Dubs READS!
READ ENGAGE ASK DISCUSS SHARE

Dubs READS aims to provide a fun, engaging, and evidence-based approach to enriching early language and literacy skills. We provide books and pre-written dialogic reading questions to families and children who interact with the University of Washington's Speech & Hearing Clinic. Watch a quick video on Dubs READS! here.

What is dialogic reading?

Dialogic reading involves going beyond a parent reading and their child listening. With dialogic reading, a parent supports their child in becoming the storyteller! It encourages children to actively answer questions, make connections between books and real life, talk about the story or pictures, learn new vocabulary, and make predictions.

How does Dubs READS work?

We’ve created pre-written sticker labels that provide examples of questions and comments specific to the content of each book. These stickers are conversation starters that expand on a book’s content and support a child’s language development.

Why use Dubs READS?

It takes the guess work out of dialogic reading by providing a model of questions and comments, helping parents practice each strategy before trying it on their own!  

How do I use Dubs READS?

It’s simple! To find the printed labels to assemble your books, click on the Books and Materials tab on the left. 

All you have to do is read the book and stop to ask the questions printed on each page. If you see the thought bubble icon, ask the child what the character is thinking. Each book has about 15-17 questions, but that doesn’t mean you have to read each question every time you read a book. Skip, alternate, or make up your own questions using Dubs READS to guide you. The most important thing is keeping the child engaged and making the reading experience fun. 

Step One: Read the page first, then ask the Dubs READS question. 

Step Two: Pause! It’s important to give your child time to think and respond. 

Step Three: Listen. Praise or repeat back what you heard, adding one or two words to expand the child’s response. 

Step Four: Respond. Try to follow the child’s interests by commenting on what they said, remember - it’s meant to be a conversation!


Dubs READS is a creation of speech-language pathology graduate students at the University of Washington. We would like to thank graduate students Breanne Toney, Amy Busch, Emily Nierman, Jessica Wi and Katelyn McKenna for their efforts in establishing this project. We would also like to thank the following faculty for their support and their help in developing our clinic pilot program: Nancy Alarcon MS, CCC-SLP; Kate Krings MS, CCC-SLP; Lauren Nehilla MS, CCC-SLP.