Full disclosure. We write The Everyday Montessori series, so we’re one side of this comparison. Everything we say about Simone Davies’ books comes from the books themselves and from the publisher’s pages, checked in October 2026. Where her books are the better pick, we say so. This page also contains Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
The Everyday Montessori
Simone Davies
Simone Davies’ books are the best-known Montessori parenting books in English, and for good reason. They’re deep, warm and full of Montessori theory. The Everyday Montessori series takes a different route, with shorter books, one age stage at a time, sample days, quick actions and printables you can use the same afternoon.
Here’s how the two series compare, book by book, down to the price.
The short answer
- Want the full Montessori philosophy? Simone Davies, about 250 to 290 pages per book.
- Want to know what to do today? The Everyday Montessori, about 100 to 120 pages per book, with sample days and printables.
- Price. $19.99 per paperback for Simone Davies (list price), $14.99 per paperback and $6.99 on Kindle for The Everyday Montessori.
- Both? They don’t contradict each other. One explains the why, the other the how.
The Books at a Glance
Babies
The Everyday Montessori Baby
Sophia Carter · 2026
- Ages0 to 18 months
- Pages106
- Price$6.99 Kindle · $14.99 paperback
The Montessori Baby
Simone Davies and Junnifa Uzodike · 2021
- AgesBirth to age one
- Pages288
- Price$19.99 paperback
Toddlers
The Everyday Montessori Toddler
Sophia Carter · November 2026
- Ages18 months to 3 years
- Pages104
- Price$6.99 Kindle · $14.99 paperback
Preschool years
The Everyday Montessori Preschooler
Sophia Carter · December 8, 2026
- Ages3 to 6 years
- Pages122
- Price$6.99 Kindle · $14.99 paperback
The Montessori Child
Simone Davies and Junnifa Uzodike · 2024
- Ages3 to 12 years, plus a teen chapter
- Pages288
- Price$19.99 paperback
✓Included–Partly, or in a different form✕Not included
The Baby Books, Side by Side
| What you get | The Everyday Montessori Baby | The Montessori Baby |
|---|---|---|
| 12 to 18 months covered in full, from first steps to the first “no” | ✓A whole chapter on 9 to 18 months | –Focuses on the first year, with a short look ahead to toddlerhood |
| A sample day for each stage | ✓Newborn, 4 months, 8 months and 14 months | ✕Explains the wake, feed, play, sleep rhythm, with no sample day by age |
| Free printables to use at home | ✓High-contrast cards, DIY mobile templates and an 18-month planner | ✕Nothing to download |
| A five-minute version of every chapter | ✓“Do this today” and “If you only have 5 minutes” at the end of each chapter | –Checklists and observation exercises throughout the book |
| Straight answers to the hard questions at every stage | ✓At the end of each age chapter, plus a full Real Questions chapter | –Common questions grouped in one chapter |
| Short enough to read during a few naps | ✓106 pages | –288 pages, an in-depth read |
| Price (US list price) | $6.99 Kindle, $14.99 paperback | $19.99 paperback |
The Toddler Books, Side by Side
| What you get | The Everyday Montessori Toddler | The Montessori Toddler |
|---|---|---|
| A step-by-step tantrum plan, before, during and after | ✓A full chapter, with five simple steps for the moment itself and a plan for public meltdowns | –Tantrum advice inside the chapter on setting limits |
| A tracker to find what triggers the tantrums | ✓A three-day tantrum tracker | ✕Not included |
| A sample day at different toddler ages | ✓At 20 months and at 2½ years | ✕Advice on daily rhythm, with no sample day by age |
| Free printables to use at home | ✓Picture routine cards, 24 activity cards and a what-to-say fridge poster | –An activity list and an “instead of this, say that” page in the appendix, nothing to download |
| Language milestones and when to call your pediatrician | ✓What helps speech grow, what to watch, when to ask | –Language activities and bilingualism, without a milestone checklist |
| Screen time with the pediatric guidance spelled out | ✓What the American Academy of Pediatrics and the WHO recommend | –A screen time section, without the official figures |
| A five-minute version of every chapter | ✓“Do this today” and “If you only have 5 minutes” at the end of each chapter | –“To practice” reflection questions at the end of chapters |
| Short enough to read in a weekend | ✓104 pages | –256 pages, an in-depth read |
| Price (US list price) | $6.99 Kindle, $14.99 paperback | $19.99 paperback |
The Preschool Years
The Montessori Child covers a wide span, from 3 to 12, with a bonus chapter on the teen years. The publisher describes activities for numbers, literacy, art, science and nature, and a lot on family life and values. If you want one book that grows with your child through elementary school, it’s the natural choice.
The Everyday Montessori Preschooler stays on 3 to 6 only, and goes deep on what fills those years. The meltdown at pickup after a perfect day at school. What teachers actually hope children can do on the first day of kindergarten.
Letters, sounds and numbers in five-minute games. Choosing a school and saying goodbye at the door. It comes with free printables, a ready-for-school list, a letters and numbers starter kit and a calm home toolkit.
We’ll add a side-by-side table for these two books once we’ve compared them page by page, as we did for the baby and toddler books.
Which Series Should You Choose?
Choose Simone Davies’ books if
- You want the full Montessori philosophy, explained in depth by experienced Montessori educators
- You’re expecting and want to prepare from pregnancy and birth (The Montessori Baby starts there)
- You love seeing real family homes and classrooms from around the world
- You’re raising twins, a premature baby or an adopted child, or your child has a disability (The Montessori Baby has sections on each)
- You enjoy a longer book you come back to over the years
Choose The Everyday Montessori if
- You want to know what to do today, in a book you can finish in an evening or two
- You’d like a sample day for your child’s exact stage, on top of the principles
- You want printables you can download, print and use the same afternoon
- Your child is between 12 and 18 months and you want that stage covered in full
- You want clear signs of when to call your pediatrician, in line with US pediatric guidance
- You’d rather spend $6.99 on Kindle to start
Can You Read Both?
Yes, and many parents do. Simone Davies’ books explain the why in depth. The Everyday Montessori books are built for the how, on an ordinary Tuesday. They don’t contradict each other, and they sit well on the same shelf.
Not sure yet? Every Everyday Montessori book has a free sample you can read online, no email needed. For more reading ideas, see our list of the best books on Montessori education.
Questions Parents Ask
Is the Montessori Toddler by Simone Davies Worth Reading?
Yes. It’s a thorough, kind introduction to Montessori with toddlers, with lots of ideas for activities, limits and setting up the home. If you’d rather have a shorter, step-by-step version with sample days and printables, The Everyday Montessori Toddler covers 18 months to 3 years in 104 pages.
What Ages Do Simone Davies’ Books Cover?
The Montessori Baby covers birth to age one, The Montessori Toddler covers ages 1 to 3, and The Montessori Child covers ages 3 to 12, with a bonus chapter on the teen years.
How Much Do Simone Davies’ Books Cost?
The US list price of each paperback is $19.99. Amazon and bookstores often sell them for less, and Kindle and audiobook editions exist too.
Which Montessori Book Should I Start With?
Start with the one that matches your child’s age today. If you want depth and theory, pick Simone Davies. If you want practical steps you can use this week, pick The Everyday Montessori book for your child’s stage.
The Everyday Montessori series
Three short, practical books, one stage at a time. Baby (0 to 18 months), Toddler (18 months to 3 years) and Preschooler (3 to 6 years), each with a free sample and free printables.
Sources
- Hachette Book Group, The Montessori Toddler (pages, ages, date, list price).
- Hachette Book Group, The Montessori Baby.
- MIT Press Bookstore, The Montessori Child (list price).
- Simone Davies’ own site, The Montessori Notebook.
- Contents compared using the books themselves. Prices are US list prices checked in October 2026. Amazon prices change, and launch prices can be lower.