Your baby will never learn language faster than in the first year and a half of life—and you are the single biggest influence on how it unfolds. Little Voices, Big Futures is my simple, practical guide to making the most of that remarkable window, written for new and expectant parents who want to give their child the best possible start with language and literacy.
No jargon. No drills. Just easy, enjoyable things you can do with your baby each day.
Available now as a Kindle eBook and in paperback:
Why I Wrote This Book
For more than forty years, I worked with children who were learning to communicate—and I met countless parents who desperately wanted to help but had been handed very little to work with.
I was also frustrated by what I saw on the shelves. So many “baby’s first books” are filled with colours, shapes, numbers and the alphabet—none of which are developmentally appropriate, or even interesting, for a baby. Meanwhile, the things that genuinely grow a baby’s language were rarely explained to the very people doing the parenting.
So, I wrote the guide I always wished I could hand to families: simple, warm, and grounded in what actually helps babies learn to talk.
What You’ll Learn Inside
Little Voices, Big Futures covers your baby’s first 18 months, with hands-on, practical suggestions you can use right away. Inside, you’ll find guidance on:
- Talking and interacting with your baby in ways that grow language
- Using simple baby sign language to open early communication
- Rhymes, songs and fingerplays that build listening and sound awareness
- Choosing books that are actually right for babies—and how to share them
- Pacifiers, sippy cups and how they relate to speech development
- Hearing—why it matters so much for language, and when to have it checked
- Technology and screens in the early years
- Special circumstances, and when to seek extra support
The goal isn’t to turn playtime into a lesson. It’s to show you how the ordinary moments you already share—feeding, bathing, singing, playing—can become the richest language learning of your child’s life.
Who This Book Is For
Little Voices, Big Futures is written for:
- New and expectant parents who want to give their baby a strong start with language
- Grandparents and caregivers looking for simple, confident ways to help
- Daycares and home childcare providers caring for infants
- Parents wondering how to encourage a baby to talk, including gentle guidance if you have a late talker
It also makes a genuinely useful baby shower or new-parent gift—something thoughtful that keeps giving well past the newborn days.
Why the First 18 Months Matter So Much
The neural connections for language are built in the earliest years, long before your baby says a first word. Every smile, song, and back-and-forth “conversation” is laying the groundwork.
The encouraging part is that supporting your baby’s language doesn’t require special equipment, expensive toys, or hours of your day. It requires you—and a few simple habits repeated often. That is exactly what this book gives you.
(If you’d like to read more first, see how early babies start learning language and my tips for parents and caregivers.)
What Makes It Different
This isn’t a textbook, and it isn’t a list of milestones to worry over. It’s a friendly, readable guide from someone who spent a career helping children find their voices—distilled into the few things that truly matter, explained plainly, and designed to fit into real family life.
Formats and Where to Buy
Little Voices, Big Futures is available as a Kindle eBook and in paperback through Amazon in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom.
Looking for something for the baby too? Little Voices, Big Futures pairs beautifully with my set of five baby and toddler board books, written to be genuinely developmentally appropriate for little ones.
About the Author
Cheryl Turner is a retired speech-language pathologist with more than 40 years of experience working with infants, toddlers and preschoolers who have difficulty communicating. Her mission is to give parents, caregivers and educators simple, scripted, effective tools that truly make a difference. Read more about Cheryl.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Little Voices, Big Futures available as an eBook?
Yes. It’s available as a Kindle eBook and as a paperback through Amazon in Canada, the US and the UK.
What age is the book for?
It focuses on pregnancy through your baby’s first 18 months, with guidance that also helps parents of late talkers.
Do I need any special training to use it?
Not at all. Everything is written in plain language for parents and caregivers, with simple activities you can start today.
Is the advice based on real expertise?
Yes. It’s written by Cheryl Turner, a speech-language pathologist with more than 40 years of clinical experience with young children.
Would it make a good baby shower gift?
It’s a lovely, lasting gift for new and expectant parents—thoughtful, practical, and useful long after the baby arrives.
The Bottom Line
You don’t need to be an expert to raise a great little communicator. You need a few simple habits, repeated with love. Little Voices, Big Futures shows you exactly what they are.