What are predictable books and why are they important?
by Deirdre Walsh, Speech and Language Pathologist, Perkins School for the Blind
Predictable books are characterized by structured patterns that allow the reader to anticipate upcoming events in the story. Usually these books have repetitive lines, plots, refrains, rhythms or phrases. They also contain supportive pictures that help tell the story. (For ideas on how to adapt story illustrations see story boxes) Here is a short list of predictable, early literature. I hope you enjoy these books as much as I do!
| Title | Author | Repeated Line |
| Have you seen my cat? | Eric Carle | Have you seen my cat? |
|
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see? |
Bill Martin |
What do you see? |
|
Polar bear, Polar Bear, What do you hear? |
Bill Martin |
What do you hear? |
|
We're going on a Bear Hunt |
Michael Rosen |
We're going on a bear hunt. We're going catch a big one. What a beautiful day. We're scared. |
| On the Day You Were Born | Debra Frasier | On the day you were born |
| Are You my Mother? | P.D. Eastman | Are you my mother? |
|
Green Eggs and Ham |
Dr. Seuss |
I do not like them Sam-I-am, I do not like green eggs and ham. |
| Me Too | Mercer Mayer | Me too |
| Is Your Mama a Llama? | Deborah Guarino | Is your mama a llama? |
| Chicken Soup with Rice | Maurice Sendak | Chicken soup with rice |
| Jessie Bear, Jessie Bear | Nancy White Carlstrom | Jesse bear, Jesse bear what will you wear? |
| Goodnight Moon | Margaret Wise Brown | Good night... |
| There Was an Old Lady | American folk tale | There was an old lady who swallowed a... |
| Mr. Brown Can Moo Can You? | Dr. Seuss | Mr. Brown Can Moo Can You? |
The materials in this section appeared on the e-advisor site, which was originally hosted by Boston Children's Hospital. This material has now been moved to the website of Perkins School for the Blind.