Amy Shields — Teacher's Choice Author 2026

Amy Shields is one of roughly one hundred authors whose work was selected by the Montessori-certified teachers at Creative Minds Montessori for the 2026 Teacher’s Choice list — 120 books chosen across four reading stages, from first lap-reads to first chapter books. The selected book was chosen for how precisely it meets children at a real developmental moment. This recognition cannot be bought: no author or publisher paid to appear on our lists, and we take no commission on any book sale.

About Amy Shields

Amy Shields is a longtime editor of National Geographic books who also writes children's nonfiction, including National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Why and several National Geographic Readers titles.

Also by this author: Little Kids First Big Book of How · Little Kids First Big Book of Trucks and Trains

Publisher page: www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2011019/amy-shields

Selected for the 2026 Teacher’s Choice list

Cover of National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Why

National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Why The Why-Askers · How the World Works

Part of The Best Children’s Books by Age, chosen by the teachers at Creative Minds Montessori in Frisco, TX.

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  <p style="margin:0;font-size:14.5px;line-height:1.55;color:#333;">The Montessori teachers at Creative Minds selected <em>National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Why</em> for their 2026 Teacher&rsquo;s Choice list &mdash; <a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/parenting/authors/amy-shields/" style="color:#66853a;font-weight:600;">read their review</a>.</p>
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<p>The Montessori teachers at <a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/parenting/authors/amy-shields/">Creative Minds Montessori</a> selected <em>National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Why</em> as one of their 120 Teacher&rsquo;s Choice books for 2026.</p>