfect sounds, and let your child pick the book. Children who feel relaxed are more willing to practice. For more ideas, see our guides to speech sound practice:
Learn how to practice speech with games! Here are 11 simple games for kids of all ages and how our speech therapists recommend using them.
Signs that your child may need speech therapy
If your child is still having trouble with /w/, a licensed speech therapist can help. Speech sound disorders can be treated, and early support leads to better results.
If your child’s speech is hard to understand, they’re frustrated when trying to communicate, or they aren’t meeting speech sound milestones for their age, this is a sure sign it’s time to talk to a speech therapist.
Expressable offers live, 1-on-1 online speech therapy with licensed speech therapists for children and adults. Our therapists also coach parents and caregivers, so practice at home becomes part of every week.
If you're not sure whether your child needs support, our free speech screener is a quick place to start. Or if you’re ready to schedule an evaluation, get matched with a speech therapist here!
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Easy starter words for the /w/ sound include water, wagon, walk, wave, wet, window, and wow. The easiest are typically one-syllable words like wet and wow. Once your child does well with one-syllable words, you can move on to words with two syllables or more.
No. Any book with lots of repeated words can work, and your library or an online read-aloud video are free ways to try them. Look for books in which the target sound shows up often. It helps to choose books with fun pictures or about topics that your child is interested in.
Short sessions of 5-10 minutes of speech practice are often enough for young children. Stop if your child seems frustrated, and try again later. Short, relaxed practice usually works better than one long session.
How Expressable Can Help
Concerned your child isn't reaching age-expected milestones? Looking for communication support from a professional? Expressable is a national online speech and occupational therapy practice serving children and adults. We treat all major areas of communication, feeding, and developmental skills, offer flexible hours including evenings and weekends, and accept most major health insurance plans. We’re proud to have earned more than 4,500 5-star reviews from our clients (4.83/5 average).
Our therapy model is centered on parent and caregiver involvement. Research proves that empowering caregivers to participate in their loved one’s therapy leads to better outcomes. That’s why we combine live, 1-on-1 speech and occupational therapy with personalized education and home practice activities for faster progress.
