Wishy Washy: A Board Book of First Words and Colors

“Moo,” “pop,” “bye-bye”—sometimes the smallest sounds are the beginning of a whole new world of words. Wishy Washy turns those exciting early attempts at talking into playful reading time, using beautiful watercolor pictures, simple prompts, and a friendly little chipmunk to encourage toddlers to listen, imitate, point, and join in.

Created by licensed speech-language pathologist and professional artist Tabitha Paige, M.S., CCC-SLP, the book thoughtfully introduces early sounds such as m, b, p, and t alongside first words and colors. Rather than simply asking children to name what they see, Wishy Washy invites them to participate—copying sounds, noticing familiar objects, and practicing words naturally while sharing the book with a parent or caregiver.

And because little learners tend to read with more than just their eyes, the book is made for real toddler life. Thick board pages, rounded corners, and a compact size make it easy for small hands to grab, turn, and revisit favorite pages again and again.

What Makes It Special

• Created by licensed speech-language pathologist Tabitha Paige, M.S., CCC-SLP
• Thoughtfully introduces first words, early speech sounds, and colors
• Features strategically selected sounds such as m, b, p, and t that are useful for early imitation
• Encourages toddlers to listen, imitate, point, label, and respond
• Friendly chipmunk guide leads children through playful prompts and discoveries
• Beautiful lifelike watercolor illustrations keep pages visually engaging without feeling overly busy
• Combines language learning with art and interactive parent-child play
• Useful for children beginning to communicate as well as little ones who benefit from additional language practice
• Offers parents simple opportunities to practice early communication skills during everyday reading
• Thick, sturdy board pages are made to withstand enthusiastic little hands
• Rounded corners create a toddler-friendly design
• Compact 6.5" format is comfortable for children to hold and explore
• A thoughtful addition to a first library, nursery, or speech-language learning collection
• A lovely gift for babies, toddlers, first birthdays, and growing families

How to Enjoy

Sit together and let your child take the lead. If a picture catches their attention, point to it, name it slowly, and invite them to copy the sound or word. There’s no need to turn every page or get every word “right”—a little imitation, a point, or an excited sound is already part of the conversation.

Try repeating simple sounds with an expressive voice, naming the colors you see, or pausing after a familiar word to give your child a chance to respond. You can even bring the words beyond the book: spot the same color on a shirt, find a familiar object in the room, or repeat a favorite sound later during playtime.

The goal is simple: read together, talk together, and make practicing new sounds feel like play.

Why Imitation Matters

Long before children are having full conversations, they’re busy watching, listening, and experimenting with sounds. Imitation gives them a natural way to join in.

Wishy Washy uses simple sounds and carefully chosen first words to create opportunities for that back-and-forth interaction. A parent models a sound or word; a child listens and may try to copy it. With repetition, familiar sounds can become easier to recognize and attempt.

Paired with clear watercolor illustrations, the words have something concrete for children to look at and connect with—turning an abstract sound into a picture, an object, a color, or a familiar idea.

Art Meets Early Language

What makes Wishy Washy especially distinctive is the combination of speech-language expertise and fine art behind every page.

Instead of loud graphics or overly complicated scenes, Tabitha Paige uses soft, lifelike watercolor illustrations to create a calm visual experience for young children. Her professional background in speech-language pathology shapes the language-learning side of the book, while her experience as an artist gives it the timeless quality of a keepsake.

The result is a first-words book designed to be useful for little learners—and genuinely beautiful for families to share.

About the Author

Tabitha Paige is an award-winning fine artist, certified speech-language pathologist, and mother based in Fort Worth, Texas. She is passionate about helping young children develop foundational language skills through books that thoughtfully combine early learning with beautiful, timeless artwork.

Her professional experience in speech and language development informs the interactive approach of her children’s books, while her watercolor illustrations make them collections families can enjoy well beyond a single reading.