I’ve grown to love geography study as an adult … mainly because of travel and Montessori geography work! Here are my favorite kids’ books to help with Montessori geography activities or any geography work focusing on continents. They’re also a great addition to a “me on the map” theme.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links (at no cost to you).
Just choose books based on your child’s age and what you think will engage your child’s interest. I recommend checking out the “Read sample” feature on Amazon and reading reviews there. Another place to learn about a book is on YouTube. You can typically see the entire book there.
Montessori-friendly books use photos or realistic illustrations. They don’t have talking animals or a lot of fantasy. But many books that have fantasy and talking animals are wonderful books, and I love sharing them with children who understand the difference between fantasy and reality.
For toddlers and preschoolers, about ¾ of the books I use are typically Montessori friendly (focusing on reality without smiling or talking animals or smiling or talking vehicles).
Books for a Continents Theme
I’m featuring books here for a continents theme mainly for preschool through elementary-age kids. The content of the atlases listed here is organized by continents.
Here’s a fun Instagram reel featuring part of the song used in many Montessori classrooms:
View this post on Instagram
Books on our Themed Shelves:
- DK’s A Journey Around Our Continents
- The Seven Continents
- My Encyclopedia of Very Important Things
- Maps is a fabulous book for many ages with its huge maps and gorgeous illustrations.
Top Shelf of Forward -Facing Display:
- National Geographic Kids Little Kids First Big Book of the World
- My First Lift-the-Flap Atlas
- Lonely Planet Kids The Travel Book
2nd Shelf:
- Smithsonian Children’s Illustrated Atlas
- Continents: What You Need to Know
- My First Atlas of the World has many beautiful photos.
3rd Shelf:
- Usborne Children’s Picture Atlas
- DK’s A Journey Around Our Continents
- Children Just Like Me: A New Celebration of Children Around the World
4th Shelf:
Bottom Shelf:
- Where Do I Live?
- This is My Continent (only available used right now at a much higher price)
- You Are Here: A First Book of Places
You can see lots of Continents Books for Kids here.
Also used:
- A Handful of Numbers
- My Encyclopedia of Very Important Things
- Maps is a fabulous book for many ages with its huge maps and gorgeous illustrations.
Free Geography Packs
Montessori-Inspired Continents Pack for DIY Cards and Counters, Number or Letter Matching, Number or Letter Basket, Bead Bar Work, Hands-on Math Operations, Number or Letter Salt/Sand Writing Tray, Letter Tracing, DIY Movable Alphabet, and Creative Writing (subscriber freebie, so just sign up for my newsletter to get the link and password – or check your inbox if you’re already a subscriber).
Montessori-Inspired Me on the Map Pack for DIY Cards and Counters, Number or Letter Matching, Number or Letter Basket, Bead Bar Work, Hands-on Math Operations, Number or Letter Salt/Sand Writing Tray, Letter Tracing, DIY Movable Alphabet, and Creative Writing (subscriber freebie, so just sign up for my newsletter to get the link and password – or check your inbox if you’re already a subscriber).
More Geography Resources
Free Continents Printables and Montessori-Inspired Continents Activities
Free Continent and Ocean Songs and Rhymes for Circle Time
- “All About Me” Free Printables and Activities for Back to School
- DIY Cosmic Nesting Boxes, Map Towers, and “Me on the Map” Activities
- Montessori-Inspired Compass Rose Activities and Outdoor Compass Walks
- DIY Montessori Globes
- Land, Water, Air Activities from Montessori By Mom
- Montessori Land, Air, and Water Activities
- Continent Map Work
- Montessori Continent Boxes
- Creative Ideas for Montessori Continent Boxes from Around the World
- Montessori Continent Activities for North America (or Applied to Other Continents)
- Montessori-Inspired Continent Activities with Animal Figures and Landmarks – North America
- Montessori Activities for South America (and Other Continents)
- Montessori-Inspired Continent Activities with Animal Figures – South America
- Montessori Activities for Europe (and Other Continents)
- Montessori-Inspired Continent Activities with Animal Figures and Landmarks – Europe)
- Montessori-Inspired Study of Africa
- Montessori-Inspired Continent Activities Using Replicas – Africa
- Simple African Animal and Continent Map Cut-and-Paste Activity {Free Printables}
- Montessori-Inspired Continent Activities with Animal Figures and Landmarks – Asia
- Montessori-Inspired Continent Activities with Animal Figures – Australia
- Montessori-Inspired Little Passports Activities – Australia
- Montessori-Inspired Little Passports Global Adventure (This post contains Montessori-inspired activities for many individual countries using Little Passports packages and resources found online.)
- Earth Exploration Activities from Montessori By Mom (includes a variety of geography activities)
- Montessori-Inspired Map Activities Using Pin It! Maps
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