Judi Orion, a Montessori expert on the birth-to-six plane of development, delivers a no-nonsense call to arms about the vital importance of the right beginning to set the stage for all that follows. Although we often hear and read about the period from birth to two-and-a-half years, Orion communicates the urgency of responding to the developmental needs of the child clearly and powerfully. From her extensive worldwide experiences, she describes the work of the guide in preparing parents, observation that leads to the optimum transition from the infant community to the Casa, a focus on "the child who is not yet there," and the child's love of work when it matches his interests and skills.