Non Fiction book recommendation series

"Our favorites are the Pull Ahead Book series, Rookie Read About
series, First Step nonfiction series, A True Book series, and the
Let's Find Out About Science.   All but the last one have "real
pictures of real people, places, things, doing real stuff", as my kids
call it.

Pull Ahead at least has a series on Animals, American Symbols, Mighty
Movers, etc.   We especially like these because there is a relevant
diagram with parts labeled at the end of each one.  Parts of a fire
truck is an all time favorite work after we read this book near the
beginning of the school year.

Scholastic/Children's Press offers Rookie Read About Science,
Biography, Geography, etc.
True Books and Let's Find Out About Science are longer books but the
kids love them as read alouds and again after they learn to read.  The
Let's Find Out series has multiple levels.  We use both level 1 and
2's in our classroom.


-Alice Allen

Announcing Montessori book club!

Welcome to the Montessori Book Club sponsored by the Montessori foundation and moderated by Tracy Crawford and Sharon Caldwell.

The focus of this new group is to read and discuss Montessori books and gain a deeper understanding of Montessori philosophy as either teachers, parents or individuals interested in understanding more about Montessori education.  The timing of each book read will be flexible depending the group reading although there will be a tentative schedule.  Initially we will focus on three books Montessori Children by Carolyn Sherwin Bailey, 

Maria Montessori: Her Life and Her Work by E.M. Standing, and 

  

Dr. Montessori's Own Handbook by Maria Montessori.  

 

Montessori Children will be the group's primary focus.  It is available free from Google Books currently!  There are descriptions and one Amazon review (where available) below.

The Montessori Foundation has set up an educational moodle to support the book club.  It includes several discussion forums.  Individuals that participate will have the opportunity to discuss general education books and suggest books for future reading.  A special section has been set up to store meaningful quotes that are found in the reading.

The Montessori Foundation will set up a unique page and link to the book club from the home page, but we haven't accomplished this yet.  The book club can be accessed by going to https://www.montessori.org/moodlecourses/

.  We will need to enroll interested individuals by providing a login and password, but we're opening to move to open access.  

Please contact: 

Sharon Caldwell at SharonCaldwell@montessori.org or 

Tracy Crawford at TracyCrawford@gmail.com

For more information!

Montessori Children By Carolyn Sherwin Bailey 
This book is available online and free from Google books. It was published in 1915 and contains some unusual insights into what the early practice of Montessori education was like. One example was that the initial color tablets were spools of silk thread. Ms. Baily went to Rome in order to study the results of Montessori education. She observed the children themselves as well as had the opportunity to meet with Maria Montessori and listen to her lectures. It is primarily a study of the children of a Montessori environment. It is easy to read and very descriptive.

Maria Montessori: Her Life and Her Work by E.M. Standing 
This book is technically a biography, but it contains a very dense summary of Montessori practice and philosophy. E.M. Standing worked closely with Maria Montessori in the writing of it and she read much of the manuscript. Although not written by Maria Montessori, much of it sounds as if it could be her words. This book is heavy on philosophy and includes elements that I have not previously seen in other books such as the sensitive periods for "Learning Good Manners" and "Grammar."

Amazon review
"This is the book that opened Montessori's theories and achievements to me in a way her own writing never managed to. The Standings are not unbiased, having worked with Dr. Montessori --- but they do an excellent job of weaving Montessori's life story with her teaching discoveries and methods. If someone is interested in learning about the Montessori method, and can only read one book, this is the one. There is another biography by Rita Kramer that looks good, but I haven't gotten to it yet. Good luck!"


Dr. Montessori's Own Handbook by Maria Montessori 
This book is written by Maria Montessori and is easy to read. The Handbook is more about the didadic materials and the prepared environment rather than philosophy although any discussion on the Montessori method includes philosophy. There are extensive descriptions of the Children's House, sensorial, language and mathematical materials.

Amazon review
"This short book is like an Army basic training manual. Montessori teaching methods are described in detail, like recipes in a cookbook. An interesting section on food for children recommends large amounts of fat and sugar foods and therefore seems outdated. The systematic order achieved by the method is described as desirable while too much variety and child/teacher interaction is regarded as undesirable. The book warns that over-stimulating a child's imagination could cause him or her to miss the purpose of the lessons (tell that to Barney). The author's works have a ring of truth throughout and are valuable because of the spirit they convey even today."

Review - Montessori Way

Review of The Montessori Way written by Sharon Cauldwell and found on the Montessori Foundation website

The Montessori Way, published in 2003, is an essential addition to any Montessori bookshelf.

The wealth of color photographs and magazine-article style chapters make the content accessible to the layman while providing detailed information for students of  education or staff of Montessori schools.  The first section gives an overview of the  approach, covering those aspects which define good practice in Montessori schools.  The second section examines and explains the concept of “Planes of Development”, clearly outlining how the different stages require a different style of education and how the prepared environments cater for the various age groups.  The last two sections answer many questions parents raise regarding the benefits of Montessori for their children, and give valuable guidelines on choosing a school.

This book provides such a comprehensive treatment of Montessori that schools would benefit from making copies available to prospective parents.  The book also boasts a list of resources and a comprehensive bibliography, along with a reliable index, which make  it an invaluable reference source for schools.

How to Raise an Amazing Child

Review: How to Raise an Amazing Child written by Matthew Rich on the Montessori Foundation website

This publication almost seems to jump off the shelf and is possessed of all the charm, colour, and clarity that those who work with young people have come to expect from Dorling Kindersley publications. All children are born with amazing hidden capabilities and this book directs parents in how to preserve and nurture these invisible capacities in a way which enables every child to grow towards becoming the best possible version of him/herself. It achieves this in a way which is both classical and original, both scholarly and anecdotal, and which is – above all – highly accessible. This is a trademark that we have come to expect from Tim Seldin whose previous publications include The Montessori Way (co-authored by Dr. Paul Epstein) which is, in the reviewer’s opinion, the best general introduction to contemporary Montessori education available.

Although Tim’s book is based on the scientific approach pioneered by Maria Montessori, which research over the last century has consistently shown to aid development in all domains[1], it consists of accessible and relevant information which is useful and appropriate for all loving parents. Much of what Tim writes is based on classic works in the field of child development including Silvana Quattrocchi Montanaro[2], Paula Polk Lillard[3], and Susan Stephenson[4] (to whom he pays special homage in his acknowledgements[5]), however unlike these excellent - and often encyclopedic - reference books How to Raise an Amazing Child can be easily used by any parent from any background.

Rather than painting broad strokes in the language of principle or waxing lyrical on the finer points of philosophy Tim has adopted a style which is clear and grounded whilst remaining comprehensive in its detail. The colorful photographs by the incredibly gifted Vanessa Davies are used to great effect in taking the reader step by step through a number of important exercises in preparing the environment for the young child and presenting and creating learning materials in the home. This creates a sense of rapport and clarity that makes you feel as though you are consulting with the author in person. It is noteworthy that Mr. Seldin has clearly made every attempt to avoid jargon and when he has used more specialized language he has made it not only comprehensible but also relevant. However, what is even more exceptional is that he achieves this while still being able to uphold - and indeed pay homage to - the integrity and purity of Montessori’s vision.

A book of this sort is not without its difficulties, especially considering the diverse readership which it is likely to attract. It concerns me that some of the activities presented here may be misinterpreted and used in a contrived way by people who are not initiated in an ethic of following the child. Ultimately like any handbook of this sort its usefulness is dependant upon the consistency of its use. If the reader attempts to simply glean handy hints from this book (and there are many hidden between its pages) they will find their presentations of the activities somewhat less successful than if they had taken the time to understand the straightforward principles and  pervasive ethos upon which the book is based.

For instance, the three period lesson introduced on p 167 of the text is a superb method for teaching basic vocabulary, however this kind of activity would prove to be of limited value if children were compelled to take part in these lessons against their will (see for e.g. pp 108 ff in the text) or if they were coerced into doing it through the threat of punishment (see for e.g. pp 118 ff, especially at p 121).  Along this line - and I believe Mr. Seldin would agree with me in this regard - there is an increasing need for texts, which possess the clarity and accessibility of this book, and are aimed more specifically at engendering an ethos of peace, respect, and partnership in parent-child relationships.

In summary, I believe that How to Raise an Amazing Child is one of those rare books (in a field assailed with drivel) which every person involved with early childhood development would do well to get their hands on. It attempts to take a philosophy and method which, despite a century of unparalleled accomplishment, has remained obscure in the eyes of the public and make it not only accessible but also practicable in the home of every parent who cares enough to listen. In the reviewer’s opinion the author and publisher succeed admirably. At the very least Tim Seldin has created a highly practical handbook that makes being child-friendly parent-friendly and, as far as I’m concerned, that in itself makes this a book of exceptional distinction.

Caldecott Award winners

The Three Pigs by David Weisner (Caldecott award!)

- It starts as a classic version of the Three little Pigs.  Except the Pigs escape out of the pages of the book.  Then they fold up the pages and turn them into a paper airplane.  The airplane crashes into "Hey diddle diddle."  They rescue a dragon and other assorted creatures go home to the third little piggie's house.  That scares away the wolf!

Other books by David Weisner include (Caldecott award and medal winners.)
- Flotsam
- Tuesday

Once a Mouse by Marcia Brown

- The story of a hermit with magic powers that rescues a mouse, gradually turns him into something larger to save him, then back into a mouse.

- Woodcut illustrations in simple color.

Montessori reflections on Literature and Fantasy

Although I try really hard to use only reality based books, I have to honestly say that I am not 100%.Once in a while a book with animals talking sneaks its way in! For picture books I look for beautiful illustrations and interesting stories. I do read The Kissing Hand the first day of school basically because I have never found a book that is better than that on the subject of transition.

Books of the popular culture like Thomas the Train and Dora are not in my class and if children bring them in, they show their favorite page on the circle and out the book in their cubby. I am careful that what I read aloud to children has educational value...... When a child asks why.... I explain honestly that it will not help our learning.

I have never thought so much about exaggerations but I think a lot about offering a multicultural view of the world and people in it through the literature!


Posted by: "Cathie Perolman"


We had a HUGE discussion about this on this list last year or so and it gave me the motivation to "clean out" my class library. I took out all books that had animals portrayed as people, talking animals and in animate objects, etc. The children have never missed them. There are other books that seemed too fantasy based where it was quite confusing to the children. My feeling is that I am the teacher who the children look up to, and although parents are probably reading fantasy books, sharing fantasy stories, etc, the children know that they can count on me to help them sort out what is real and what is not real. I do have a section of fiction books, although small and non commercial, they passed my inspection years ago and remain on the shelf. To tell you the truth, the children rarely choose one of those books for me to read to them. They usually choose reality books about transportation(current), the seasons, planets, animals, plants and other people and places around the world.


2. If you have a "reality" only policy for books, do you believe that children are not influenced by outside literature or television programming. (Thomas the Tank, Dora Explorer)
Sure they are influenced but just like they know there are different rules at home then at school(it's ok to climb up slides at home, but not at school), they know without reminders what conversations will be at school. That doesn't mean that a cartoon character does not come up among friends, but the influence is not that major in the classroom. Of course, we have in our parent handbook, talk about such things (our classroom is reality based and what that means) so we tend to attract families that share that way of thinking. It is a family value. We still have occasional child that seems obsessed with a cartoon character from home, but I have noticed less children coming from homes that use tv as babysitters like I did at my last school.


Maureen


I don't think that the schools that I worked for had a "policy" about literature. I think that they left it to our descretion. My job before I was trained and was working as an assistant was to bring library books that I selected to school. This was a lesson for the children that the library is an interesting place full of wonderful books to borrow. I had a couple real lapses where I didn't read the books and brought them in and my teacher gave me a look. One was about a man dying of aids. This is a great tool for a parent to child situation but hardly appropriate for a class of thirty preschoolers. My other one was about a boy who fantasized turning himself into a monster and eating his enemies. She started to read this one before we both realized what the plot entailed. Needless to say I "always" read the books that I brought in from then on.


Posted by: "marie.hopkinson@comcast.net"

Children's Books - Nature

Reviews courtesy of Liz at Notes from a Small Town

Ages: 3 and up

Romanova, Natalia. Once There Was A Tree. Ills. Gennady Spirin. New York: Dial Books, 1985.

This book contains detailed illustrations that depict the life of a tree in the forest. The story describes the creatures that make the tree its home (bark beetle, ants) and those that found the tree useful in forest living (titmouse, bear, human). The book addresses the abstract thought of forest ownership. A beautiful book about what happens when a tree lives a great life and provides life after the stump is the only part that remains.

Ages: 3.5 and up

Muller, Gerda. Around the Oak. New York: Dutton Children’s Books, 1994. (American edition).

Clear, crisp illustrations are of the many highlights of this book. Around the Oak describes a year of forest life. In the Fall, Ben and Caroline visit their cousin Nick, whose family lives in the forest with their forest ranger father. Muller introduces the reader to various wildlife and discusses how an oak grows from a tiny acorn. The story is long, but well worth the time it takes to read through. There are lots of extensions for older kids (nature journals, identifying different leaves, etc). Highly recommended.

Ages: 4 and up

Burt, Erica. Natural Materials. Rourke Enterprises, Inc.: Vero Beach, Fl.

A quick and easy guide to craft projects using natural materials. Many of the suggested projects can be simplified for a younger child. An interesting way to combine art and nature.