The Power of Reading Aloud Series (4 of 4): Extending the Story Beyond the Book

This article is part of our 4-part series on storytelling with nonverbal learners: Why Reading Aloud Matters, Making Story Time Interactive, Choosing the Right Books, and Extending the Story Beyond the Book.

Storytelling doesn’t have to end when the book is closed. Extending stories into play, art, or real-life connections helps students anchor what they heard in meaningful ways. For nonverbal learners, these extensions give another chance to participate without pressure.

One option is to act out a favorite scene using toys, puppets, or even simple gestures. For example, after reading a book about animals, a child can point to a toy animal while a parent models “It jumps” on an AAC device. This brings the story to life and gives students a concrete way to join in.

Art projects are another easy extension. Drawing a picture, making a collage, or creating a craft based on the story reinforces vocabulary and helps students show understanding in a visual way. The artwork doesn’t need to be elaborate; even choosing colors or gluing shapes can keep the story experience going.

In our home, we extended Peter Rabbit into movement and hands-on play. I laminated pictures of carrots and had my daughter “collect” them by bouncing across the trampoline to reach me. She carried each carrot back to a tray of kinetic sand, where she “planted” them one by one. For a second activity, I printed out a garden background and gave her colorful popsicle sticks to glue on as a fence. Both activities turned the story into an OT and spelling experience, while keeping her engaged with the theme of the book.

Parents can also connect stories to real life. If a book features leaves falling from trees, a short walk outside to collect leaves can turn into a mini science lesson. If a story includes food, parents can model language while exploring the kitchen. These small connections make books feel relevant and meaningful, showing students that stories are not separate from their everyday world.

This is the final post in our storytelling series, “The Power of Reading Aloud”. If you missed earlier parts, you can go back and start from the beginning, or revisit any section that’s most helpful for your family: Why Reading Aloud Matters, Making Story Time Interactive, Choosing the Right Books, Extending the Story Beyond the Book.

Sources & References

1. Reading Rockets — Reading Aloud to Build Comprehension
   https://www.readingrockets.org/topics/reading-aloud/articles/reading-aloud-build-comprehension
   
   
2. The Hanen Centre — Bringing Books to Life with Play
   https://www.hanen.org/information-tips/parents/bringing-books-to-life-with-play
   
   
3. Edutopia — Integrating Arts into Literacy Learning
   https://www.edutopia.org/article/arts-integration-literacy

Jennifer Bullock, Contributing Author

Homeschooling-experienced mom to a tween, non-speaking daughter, Jennifer is also Marketing Outreach Coordinator for The Autism Oasis. With 20+ years experience in marketing, advertising, and social media communications, you will see her occasionally supporting the blog and social media channels with various content related to Autism Oasis.