There's A Book for That!

I’m back again with more book recs! As an educator, I often turn to books to help answer difficult questions or to start a conversation about a challenging situation.

The right books can illustrate real-world experiences in a way that children can understand and relate to. For parents, books can encapsulate what you want to say in a child-friendly way, offer a neutral introduction to a difficult topic, or be used as a springboard for a more extensive discussion. They also allow children to return and engage with a topic when they feel ready: often, this is not at the first read.

Over the years, I’ve collected titles for a wide variety of situations and topics. We’ll be sharing book recommendations with you in each newsletter going forward, so if you have some requests for topics, let us know!

For this issue, here are five of my current favorites for tackling changes that might be coming up in your child’s life.

Moving House by Anne Civardi

Great for Toddlers and Preschoolers, the simple text and eye-catching illustrations document what happens when a family moves to a new house, including packing and unpacking and meeting new friends and neighbors.

Ages: 2 - 5 years

Goodbye, Friend! Hello, Friend by Cori Doerrfeld

This sweet book focuses on the idea that when one experience ends, it opens the door for a new experience to begin. Following two best friends, it details the hard goodbye of a friend moving away.

Ages: 4 - 8 years

You Were the First by Patricia MacLachlan

Sentimental and caring, this book serves to remind first-born children that they will always be loved, even when welcoming a new baby. It also does double-duty, as appropriate, celebrating that one and only children are precious as well.

Ages: 4 - 8 years

The Next Place by Warren Hanson

This gorgeously illustrated book offers calming and inspiring reassurance to the loved ones left behind when someone passes away. The text is open-ended, allowing families to incorporate their own beliefs and values.

Ages 2 - 7 years old

The Koala Who Could by Rachel Bright

Kevin, our protagonist, doesn’t like change, but, as we well know, change is inevitable. This delightful story shows children that stepping outside of their comfort zone can bring great new experiences!

Ages: 2 - 5 years

By Head of School Pherooz Karani

Want to learn more? Read our next article:

BENEFITS OF PRACTICAL LIFE FOR TODDLER DEVELOPMENT

Comments

Další články

Learning Mathematics in our Primary Classrooms

Maria Montessori often stated that not only does every human being have an innate drive to understand the environment around them, we all also naturally have what she called a “Mathematical Mind”. In the Montessori classroom, mathematical learning begins through indirect preparation long before a child is ever introduced to any Math materials.

IMSP’s LIDOVÉ NOVINY

Introducing IMSP’s LIDOVÉ NOVINY, a Czech-language newspaper written, edited, and assembled by our Upper Elementary students. This project was inspired by renowned Czech writer Karel Čapek. Čapek, best known for inventing the word „robot“, was beloved for his versatile and multi-genre pieces. Bouncing between modern fairytales, short stories, travel-logs, and biographical work, Čapek also had a particular affinity for the feuilleton, a short newspaper essay designed, not only to inform the reader, but to amuse them as well.

Cooking With Children can be fun

It is often said that “the family that eats together, stays together”. We would like to suggest taking it a step further – and encourage every family to cook together, too. In Montessori, we know that kitchen work provides a host of benefits to children, all the way from toddlers to adolescents; it is a part of the Practical Life curriculum as soon as children can walk! However, its advantages are in no way tied to the classroom and can be just as easily – if not more so – applied at home.

Make homemade soap with your toddler!

All you will need is 100g of soap, rubber molds, turmeric powder, lemon or orange essential oils, fresh lemon or orange, and a grater or zester.

Six Months as an IMSP Toddler

It has always been my priority to bring my kids up to be independent and curious and to treat them as my equal, if somewhat smaller in size; Montessori education therefore held a great appeal when it came to choosing a kindergarten. It has been six months since my daughter, who is just about to turn three, started attending IMSP and it is a joy and a privilege to observe how she thrives and develops.