Stock your bookshelf with these Montessori appropriate books. Stories about pancakes, books about trains, old classics and new finds, there is something here for every child. Check them out!
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One of the trickiest parts of abiding by the Montessori philosophy is finding beautiful children’s books that don’t have talking animals, flying children, or meatballs falling from the sky.
In Montessori primary rooms (ages 3-6) the focus is on the real world.
→ Read more about fantasy and Montessori here.
Montessori appropriate books are out there, but sifting through shelves at the library can get a little time-consuming.
So I did that for you! Here is my list of Montessori appropriate books for three to six year-olds.
I’ve included several of the books I loved growing up, as well as many new ones I’ve found.
Montessori Appropriate Books for 3-6 Year-Olds
Many of these books are great for reading aloud, and all of them have beautiful pictures for the child to look at even before he is reading. The poetry books at the end can be used as a reference for you, for teaching sight words, or just for the child to look at.
This list gets updated whenever I come across another awesome book that I want to share with you, so make sure you bookmark this page to come back for more!
*A few notes to keep in mind when purchasing books:
- Always choose the best quality book you can find. (New and hardcover, if possible.) This is one way to show respect for the child. She will learn to treat books well if you show her how, and if she starts out with a beautiful book in perfect condition.
- By the age of 3, children are ready for real pages. No need for board books.
Table of Contents
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Books About People
The Gardener, by Sarah Stewart
The Journey, by Sarah Stewart
Madeline, by Ludwig Bemelmans
Nana Upstairs, Nana Downstairs, by Tomie de Paola
Pancakes for Breakfast, by Tomie de Paola
The Baby Sister, by Tomie de Paola
Now One Foot, Now the Other, by Tomie de Paola
Days of the Blackbird, by Tomie de Paola
The Holy Twins, by Kathleen Norris, illustrated by Tomie de Paola
Nana In the City, by Lauren Castillo
Miss Rumphius, by Barbara Cooney
Pelle’s New Suit, by Elsa Beskow
A New Coat for Anna, by Harriet Ziefert, illustrated by Anita Lobel
The Seven Silly Eaters, by Mary Ann Hoberman, illustrated by Marla Frazee
The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles, by Michelle Cuevas
Miss Bridie Chose a Shovel, by Leslie Connor
My Red Umbrella, by Robert Bright
Umbrella, by Taro Yashima
Policeman Small, by Lois Lenski
Cowboy Small, by Lois Lenski
Cowboy Slim, by Julie Danneberg
Firefighters A to Z, by Chris L. Demarest
It Takes a Village, by Jane Cowen-Fletcher
The Keeping Quilt, by Patricia Polacco
Hello Ocean, by Pam Muñoz Ryan (This one’s about the five senses.)
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Books About Nature
Growing Vegetable Soup, by Lois Ehlert
Jack’s Garden, by Henry Cole
My Farm, by Alison Lester
A Prairie Alphabet, by Yvette Moore
Time of Wonder, by Robert McCloskey
One Morning in Maine, by Robert McCloskey
When the Rain Stops, by Cole Sorensen
First Snow, by Kim Lewis
Come On Rain!, by Karen Hesse
Nature’s Sketchbook, by Marjolein Bastin
Atlas of Islands (First Discovery Book) by Donald Grant
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Books About Animals
The Butterfly Alphabet, by Kjell Bloch Sandved
Animal Babies, by Harry McNaught
Deer at the Brook, by Jim Arnosky
Frozen Wild: How Animals Survive in the Coldest Places on Earth, by Jim Arnosky
Shimmer & Splash: the Sparkling World of Sea Life, by Jim Arnosky
Raccoon on His Own, by Jim Arnosky
Biggest, Strongest, Fastest, by Steve Jenkings
Flocks of Birds, by Charlotte Zolotow
(I’m not sure why that’s ↑ the image that shows up. In reality its an illustrated cover.)
Black Bear Cub, by Alan Lind
Here is the Arctic Winter, by Madeleine Dunphy
Emma’s Lamb, by Kim Lewis
Antelope, Bison, Cougar, by Stephen P. Medley
The Ocean Alphabet Book, by Jerry Pallotta
Song of the Swallows, by Leo Politi
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Books About Things That Go
Airplanes and Flying Machines (First Discovery Book) by Pascale De Bourgoing
The Little Airplane, by Lois Lenski
The Little Saiboat, by Lois Lenski
The Little Fire Engine, by Lois Lenski
The Little Train, by Lois Lenski
Train, by Elisha Cooper
Freight Train, by Donald Crews
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Poetry
Under the Sun and the Moon: And Other Poems, by Margaret Wise Brown
A Brighter Garden, by Emily Dickenson, illustrated by Tasha Tudor
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Art
Look! Zoom in on Art, by Gillian Wolfe
A Family: Paintings of a Bygone Age, by Carl Larsson
