List of Best Montessori Books for 2 Year Olds

This is a continuation of my Montessori book recommendations. You can check out the books I recommended for infants up to 12 months old and for 1 year olds in my previous posts.

Note that these books can also be read to children in succeeding years, and the recommended ages are for when the books can be introduced, not for their independent reading but for understanding concepts which could be helpful in their day-to-day.

Montessori-Aligned Books for 2 Year Olds

1. Edible Colors by Jennifer Vogel Bass

This book teaches children about colors through real-life examples of different fruits and vegetables. It promotes cognitive development and vocabulary building.

2. Edible Number by Jennifer Vogel Bass

This book teaches children about numbers through real-life examples of different foods and their quantities. It promotes cognitive development and numeracy skills.

3. Pancakes! by Lotta Nieminen

This interactive recipe book encourages children to participate in cooking and learn about different foods. It promotes practical life skills and independence.

4. Little Monkey Calms Down by Michael Dahl

This book teaches children about self-regulation and how to calm down when feeling overwhelmed. Providing practical steps how to calm down is helpful to equip the child during meltdowns. Though animals are portrayed in a fictitious way, it paves way to engage the child to visualize the pointers of the book.

5. Going to the Dentist by Anne Civardi

This book helps children prepare for a visit to the dentist by walking through the process. This gives awareness to the child and promotes its importance.

7. Going on a Plane by Anne Civardi

This book helps children prepare for a trip on an airplane and promotes independence and exploration. It encourages children to explore the world around them and develop practical life skills.

8. Going to the Doctor by Anne Civardi

This book helps children prepare for a visit to the doctor and promotes health awareness. It encourages children to take care of their bodies and understand the importance of health and wellness.

6. Going to Get a Haircut

This book walks the reader through the process of getting a haircut and helps prepare the child for it. It also promotes self-care and gives confidence to the child.

9. Ready to Go Toilet Time for Girls & Boys

This book helps children prepare for potty training and promotes independence and self-care. It encourages children to take care of themselves and develop practical life skills. It shows what “big girls and big boys” can do all by themselves. It walks through the steps to peeing on a toilet, including washing of the hands and wearing underwear. We used it without the sticker reward system (which is unnecessary) that comes with it.

10. The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle

This book features beautiful illustrations of the life cycle of a plant, from seed to flower. It promotes an appreciation for nature and an understanding of the natural world. It encourages children to explore and learn about the natural world and understand the life cycle of plants.

11. That’s Not Mine by Anna Kang

This book teaches children about sharing and promotes social-emotional learning. It encourages children to develop empathy and understand the importance of social skills.

12. Clean-Up Time by Elizabeth Verdick

This book teaches children about cleaning up and promotes practical life skills and independence. It encourages children to take care of their environment and belongings.

13. Actual Size by Steve Jenkins

This book features stunning illustrations of animals in their actual size. It promotes scientific exploration and an appreciation for the natural world. The illustrations are beautifully rendered and will capture the attention of young children while promoting scientific curiosity and exploration.

14. We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Helen Oxenbury and Michael Rosen

This classic book features beautiful illustrations and a simple story that encourages children to explore and learn about the natural world. With sing-songy text about a family adventure, it would be an enjoyable read!

15. World Snacks Book Series by Amy Wilson Sanger

This series features books about different snacks from around the world. It promotes cultural diversity and an appreciation for different backgrounds and traditions. It is Montessori-aligned as it encourages children to explore and learn about the world around them.

16. Amazing You by Dr. Gail Saltz

This book teaches children about the human body, particularly about private parts and subtly how babies are made. It encourages children to explore and learn about their own bodies.

17. Bee Bim Bop by Linda Sue Park

With its sing-songy text, this book about how to prepare a Korean dish and about helping prepare a meal will surely be an enjoyable read for the family! It also introduces an Asian cuisine and the recipe for how to prepare it. It encourages children to explore different types of food and learn about different cultures.

We love this book and really enjoy reading it!

18. The World is Full of Babies by Mick Manning and Brita Granstrom

This book teaches about the beginnings of different creatures and the similarities between different kinds of babies around the world. The illustrations are colorful and engaging, and the simple text is easy for young children to understand.

19. How Did God Make Me? The Miracle of Birth by Matt & Lisa Jacobson

This book presents the scientific process of the baby’s growth in the mother’s uterus with real life pictures. We found that the child really enjoys knowing the fact how they were made and how they grew even before they were born. This also answers the child’s curiosity of how they were made, in a simple way.

I try to only list secular books but I made an exception for this one since it is really a good book. I think it would be a great addition for Christian homes.

20. My Milk Will Go, Our Love Will Grow: A Book for Weaning by Jessica Elder

Discusses the transition to eating solid foods and drinking from a cup, to soothing with just cuddles when waking up at night, and more. It’s great because it’s very assuring and expressive of the mother’s love, in the midst of the transition that the child is going to go through. It’s useful for families who are deciding to wean their child from breastmilk.

Conclusion

Reading these books with 2 year olds can provide a fun and educational experience. By encouraging young children to explore and learn about their environment, these books promote self-directed learning and independence. Additionally, by providing a diverse range of books that celebrate different backgrounds and cultures, children can develop an understanding and appreciation for the world around them.

I will continue to add more to the list. Browse through my other book recommendations for infants, 1 year olds, and 3+ year olds.