Recommended Montessori Books to Read                 

Dr. Montessori wrote this book in response to the thousands of requests she received from parents. Clearly written, this book provides a great overview of the Montessori Method and the Montessori materials.

If you only read one Montessori book, we highly recommend this one! It is extremely easy to read and very thorough. It will introduce parents to Dr. Maria Montessori, her method and philosophy of education. This book also confronts many common criticisms and myths, while explaining the timelessness of Montessori education.

Montessori: A Modern Approach has been called the single best book for anyone - educator, childcare professional, and especially parent - seeking answers to the questions: What is Montessori method? Are its revolutionary ideas about early childhood education relevant to today's world? And most important, especially for today's dual-career couples, is a Montessori education right for my child?

Written by Dr. Maria Montessori, the Secret of Childhood is divided into 3 parts. Part One addresses the physiological and developmental stages of the child. In Part Two Dr. Montessori shares the observations and discoveries, which lead to the development of the Method. The focus in Part Three is on work, an integral part of the Montessori classroom.

A presentation on the research concerning eight insights, which are foundational to Montessori education and describes how each of these insights is applied in the Montessori classroom. In reading this book, parents and teachers alike will develop a clear understanding of what happens in a Montessori classroom and, more important, why it happens and why it works. This book presents the studies that show how children learn best, makes clear why many traditional practices come up short, and describes an ingenious alternative that works.

Written by Dr. Montessori during the early development of the Montessori method, it is based on her observations and explores the first philosophies behind many aspects of the program (materials, lessons, teachers). It also goes beyond the materials in the room and explores music, art, speech, discipline and movement. 

A book for true Montessorians! It is comprised of writings and lectures of Dr. Maria Montessori. Although an interesting look into her ideas, it is a challenging read providing a scientific background to the Method. This book is a curriculum book for Montessori teachers in training.

As stated on the back pages, this book provides a complete program for establishing a loving, democratic family atmosphere. The common sense approach to parenting allows us to gain confidence and acquire skills as we undertake this most important job of our lives - parenting.