I love to read, love it! I want to instill that love of books and reading to my children. So, we read! And, we read a lot! On average, we read together between 1 and 2 hours a day. But, what are we reading?
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I try to keep the books in my house as Montessori-friendly as possible. However, the exact meaning of what is "Montessori-friendly" when it comes to books can be a hotly debated topic. I know that I cannot settle that debate here, so I will just add my personal thoughts. For me, and my family, we shy away from fantasy. By fantasy, I mean adult created ideas that don't actually happen in real life -- talking animals, for example.
This post contains affiliate links at no cost to you.
I try to keep the books in my house as Montessori-friendly as possible. However, the exact meaning of what is "Montessori-friendly" when it comes to books can be a hotly debated topic. I know that I cannot settle that debate here, so I will just add my personal thoughts. For me, and my family, we shy away from fantasy. By fantasy, I mean adult created ideas that don't actually happen in real life -- talking animals, for example.
Babies 0 - 18 Months
Smile! -- Sweetest pictures and read everyday here
My Face BookAnimals (Baby Touch and Feel)
Touch and Feel: Farm
Machines at Work Board Book
Farm Animals
Dear Zoo: A Lift-the-Flap Book
I Can -- Nora could read all day
Say Goodnight
Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes
This is separate from fiction, though. Fiction is loved and celebrated here! Fiction is something that has not happened, but is not impossible. We love fiction and read lots of it around here!
Toddlers 18 - 36 Months
The Little Airplane
A Child's Book of Art: Great Pictures - First Words
The Black Book of Colors
Actual Size
The Odd One Out
Before After -- high on my library book list!
Planting a Rainbow
Egg: Nature's Perfect Package
Feathers: Not Just for Flying
One Gorilla: A Counting Book -- beautiful illustrations
Renoir's Colors
Me on the Map
All the Colors of the Rainbow
Home
Tom and Pippo Go for a Walk -- We love every book in this series, it is the perfect fiction for toddlers
Can You Say Peace?
Here Is the Tropical Rain Forest
Show Me Happy
The Queen's Hat -- This walks a tight fantasy/fiction line but was so well loved I added it
Hello Baby!
Lola at the Library
However, we are not purely no-fantasy household. Anyone who follows me on Instagram can plainly see that Henry loves Star Wars and superheros. Those books frequently line our book shelves -- for me its about creating balance between fostering a love of reading (which includes reading things you are interested in) and my Montessori ideals. I will say, though, that for Nora, who hasn't expressed her own independent preference for books, I do not choose fantasy based books.
Primary 3 - 6 years
Mama Miti: Wangari Maathai and the Trees of Kenya
Last Stop on Market Street -- a wonderful message and great fiction
The Storm Whale
Nora's Chicks
Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt
A Seed is Sleepy -- all the books in this series look amazing
Walk This World
Design Line: Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
Animalium: Welcome to the Museum -- one of the most beautiful books I've ever seen
Farm Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of Country Life
Nature Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of the Natural World
Around the World from a to z
Maps -- Henry could read this book all day, and its large size sucks Nora in
This post contains a list of some Montessori-friendly books I recommend for babies, toddlers and beyond. I haven't read all of these, but these are books that we have either gotten from the library or are on my wish list. It is absolutely impossible for me to include every possible Montessori compatible book available on this list. There are just so many amazing books available! If I find others that I love, I will try to update this post to include them!
How do you choose books for your family? Do you have any that you would add to this list?
12 Months of Montessori
This post was brought to you as part of the 12 Months of Montessori series! This month's topic is Montessori Books! Stop by these other amazing blogs to see their approaches to books and literacy!
The Best Montessori Friendly Books: Babies, Toddlers, Preschoolers, Elementary | Natural Beach Living
Montessori-Friendly Living Books Library | The Natural Homeschool
Favorite Montessori-Friendly Books for a 2 Year Old | Living Montessori Now
10 Ways To Make Your Kids Crazy About Reading | Planting Peas
Montessori Friendly Books -- Birth to Six | The Kavanaugh Report
Engaging Books for Preschoolers | Mama’s Happy Hive
Montessori & Fiction: Balancing the Bookshelf | Sugar, Spice & Glitter
Montessori Books for Older Children: The Universe Story Trilogy | The Pinay Homeschooler
Children’s Books About Birds | Every Star is Different
Favorite Montessori Resources | Grace and Green Pastures
