Every child should have access to books starting when they’re young so they can build positive associations with books and reading, which leads to improved literacy skills. Montessori books for toddlers are an excellent choice for your little one.
Toddlers are at a stage of rapid development and learning. Their curious minds are always eager to explore, discover, and understand the world around them. Montessori books, grounded in principles that support a child’s natural development, can be instrumental in nurturing this innate love of learning.
As a teacher, I’ve seen firsthand the books that little ones love to read again and again. I’m here to share about Montessori books and introduce you to my favorites.
- Looking for more books? Check out all our favorite bear books for kids!
In this post:
- What makes a book a “Montessori” book?
- Top Montessori Books for Toddlers
- Set up a reading area for your toddler!
We get commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
What makes a book a “Montessori” book?
Before diving into the specific book recommendations, it’s crucial to understand the underlying Montessori principles. These principles focus on self-directed learning, hands-on engagement, and materials that reflect reality and relate to a child’s everyday experiences. For toddlers, this means books with clear, realistic images, straightforward text, and concepts that align with their developmental stage.
Montessori books focus on reality instead of fantasy as kids under six struggle to distinguish between the two. So, you won’t see animals wearing clothes and talking in Montessori books.
Instead, you’ll find photos or realistic illustrations and stories about everyday life, nature, or skills development.
What to look for in Montessori books for toddlers:
Content
- Reality-Based: Avoid fantasy; focus on real-life images and stories.
- Simplicity: Simple and straightforward content that is easily understandable.
Images
- Real Images: Use photos or realistic illustrations.
- Clarity: Images should be clear, uncluttered, and easy to identify.
- Correlation: There should be a strong correlation between images and text for better comprehension.
Language
- Age-Appropriate: The language should be suitable for the child’s developmental stage.
- Clear and Concise: Use straightforward and simple language.
- Educational: Can include new words to build vocabulary but should be easily digestible.
Cultural and Environmental Awareness
- Diversity: Include diverse cultures and environments to expose the child to the variety of the world.
- Nature: Books that focus on nature and the environment are excellent choices.
Material and Design
- Durability: Books should be made of sturdy, durable materials. I recommend board books for this age.
- Accessibility: Ensure that the size and shape of the book are manageable for small hands.
- Engagement: Interactive elements, such as textures or flaps, can be included, but keep them simple.
Avoid books with overly bright colors, complex designs, and excessive details that can overwhelm a child, and stay away from commercialized characters and branding.
Top Montessori Books for Toddlers
Here are some of my favorite books for toddlers, but know that there are many more amazing books out there. You can use the above guidelines to evaluate books and pick ones you think your child will love.
Also, don’t feel like you need to rush out and buy a bunch of books. Libraries are a fantastic free resource for finding new books. Trips to your local library can become a favorite weekly activity!
Making Faces: A First Book of Emotions
This sturdy board book introduces five emotions using photographs of babies. Each emotion is clearly depicted, making it easy for kids to copy the face. The end of the book features a mirror so kids can see the faces they are making. Kids find the photos relatable and enjoy revisiting this book again and again.
I love that this book begins to give kids the language they need to identify their emotions.
Show Me How to Use the Potty
Kids love this book! It is simple, to the point, and features photographs of a diverse array of real kids. The book shows each of the steps for using the toilet. It is an excellent introduction to toilet learning for toddlers.
Hands Can
This board book is a favorite in my class! It features simple text and real photographs showing everything hands can do. Kids can follow along and mimic all the things that hands can do, like wave and high five. My students love the photographs of the kids and flip through this book again and again.
I love that the book focuses on what hands can do instead of what they cannot do (i.e., the book avoids repeating, “Hands are not for hitting/pushing/etc.”).
Global Baby Playtime
This sweet book uses photographs to showcase children from around the world as they play. I love that the book exposes kids to children who look different than them. The theme of play is simple and relatable for kids. It is the perfect book for toddlers who love pictures of other babies.
National Geographic Kids Little Kids First Board Book: Ocean
My toddlers absolutely love looking at the photographs in this book, and I’ve read it out loud maybe a million times. Each page features a picture and simple facts about various ocean animals. Kids can easily learn new vocabulary as they identify the animals.
I love that the book features minimal text that is short enough to keep kids engaged. Bonus: I learned some new facts by reading the book too!
Eating the Alphabet
This ABC board book features bright illustrations of various fruits and vegetables for each letter of the alphabet. Kids love to point to the foods they know and can learn lots of new vocabulary as they are exposed to foods they do not know.
Each food is labeled with clear typeface, making it easy for caregivers to call attention to text. This makes it great for building preliteracy skills – simply point to the words as you read them!
Colors
This bright board book features simple text and beautiful photographs that showcase various colors. The pictures capture the action of kids – they love flipping through the pages over and over again. Kids also learn new vocabulary when you read the book together and talk about each of the pictures.
I love that the photographs showcase items in nature and items from the child’s world that they can recognize.
The Last Marshmallow
This board book is part of the Storytelling Math series and introduces the concepts of sharing and half as two children must decide how to share three marshmallows. My toddler students love the simple text, repetition of language, and illustrations.
I love that the book creates a context for math concepts by sharing them within a story. The story is both relatable and simple enough for toddlers to understand.
Other favorites in the series include: Up to My Knees!, What Will Fit?, and Where are the Eggs?
Edible Numbers: Count, Learn, Eat
Here is another great board book that introduces math concepts! This book features photos of fruits and vegetables in quantities from one to 12 to promote counting. Kids love to count along as you read. The images are bright and engaging, and this is a book that kids return to independently to flip through the pages.
You can build early math skills by pointing to the number on each page as you say it and pointing to each food as you count. It’s fun to see kids begin to mimic you even before they develop one-to-one correspondence.
Press Here
Toddlers love this interactive board book! Each page asks them to complete an action, such as pressing a colored dot or shaking the book. Kids quickly learn all the actions and often do the actions when flipping through the pages independently.
I love that the text is short and simple, and the illustrations simply feature yellow, red, and blue dots.
The Snowy Day
Kids love the sweet and simple story in this board book. The book follows a little boy named Peter as he explores in the snow. The story is both magical and relatable for kids.
I love the bold colors and uncluttered illustrations. The simplicity of the pictures makes them easy for toddlers to enjoy. In addition, I love that it features a nonwhite protagonist.
We Are Little Feminist Box Set
The We Are Little Feminist books are some of my favorite Montessori books for small kiddos! Each book is centered around a theme such as families and features simple text paired with beautiful photos. The books strive to be as inclusive as possible and feature all types of kids and families, for example, kids in wheelchairs, with limb differences, and with hearing aids.
The board books are easy for kids to explore independently and ones they return to again and again!
Set Includes:
- How We Eat
- Hair
- Families
- On the Go
- Celebrations
Lovevery
Lovery is a Montessori-inspired toy subscription company that has some of my favorite toddler books, hands down!
Their books feature beautiful photographs and everyday stories centered around routines that toddlers can relate to. Titles include Bedtime for Zoe, Bea Gets a Checkup, and Graham Turns Two. Each Lovevery book has become an instant favorite with my students.
Books are only available through their toy subscription program and cannot be bought separately, but their toys are also well worth it!
You can learn more about Lovevery on their website.
Set up a reading area for your toddler!
To encourage reading, set up a cozy reading area for your toddler to explore books. Make sure to include:
• Book Shelf
A small forward-facing bookshelf like the FLISAT Book display from IKEA is the perfect size for toddlers. Forward-facing shelves allow little ones to see all the available books and easily return books to the shelf.
I also love that a small shelf limits the number of books on display – less is more!
This shelf is a nice size for toddlers.
Alternatively, if you have a little one who loves to climb – and let’s face it, a forward-facing bookshelf does look a lot like a climbing gym – you can use a small basket. Just make sure not to overfill it, as this makes it hard for kids to put the books away.
• Reading Pillow
Toddlers LOVE pillows and enjoy having their own special reading pillow! Here are all our favorite reading pillows for kids.
Final Thoughts on Montessori Books for Toddlers
Montessori books for toddlers are more than just a reading experience; they are tools for exploration, learning, and development. You can foster an enriching learning environment by choosing books that adhere to Montessori principles, laying a solid foundation for a lifetime of discovery and growth.
Remember, each child is unique, so always consider your toddler’s specific interests and developmental stage when selecting books. Happy reading!
- Looking to create more of a Montessori-inspired home? Consider a Montessori floor bed!
No Comments