Our Picture Book of The Year - Hatching the Cosmic Egg by Michael J. Dorer
If you are new to Montessori you may not have heard of Michael J. Dorer. If you are an experienced Montessorian or teacher it's likely you've read his work. I haven't heard him speak but he's a brilliant writer and storyteller.
Hatching the Cosmic Egg is a new picture book by Michael J. Dorer that I absolutely love. The concept blew me away as I haven't read a book like this before. It is a story of the universe and humans. It is big picture story about human beings! I would recommend it for children from five years+, those in or entering the second plane of development (6-12yrs).
Hatching the Cosmic Egg fits perfectly with the Five Great Lessons or five cosmic themes including:
- The Universe
- Life and Living Things
- Human Beings
- Language
- Mathematics
The story starts with the wonder of the Universe, the very biggest thing. Then life (plants, fungi, animals), humans (culture, climate, shelter, invention), language, and mathematics (numbers and shapes).
"A master Montessori storyteller and a gifted illustrator take readers on a breathtaking journey across the entire cosmos in this gorgeous picture book. Travel with them as they encounter the Universe, life on Earth, the arrival of humans, and the discovery of language and mathematics. Ultimately readers realize the profound awareness of where we all come from—and where we all belong." - Montessori Services.
The illustrations by Beth Wilson are perfect, they are bold, colourful, and capture the imagination. Beth is an artist and Montessori middle school teacher.
Hatching the Cosmic Egg includes a five-song CD by Andrew Kutt. Andrew is a poet, songwriter, and Montessorian (teacher, administrator, teacher-trainer, and consultant). Songs include The Universe Came to Be, Life Was Formed, Humans Came Along, The Story of Words, and The Story of Numbers.