You may have seen articles and blog posts detailing Montessori friendly books for little ones (or you may have come here from my winter books article!) and wondered what it is that makes a book Montessori or not. There are a few main things we look for when choosing books to share with children under three:
Is it realistic?
Does the book have real photos or realistic art depicting things a small child may be familiar with? Toddlers love to see photos of other children and babies. We also want to teach them real, true things about the world - this is what a giraffe looks like, this is what we can wear outside when it's snowing, this is what a day at preschool might be like. If children are surrounded by cartoonish animals and books made without real care, they're not getting a full education about the world around them. We also want to keep an eye out for books that use a whole word as opposed to baby talk - a child needs to learn that this animal is a hippopotamus, not a hippo.
Gerda Muller's beautifully and realistically illustrated, often wordless books are a great example of children's fantasy that stays grounded in reality. For very young ones, you can't beat the Global Baby series.
Is it beautiful?
Maria Montessori said that the child should live in an environment of beauty. What does that look like in practice? Children are exposed to music and poetry, art is hung at their level, and we work to create calm, beautiful environments for them to learn in. We take the same route when choosing books. Some examples of gorgeous art in children's books are Big and Small, Room For All and Today. Does 'beautiful' have to mean photo-realistic? Not at all! Abstract art and different art styles such as the works of Eric Carle and Lois Lowry are great additions to a Montessori library.
Are they interested?
In the Montessori world we often use the term 'following the child'. This means that we pay close attention to the children's interests and what draws them into a state of focus so that we can prepare the environment in such a way to encourage more of that focus.
A child who loves cats or garbage trucks will spend more time deeply involved with a book featuring photos or illustrations of those things. They will naturally practice deep focus and learn even before they can read for themselves that books are interesting and fun, a mindset that can make or break a lifelong reader.
Does it have a good rhythm?
Not all books are created the same. While this isn't as important for very basic vocabulary books like this series aimed at younger readers, when it comes to storytelling, look for books that naturally flow - see Mem Fox's Ten Little Fingers and Liz Barton Scanlon's All The World. You'll love reading them over and over and your child will get to experience a great story.
Let's Talk About Fantasy in Montessori
Have you ever heard that the Montessori method doesn't allow children to play pretend? It's a common misconception based on the truth that we choose not to share books in the classroom that have fantastical subjects like fairies, talking animals, or magic. This is because the classroom environment is meant to be a child's refuge from a busy, confusing world, a place where she knows she will always learn the true facts of the world.
It was believed for a long time that children under six did not have the ability to distinguish fantasy and reality, and that giving very young children fantastical books could scare and confuse them. There's more recent research that may point to children reaching that developmental milestone earlier, and families may reach their own conclusions, but you will find that this is pretty firmly set in the Montessori tradition.
In the home environment, of course, families may choose to include fantasy books for any number of reasons - they might be particularly beloved by a parent who read them when they were a child, they may be culturally significant, a gift from a loved one, or the child may just love them! Even when I was teaching in the classroom we had a few not so Montessori books that were otherwise so beautiful and fun to read aloud that I would still include them at circle time. In these cases, a quick fun question - "Oh my goodness! This fly is wearing a tie! That's so silly, do flies wear clothes? No, this is just a story" - is all that's really needed.
Mirrors and Windows
It's an old statistic by now, but sadly still true - according to the BBC, children's books are eight times more likely to feature an animal than a non-white person in the lead role.
It is so important for children to see themselves, their families, and their communities reflected in the stories we read with them, and equally as important for them to see other children, families, and communities who may not look the same as their own.
Montessori teaches peace and culture education from the very beginning of life. Children who have been exposed to other ways of doing things and people who look and live differently from them will grow into more accepting, more compassionate adults.
I like to take a look at the books I'm putting out on the shelf and see if the children represented are a diverse mix of skin tones, cultures, abilities and families, and I invite you to do the same.
If you want to bring a little more Montessori home, take these questions as a guideline, not a rule, and consider using them to question why you might be reaching for a certain book when you're next at the library or bookstore.
(Some of these links are sponsored, and I may make a small commission if you choose to purchase these books using my links. This does not change the price for you at all. Thank you for your support!)
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