top of page

Choosing Great Books for Your Montessori Child

Writer's picture: Carrie FittsCarrie Fitts

Updated: 4 days ago

Montessori-Approved Books for Every Stage of Early Childhood


Reading is crucial for a child's cognitive, emotional, and social development, and in Montessori education, early exposure to language lays the foundation for lifelong learning. During the first plane of development (birth to age 6), children rapidly absorb information and benefit from reality-based stories that build vocabulary, imagination, concentration, and social skills. Since young children are still learning to distinguish between reality and fantasy, books with supernatural or overly complex themes can be confusing. Instead, Montessori principles emphasize simple, tangible experiences. However, stories featuring non-human characters can still align with Montessori values if they explore real emotions, relationships, and relatable themes, such as those in the Duck and Goose series, Kevin Henkes' mouse books, or Karma Wilson’s Bear books.



What to look for:


When selecting books for children under six, it's important to choose those that are grounded in reality and promote positive emotional and cognitive development. What makes a book a Montessori approved book? Here are five things to look for:

  1. Realistic, Relatable Stories: Choose books that reflect everyday experiences, like tales of friendship, family life, or simple activities. These resonate with children and help them make sense of the world around them.

  2. Books That Celebrate Nature and the Real World: Books emphasizing animals, plants, or real-world professions help children connect with their environment and develop curiosity about the world.

  3. Simple, Clear Illustrations: Look for books with clean, simple illustrations that support comprehension and help children focus on the story without distraction.

  4. Books That Encourage Empathy: Select books that explore emotions and the experiences of others, helping children understand different perspectives and develop empathy.

  5. Books With Repetition and Rhythm: Books with repetitive or rhythmic text are not only enjoyable but also help reinforce language skills and make stories easier for young children to follow.


 

Oak Grove Montessori is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

 

Montessori Approved Books for Infants (Birth – 18 Months)

At this stage, books should have simple, high-contrast images, real photographs, and limited text to support early visual and language development.


 


Montessori Approved Books for Toddlers (18 Months – 3 Years)

Toddlers benefit from books that feature real-life scenarios, simple narratives, and clear, engaging images.


 

Montessori Approved Books for Children (3–6 Years Old)

Preschool-aged children enjoy books with more detailed narratives, real-world connections, and rich language.


Recent Posts

See All

Comments


Commenting has been turned off.
  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Oak Grove Montessori School

180 Oak Grove Road

Carrollton, GA 30117

office@oakgrovemontessori.com
770.214.0112

​

Join Our Community â€‹â€‹

  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Contact Us

Thank you for submitting!

bottom of page