The Child Is the Teacher

“A powerfully gentle portrait of a willful and imperious child who grows into a willful and imperious adult, one whose central and profound contribution to society is the insight that teachers should heed the willfulness of small children.” —Harper’s

“In short, vignette-style chapters De Stefano documents Montessori’s unusual and groundbreaking career path…Montessori never abandoned her faith in the idea that all children, rich and poor, should be more valued, supported, and empowered. And whether we embrace her educational methods or not, in that sense we should all be more Montessorian.” —Washington Post

“This well-researched narrative bears witness to determination, setbacks, sorrow, and overwhelming success…A nuanced portrait of an educational pioneer.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Readers of feminist history will savor this evenhanded profile of a groundbreaking educator and businesswoman.” —Publishers Weekly

“A balanced, well-written, and clear-eyed portrait of a complex, trailblazing woman.” —Library Journal

“An intimate, comprehensive biography…[an] absorbing narrative…that rewards both intellect and emotion.” —Foreword Reviews (starred review)

“[The Child Is the Teacher] goes beyond the typical accounts written by disciples…It is remarkable how much of Montessori’s radical critique still rings true today.” —Reason

“With extensive access to Montessori’s unpublished diaries and letters, journalist Cristina De Stefano has written a compellingly readable account of the personal life of the famous educator.” —Dr. Mira Debs, author of Diverse Families, Desirable Schools: Public Montessori in the Era of School Choice

“In over fifty years of reading and writing about Maria Montessori, I have never found a book, except those written by Dr. Montessori herself, that I could read from cover to cover. The Child Is the Teacher is essential for anyone interested in education, in Montessori schools for children, and in Montessori teacher training for adults.” —Susan Mayclin Stephenson, author of The Joyful Child: Montessori, Global Wisdom for Birth to Three

“De Stefano’s lively new biography of Montessori is a feast—a sympathetic yet clear-eyed view of a complex, revolutionary genius whose mission was to shed new light on children, revealing conditions wherein they become the hope for all humanity. The book is extensively researched and filled with novel insights and information.” —Angeline S. Lillard, Professor of Psychology, University of Virginia

“Cristina De Stefano brings Maria Montessori to life in her important new biography, The Child Is the Teacher. With a fresh, objective perspective as a thoughtful Italian journalist, she gained access to many new original sources that offer a unique window into the life and thoughts of one of the twentieth century’s leading agents of social change and the founder of a global movement to transform education that also led to contemporary brain research. Montessori’s life is a fascinating story in itself. This book will be a must-read work.” —Tim Seldin, President of The Montessori Foundation and Chair of The International Montessori Council

“Weaving history and narrative, Cristina De Stefano takes us on the journey of feminist radical and progressive educator Maria Montessori, from her early days in the anatomy room to the hollowed-out buildings of San Lorenzo, where she envisioned a new pedagogy that placed autonomy at the center of a child’s social and intellectual development. A fascinating portrait of the controversial woman behind ‘The Children’s School,’ The Child Is the Teacher shows how the revolutionary idea about children’s rights depended on a new, peaceful philosophy of humanity.” —Jaipreet Virdi, author of Hearing Happiness: Deafness Cures in History

Praise for Oriana Fallaci:

“Engrossing” —The New Yorker

“It’s the first authorized biography we have of Fallaci, with access to new personal records, and welcome for that reason…it gets her story onto the page and, thanks to its subject, is never dull.” —New York Times