Written by Mariana Bissonnette

Illustrated by Alishs Nicole Brumfield, Brenda Brambila, Esma Bošnjaković, Samantha Morales-Johnson, Sophia Marie Pappas, Tracy Nishimura Bishop, and Chie Ushio

During the years that I have been studying the Montessori Method and philosophy, I have read, literally, hundreds of books written by Montessorians, as well as many experts from others in the field of child and adolescent development. Most recently, my focus has been on supporting families, and many good books are out now for parents. This one gets a gold star from me!

Babies Build Toddlers is written to support families of infants through 18 months old. Mariana Bissonnette brilliantly gives readers enough information about child development so that, when they are done, they actually feel secure in their knowledge of infant development and their capability to do the right things for their baby instead of being overwhelmed by too much and, frankly, too technical information.

The author uses a plant analogy to describe how the baby builds the toddler. It’s beautifully simple and sensible! And she has a wonderful sense of humor. You may notice that there is quite a list of illustrators for Bissonnette’s book. Nicely done! The illustrations are fun, colorful, multicultural, multiracial, and multigender. There is no one kind of family.

There are five parts:

1. The Plant (the toddler) This part explains who the toddler is.
2. The Roots (infant development) Here, the reader learns the critical areas of development for infants.
3. The Conditions (the physical and emotional environment) Now the reader learns what infants need to do in their home to develop to their full potential.
4. The Gardener (the adult’s role) Finally, the reader discovers how to best support their baby during these most important months of life.
5. The Full Chart (a timeline for your baby’s growth) The reader gets here, and they know they’re ready!

The author is a Montessorian. The values that we hold dear are all in here: respect; dignity; practice informed by observation; empathy; recognition of potential; independence; order; peaceful interactions; and more.

You can purchase this book (new or used) at most book distributors.

Written by Sonia Sotomayor, US Supreme Court Justice

Illustrated by Rafael López

In this book, a group of children go together to a garden. They decide where to plant flowers, water trees, and enjoy the day together. As each child in the book introduces themselves, we learn that each child is “differently abled.” Some of them take medicine to keep healthy, and some use special tools to get around and learn or act differently than most children do.

The author suggests that, like only having one kind of plant, the world would be quite uninteresting if all humans were the same. She also lets the readers know that it’s okay to ask about differences so we can better understand each other’s unique qualities and circumstances. The illustrations are done in lovely colors and give quite a realistic view of each of the children in the book.

Children 4-8 years old would enjoy this book.

Written by Anne Wynter

Illustrated by Daniel Miyares

Wow! This one is a powerful, well-written, and beautifully illustrated book about a young girl named Nell who plants a seed. The steps from finding a seed to every step along the way to a fully grown tree producing its own pecans are laid out in a lovely and rhythmic story of then and now. It swings gently back and forth through time as the tree and the humans grow and change together over the years.

There is so much to explore about the growth and development of a tree in this story, especially the love, care, and attention it takes for it to thrive. How humans interact with this gift from nature becomes a truly heartwarming story. The memories that everyone makes in and around this tree will never be forgotten. Then, at the end, we come full circle as a new child finds a seed and asks Gramma Nell what to do with it. And, so, it starts again — the wonderful circle of life!