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Our editors are fans of Montessori bookshelves for nurturing their curious kids. These are our picks that are thoughtfully made for toddlers.
If you’re 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 this children’s literature? If you’re setting up a Montessori-inspired space in your home, we’ve 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 is all about children’s natural desire for knowledge and understanding, so it involves a lot of 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, they’re 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 — enter a bookshelf that’s 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 won’t emit harmful chemicals like VOCs the way materials like vinyl do, and all the wooden shelves we’ve chosen for this list have sustainability credentials to back them up.
Our criteria:
Our team’s outfitted their family homes with safe and sustainable furniture for years. For this guide, we’ve selected the best Montessori bookshelves that are perfect for curious kids. Not only are these picks sustainable and eco-friendly, but they’re 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 they’re ethical and sustainable. We’ve 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 of real, natural wood or other safe and sustainable materials. They’re never finished with harsh chemicals, and are durable as a result.
- AFFORDABLE | Because furniture is a considerable investment, we’ve included a range of price points for different budgets.
If you’re 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 | Rattan-like detailing
Safe Materials | Solid Brazilian pine and bamboo
Price | $229
An expert on all things children’s furniture, Nestig makes cribs, play tables, bedding, dressers, and more — 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 it’s 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 | “I’m 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.” – Anon (Read more reviews.)
2. Piccalio
Best For | A brand that plants trees
Safe Materials | FSC birch plywood
Price | $249
Specializing in furniture they call “design-forward” and “kid-forward,” Piccalio’s 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, it’s in line with California Prop 65, and it’s Greenguard Gold certified, meaning it’s tested for over 10,000 chemicals and is in line with the most stringent emission standards. And if you thought it couldn’t get any better, the brand refurbishes almost all its extra materials, and it donates a portion of proceeds to One Tree Planted.
Customer Review | “So 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!” – Kristen K. (Read more reviews.)
3. Sprout Kids
Best For | A four-foot-long option
Safe Materials | Baltic birch wood
Price | $220 – $335
Sprout Kids specializes in Montessori furniture, specifically, carrying lots of different kid-centered furniture pieces like tables, chairs, shelving, and even Montessori children’s wardrobes. Their Montessori bookshelf comes in two sizes — a three-tier option that measures two feet tall and 30 inches wide, along with a four-tier option that’s 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 doesn’t 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 | “Love 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. I’m so glad I splurged on this that will hopefully last our family for years to come!” – Stephanie S. (Read more reviews.)
4. Oeuf
Best For | Child-centric toy storage
Safe Materials | Baltic birch plywood
Price | $575 – $780
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 children’s books and toys. Designed in Brooklyn and made in an FSC facility in Latvia, Oeuf’s furniture is made of Baltic birch plywood and eco-MDF with VOC-free finishes.
Customer Review | “This 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.” – Martha B. (Read more reviews.)
5. Wood and Hearts
Best For | Five tiers of book storage
Safe Materials | FSC-certified birch plywood and beech wood
Price | $330
Another brand that specializes in Montessori furniture, Wood and Hearts makes a Montessori bookshelf with tons of storage. It measures only a little taller than 20 inches but has five tiers of front-facing book storage. Made of birch plywood with rounded edges, its side panels have handles, making it easy to pick up and move around. The shelf, like all the brand’s bestsellers, comes with a two-year warranty. And speaking of bestsellers, Wood and Hearts makes a ton of other Montessori-inspired furniture, too, like a kitchen tower so your little one can safely help in the kitchen, a Montessori closet, and lots of climbing equipment like climbing playhouses and indoor gyms. Everything is made of high-quality, FSC-certified birch plywood and beech wood, and make sure to keep your eyes out for discounts and codes that the brand often has.
Customer Review | “It’s just the right height for my little one to reach their favorite books. The quality is excellent, and it encourages my child’s love for reading. Highly recommend!” – Sophia C. (Read more reviews.)
6. Milton & Goose
Best For | Wooden play kitchens
Safe Materials | Solid North American Maple
Price | $519
Another piece of furniture that’s a departure from the traditional Montessori bookshelf, Milton & Goose’s 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 | “This piece is solid. Unlike most cubbies on the market, it’s actually built with solid wood and the maple base is gorgeous. I use it as a nightstand in my daughter’s room and it’s the perfect spot for her books, her Alexa, and a clock. I like that it’s built to last and it’s versatile so it can change roles as she gets older.” – Mary (Read more reviews.)
7. TatoyUa
Best For | Lots of color options
Safe Materials | Beechwood, water-based toy paint
Price | $180 – $293
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 they’re 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 kid’s name!
Customer Review | “Arrived much sooner than anticipated. The color and painted finish is beautiful. Took about 10 minutes to put together. All tools and hardware included.” – Sharon (Read more reviews.)
8. West Elm
Best For | Made in a Fair Trade factory
Safe Materials | Acacia wood veneer, solid eucalyptus wood
Price | $399
In true West Elm fashion, the brand has so many different trendy options for children’s bookcases. We love their Mid-Century Toy Dump with a Montessori-inspired book rack on the top, with three tiers of front-facing shelves to display books along with a spacious and discreet bottom shelf for bulkier toys or board games. Made of engineered wood with a solid acacia wood veneer and solid eucalyptus legs, the shelf is Greenguard Gold certified meaning it’s been tested for over 10,000 harmful chemicals, and it comes from a Fair Trade certified factory. The 30-inch tall shelf comes in a few trendy color options, too. And while you’re at it, check out West Elm’s collection of other kids’ shelves like the Modern House Bookcase and the Arches Bookcase.
9. Ferm Living
Best For | Whimsical designs
Safe Materials | FSC certified MDF
Price | $269 – $405
Ferm Living makes a huge lineup of whimsical, beautiful children’s furniture, from storage baskets and chairs to tables and shelves you won’t find anywhere else. While they also don’t make a traditional Montessori bookshelf, they make a couple of kid-centric shelving units that work well for books, storage bins, toys, or decor. The Slope Bookcase has curved edges that evoke rolling hills, along with four storage compartments, while the Slope Shelf has similarly curvy edges and two shelves. They’re both made of FSC certified MDF (medium-density fiberboard). The brand makes tons of other kid-centric furniture pieces and home decor like lamps, rugs, and wallpaper. And check out the brand’s non-kid items if you’re in the market for any unique furniture or home decor for the rest of the house.
Featured image is from Piccalio
Natalie Gale is a Contributing Editor at The Good Trade. She is a Boston-based freelance journalist. When she’s not writing about art, food, or sustainability, you can find her biking to the farmers’ market, baking, sewing, or planning her next Halloween costume. Say hi on Instagram!
