A guide for parents
Learning to read with colours
The Montessori colour-coded reading method, simply explained. Discover how our books help your child decode words using an intuitive colour code.
Montessori reading
Coloured syllables to learn to read
What is Montessori reading?
Maria Montessori, an Italian physician and educator, developed a phonetic approach to reading in the early 20th century. Her principle: rather than memorising whole words, children learn to decode the sounds that make up each word.
To make this decoding easier, the method uses a colour code: each type of sound (phoneme) is represented by a specific colour. Children learn to visually recognise different sounds even before they can read fluently.
The colour code
B
Consonants
b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k, l...
a
Vowels
a, e, i, o, u, y
ch
Digraphs
sh, ch, th, wh, ph, ck...
e
Silent letters
final silent e, silent k, silent gh...
This visual coding lets children identify sound patterns before they can read fluently. The colours act as scaffolding: they support learning, then gradually become unnecessary as the child gains confidence.
The three levels
Inspired by the Montessori progression, our three levels adapt to your child's reading stage.
Pink Level
3-4 years
« First steps »
Simple words of 1 to 3 syllables. Short, repetitive sentences.
Example
"The park!" / "Come!"
Ideal for children just discovering letters. Words are short, sounds are simple, and repetition reassures the child.
Blue Level
5-6 years
« I'm growing up »
Words with complex sounds (ch, ou, an...). Longer sentences.
Example
"Let's go to the park!" / "Hello!"
For children starting to blend sounds. The green-coloured digraphs help them spot complex sounds.
Green Level
7+ years
« I read on my own »
Full sentences with rich vocabulary and varied structures.
Example
"Hello! Today, we're going to the park!"
For beginning independent readers. Colours remain a visual guide, but the child starts reading without help.
How to use the book at home
Five simple tips to guide your child through their reading journey.
1
1. Read together
The parent reads aloud while the child follows the colours with their finger. Point to each word, let them observe the colours.
2
2. Point out the colours
"Show me all the blue letters!" A simple game to familiarise your child with vowels before they even start reading.
3
3. Play with sounds
"What sound does the green group 'ch' make?" Help your child connect the colour to the sound. Repeat with different words from the book.
4
4. Go at your own pace
No pressure! Every child progresses differently. Some will stay at the Pink level for months, others will move to Blue quickly. Both are perfectly normal.
5
5. Move to the next level
When your child reads 80% of words at a level correctly, they're ready for the next one. You can always go back: it's a journey, not a race.
Which level to choose?
The table below helps you choose the right level for your child. If in doubt, start with the Pink level: your child will progress naturally.
| Child's age | Recommended level | Signs of readiness |
|---|---|---|
| 3-4 years | Pink | Recognises some letters, enjoys being read to |
| 5-6 years | Blue | Knows the alphabet, starting to blend syllables |
| 7 years + | Green | Reads simple words alone, wants to read "like a grown-up" |
Tip
If in doubt, start with the Pink level. It's always better to start "too easy" than "too hard". A confident child will progress much faster than a frustrated one. You can move to the next level as soon as your child is ready.
Still unsure? Our quiz helps you find the right level.
Take the Montessori quizCreate a Montessori book for your child
Their favourite cuddly toy becomes the hero of an educational comic book. Colour-coded reading, tailored progression, and above all... loads of fun.
Create my book from €34.90Montessori mode included · Secure payment · Printed in Europe
How it works in our books
In every speech bubble, the text is automatically colour-coded using the Montessori method. Here's how a word is decoded:
Example 1
The word "Fish"
The digraph sh is coloured green because the two letters together make a single sound (the "sh" sound), not two separate letters.
Example 2
The word "Make"
The final e is silent: it changes how the "a" sounds but isn't pronounced itself, so it's shown in light grey.
Example 3: a full sentence
"The fish is here!"
Even in a short sentence, children can visually identify sounds: blue vowels, red consonants, green digraphs (Th, sh), and grey silent letters (final e).