7 Best Montessori Bookshelves For Early Readers
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Our editors are fans of Montessori bookshelves for nurturing their curious kids. These are our thoughtfully made picks for toddlers.
If youโre anything like our editors, you probably have tons of books at home. And if you have little ones, they probably do, too. So how do you best organize all of this childrenโs literature? If youโre setting up a Montessori-inspired space in your home, weโve got you covered.
The Montessori Method, if you need a refresher, is an education method designed to center children. Named after its founder, Dr. Maria Montessori, the method prioritizes childrenโs natural desire for knowledge and understanding, so it emphasizes hands-on activities and play-based learning.
What is a Montessori bookshelf?
Since the toys and furniture used in Montessori play and learning are usually made of natural materials, all the bookshelves on this list are wooden. But, moreover, theyโre all child-centered. Designed to make it easy for children to pick out and put back books on their own, the bookshelves measure only around two feet tall, and they have front-facing shelves so your little one can see all their books at once and choose the one they want without having to spread all the books out on the floor.
What are the benefits of a Montessori bookshelf?
The Montessori philosophy is all about letting children make their own decisions when possible, fostering creative thinking and independent learning โ enter a bookshelf thatโs designed for children to use themselves, rather than having books chosen and handed to them by an adult. Like other Montessori furniture, the bookshelves are task-oriented, helping teach children agency, problem-solving, and fine motor skills.
The bookshelves are also made of safe, sustainable materials. They wonโt emit harmful chemicals like VOCs the way materials like vinyl do, and all the wooden shelves weโve chosen for this list have sustainability credentials to back them up.
Our criteria:
Our team has outfitted their family homes with safe and sustainable furniture for years. For this guide, weโve selected the best Montessori bookshelves for curious kids. Not only are these picks sustainable and eco-friendly, but theyโre also made to last. We update this piece with emerging favorites that meet the following criteria:
- SUSTAINABLE | All of the brands are transparent about their production processes, so you can be sure theyโre ethical and sustainable. Weโve included details about where these products are made and any third-party certifications like FSC, GREENGUARD, and Fair Trade.
- NATURAL & RECYCLED MATERIALS | These bookshelves are made from real, natural wood or other safe, sustainable materials. Theyโre never finished with harsh chemicals, and are durable as a result.
- AFFORDABLE | Because furniture is a considerable investment, weโve included a range of price points for different budgets.
If youโre interested in adding more Montessori pieces to your home, have a look at our guides to the best Montessori toys, our favorite play gyms, and the best toddler tables and chairs.
1. Nestig
Best For | Montessori bookshelves with rattan detailing
Safe Materials | Solid Brazilian pine and bamboo
Price | $349+
An expert on all things childrenโs furniture, Nestig makes cribs, play tables, bedding, dressers, and more โ along with a selection of shelves. Their Cove Montessori bookshelf combines form and function, with two levels of shelving for front-facing book storage and rattan-like detailing, too. It has safe, rounded corners, and itโs handcrafted in a Brazilian family-owned factory of solid Brazilian pine and bamboo. Full assembly is required. Nestig makes a handful of other child-friendly shelving units, too, like their Hide and Seek unit, with both open and closed shelves, and their Seabound shelf and Starship shelf, designed to look like a sailboat and a spaceship, respectively.
Customer Review | โIโm so impressed with the Nestig Cove Montessori Bookshelf! The entire bookshelf is made of real wood, and you can tell the quality is exceptional. It was fairly simple to put together, and the finished product is absolutely adorable in my son’s nursery. It’s refreshing to finally have a high-quality product, especially compared to most furniture you buy online that needs assembly. This bookshelf is sturdy, beautiful, and a perfect fit for our space.โ – Anon (Read more reviews.)
2. Piccalio
Best For | Birch Montessori bookshelves
Safe Materials | FSC birch plywood
Price | $169+
Specializing in furniture they call โdesign-forwardโ and โkid-forward,โ Piccalioโs Montessori bookshelf is one of our favorites. The bookshelf is simple and chic, with rounded edges all around, three tiers of front-facing deep shelving all at toddler height, and a storage shelf hidden in the back for stashing extra books or toys. It measures exactly two feet high, and it was even designed by a Montessori mother. The brand has some impressive sustainability specs, too. They put safety first, using only natural materials and low-VOC finishes. The bookshelf is made of FSC birch plywood, itโs in line with California Prop 65, and itโs Greenguard Gold certified, meaning itโs tested for over 10,000 chemicals and is in line with the most stringent emission standards. And if you thought it couldnโt get any better, the brand refurbishes almost all its extra materials, and it donates a portion of proceeds to One Tree Planted.
Customer Review | โSo happy we purchased this bookshelf for my 18 month old daughter’s bedroom! The bookshelf was very easy to put together (took me about 45 mins) and is really great quality. My daughter is easily able to take books off the shelf and put them back on herself. Highly recommend!โ – Kristen K. (Read more reviews.)
3. Sprout Kids
Best For | Large Montessori bookshelves
Safe Materials | Baltic birch wood
Price | $120+
Sprout Kids specializes in Montessori furniture, specifically, carrying lots of different kid-centered furniture pieces like tables, chairs, shelving, and even Montessori childrenโs wardrobes. Their Montessori bookshelf comes in two sizes โ a three-tier option that measures two feet tall and 30 inches wide, along with a four-tier option thatโs 30 inches tall and almost four feet wide, allowing your little one to see up to 20 different books at once. The angled shelves keep the book covers fully visible, and they make it easy for your toddler to put away their books on their own. Made in the US, the shelf doesnโt even require tools to assemble, and it comes with a free, optional wall anchoring kit. Sprout sources all their wood from areas where they know the forests are responsibly managed, they use VOC-free finishing on their wood, and they ship their products in space-saving flat packages with minimal styrofoam or plastic wrap.
Customer Review | โLove how easy it was to put together, and that it has flexibility for different book sizes. It was easy to tell this quality is superb compared to most cheap furniture pieces. Iโm so glad I splurged on this that will hopefully last our family for years to come!โ – Stephanie S. (Read more reviews.)
4. Oeuf
Best For | Montessori bookshelves with toy storage
Safe Materials | Baltic birch plywood
Price | $370+
A brand that departs from the traditional Montessori bookshelf, Oeuf makes a collection of kid-centric pieces like a child-sized version of their Mini Library and their Toy Store, a shelf for toy storage designed to make it easy for kids to see, access, and choose their own toys. Measuring 29 inches tall, the Toy Store has three tiers of angled storage bins, each of which is separated into three sections. The Mini Library has four levels of open storage, along with two storage cabinets with easy-to-open drawers for child-friendly functionality. It comes in a vertical option, too, giving you a compact and stylish way to store childrenโs books and toys. Designed in Brooklyn and made in an FSC facility in Latvia, Oeufโs furniture is made of Baltic birch plywood and eco-MDF with VOC-free finishes.
Customer Review | โThis is a great shelf to load up with books. Assembly was simple and the piece is clearly strong and sturdy. My daughter loves the small cupboards to use as houses for her toys.โ โ Martha B. (Read more reviews.)
5. Wood and Hearts
Best For | Front-facing Montessori bookshelves
Safe Materials | FSC-certified birch plywood and beech wood
Price | $169
Another brand that specializes in Montessori furniture, Wood and Hearts makes a thoughtfully designed kids bookshelf that encourages independence from an early age. Best for children ages 1 to 6, the low-profile bookshelf features two front-facing display shelves so little ones can easily see, choose, and put away their favorite books on their own. It’s crafted from high-quality birch plywood with smooth, hand-sanded edges and convenient built-in side handles, making it easy to move from room to room. The bookshelf also comes backed by a two-year warranty. Beyond bookshelves, Wood and Hearts offers an extensive collection of Montessori-inspired furniture and play equipment, including learning towers, wardrobes, climbing gyms, Swedish ladders, and indoor play sets. Many of the brand’s products are made from FSC-certified birch plywood and beech wood and finished with child-safe, water-based coatings — so they’re as durable as they are beautiful.
Customer Review | โItโs just the right height for my little one to reach their favorite books. The quality is excellent, and it encourages my childโs love for reading. Highly recommend!โ โ Sophia C. (Read more reviews.)
6. Milton & Goose
Best For | Montessori wooden play kitchens
Safe Materials | Solid North American Maple
Price | $359+
Another piece of furniture thatโs a departure from the traditional Montessori bookshelf, Milton & Gooseโs Cubby bookshelf is a multi-use, child-friendly shelf that makes it easy for kids to see and store books and toys alike. The shelf has four large compartments, each of which measures exactly one square foot. Built to last out of Baltic birch plywood and solid North American Maple, the shelf keeps toys and books organized while still keeping them easily accessible for your little ones. The brand crafts all of its furniture in the US, and it has a few other child-friendly shelves, too, like its Archie bookshelf and Archie bench, both of which have an elegantly arched front and cubby-like storage. The brand offers a two-year warranty on its whole lineup of child-focused products built to last, like play kitchens, tables, and chairs.
Customer Review | โThis piece is solid. Unlike most cubbies on the market, itโs actually built with solid wood and the maple base is gorgeous. I use it as a nightstand in my daughterโs room and itโs the perfect spot for her books, her Alexa, and a clock. I like that itโs built to last and itโs versatile so it can change roles as she gets older.โ โ Mary (Read more reviews.)
7. TatoyUa
Best For | Colorful Montessori bookshelves
Safe Materials | Beechwood, water-based toy paint
Price | $60+
This small family production in the Ukraine handmakes durable, safe, wooden furniture geared towards kids, and you can only buy their products on Etsy. Among dollhouses, wooden toys, stools, and little tables and chairs, TatoyUa also makes two different styles of Montessori bookshelves. The larger one measures 25 inches wide and 30 inches tall, while the smaller one is 20 inches wide and 24 inches tall. They both have three tiers of front-facing shelves for books, side handles, and a storage shelf on the bottom for extra books or bulky toys. They come in lots of fun color options, too, like green, blue, or yellow, and theyโre made of birch plywood and beech wood with water-based toy paints that meet European standards. You can even get the shelf customized with your kidโs name!
Customer Review | โArrived much sooner than anticipated. The color and painted finish is beautiful. Took about 10 minutes to put together. All tools and hardware included.โ โ Sharon (Read more reviews.)
