As a pediatric occupational therapist, I love recommending books.

My favorite books for kids who need to build pre-writing skills are the books with flaps, pull tabs, and bubbles to poke.  They are fun, they are entertaining, and children have no idea that they are working on hand control.  They are simply having fun.

Here is my absolute favorite series for kids that need to isolate their index finger and grade force:

I Thought I Saw A….

Why do I love this series?

• Simple graphics.  My clients get overwhelmed with complicated images.  These are clear enough for many low vision kids, relate to the story for my ASD/ADHD kids, and are recognizable for my intellectually delayed kids.
• The finger holes are big enough, but not too big.  A child can’t pull them out and they can’t achieve the desired movements without isolating one finger.  Could they use another digit other than their index finger?  Yes, but it will be more awkward.
• The finger movement directions vary significantly.  A downward vertical movement is the easiest to execute, but they don’t stop there.  Side-to-side, vertical, and rotary movements give children a chance to build dynamic control.
• Each page asks the child where the book’s subject is now.  Early readers can read this with ease, and pre-readers can anticipate the question, connecting verbal and written language.
• Familiar locations and subjects.  The animals are popular with kids, and the places they go are familiar too.  It is easy to find a book that appeals to a child.  Probably more than one.