Books

What is a Montessori busy book?

A busy book, sometimes called a quiet book, is a soft fabric book where every page is an activity: a zip to open, a shoe to lace, buttons to fasten, a flap to lift, a pocket with something hidden inside. There is no story to read and nothing to switch on. The child simply works through the pages with their hands, and that hands-on work is what makes busy books one of the most-recommended Montessori toys for toddlers.

Because they are soft, silent and portable, busy books have become the go-to toy for restaurants, car journeys, church, waiting rooms and quiet time at home.

Which busy book is right for my child?

• Giraffe Busy Book: the softest and simplest, with crinkle pages and big flaps. Best for babies from about six months.
• Bear Busy Book and Cow Busy Book: buttons, laces and zips for one to three-year-olds; cuddly enough to double as a comfort toy.
• Pink Rabbit Busy Book and Raccoon Busy Book: more pages and more challenge for two to four-year-olds.
• Bible Busy Book: familiar Bible stories told through hands-on activities, a favourite gift from grandparents and godparents.
• Montessori Busy Board: not a book, but the same idea on a firm board, with buckles, clocks and switches.
• My Preschool Busy Book: letters, numbers, shapes and time-telling for three to six-year-olds.

What skills do busy books teach?

• Fine motor control: every fastener is a different grip, twist or pull. See the full Motor Skills & Coordination collection.
• Concentration: a busy book has a beginning, a middle and an end, and toddlers love to finish.
• Practical life: zips, buttons and laces are the exact skills they need to dress themselves.
• Language: naming animals, colours, foods and objects page by page with a parent or grandparent.
• Calm: the quiet, repetitive work of a busy book settles a wound-up toddler faster than almost anything else we sell.

Busy books vs. board books

Board books teach language and love of reading, and every home should have a shelf of them. Busy books teach with the hands. Most families use both: board books at bedtime, a busy book in the bag. If you want one gift that does the most for a toddler's development, a busy book is hard to beat, which is why they lead our guilt-free toys guide.

How to care for a busy book

Most of our books are machine-washable on a gentle cycle; check the product page for each. Air-dry flat, and reattach any loose felt pieces with a dab of fabric glue. Treated well, a busy book passes happily from one child to the next.

Every busy book has a 45-day return window. Travelling soon? Our Travel Toys collection pairs busy books with compact puzzles for the journey.