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PLAY LIKE AN ANIMAL! (and enter the giveaway)

April 21, 2020 10:41 am

by Maria Gianferrari

Do you make time to play every day? I won’t lie and say that I do—sometimes life gets in the way, but I’m trying (and mostly failing) at making play a priority. PLAY LIKE AN ANIMAL was born from the realization and the frustration that play is disappearing from kids’ too busy and over-scheduled lives. Young kids have “play dates” and scores of enrichment activities instead of time for free play. Schools are cutting, or even eliminating recess and increasing testing. And it’s not just young kids, it seems that teenagers practically have to be Olympic athletes to participate in sports—what happened to the importance of camaraderie, being a good sport and learning teamwork? And that sports/exercise are beneficial for combatting stress and anxiety too. Is it a wonder our kids are anxious?

Rather than ranting, I chose to write a “playful” book to celebrate play, and to inspire kids, parents and educators to dive right in because play is life—play is important, and not trivial. Play teaches compassion, empathy, cooperation and how to be fair; play helps us express creativity and explore our imaginations; and play helps us problem solve. But above all, play is fun!!

Mia Powell’s vibrant and whimsical art is the perfect match for the active text which encourages kids to get moving and to play like animals do:

Do you plonk like a peccary?
Surf like a dolphin?
Sled like a raven (or crowboard like a crow?)

Lerner Publishing has generously offered to donate a copy of PLAY LIKE AN ANIMAL. Just leave a comment telling us your favorite family game or your favorite way to play to be entered for a chance to win (sorry—US residents only).

Thanks for having me here, Tara, who’s always punny and playful in all of her books!

You. can visit Maria and all her books online at MariaGianferrari.com.

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Posted by Tara Lazar

Categories: Picture Books

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186 Responses to “PLAY LIKE AN ANIMAL! (and enter the giveaway)”

  1. Our favorite way to play is outside, exploring nature on a hike. Favorite game is Rummikub

    By authorlaurablog on April 21, 2020 at 10:44 am

    1. I haven’t heard of that, Laura. Will look it up. I love the name 😉

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:16 pm

  2. I love this idea!! I’m a HUGE YES on more fun crazy play. Thanks for sharing this insight!

    By Cedar Pruitt on April 21, 2020 at 10:48 am

    1. My kids liked creating things–“machines”, forts, costumes. I miss that! Grandkids are in the works, though. 🙂

      By AMY on April 21, 2020 at 12:56 pm

    2. 🙂

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:16 pm

  3. Thanks for thr reminder to play wildly! Congrats!

    By Danielle Dufayet on April 21, 2020 at 10:49 am

    1. It’s medicine that we need right now!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:16 pm

  4. Hi, my favorite family outing is when we go to digging for buried treasure with my kids. We go around wooded areas and look for lost objects with a metal detector. Like a pig looking for truffles, the kids like to dig a little in the ground when the detector beeps. We have found coins, rings and other interesting objects. It’s not only fun but we learn a little about the history of the coins we find too.

    By Bru Benson on April 21, 2020 at 10:52 am

    1. That sounds like a lot of fun! Are you still doing it now?

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:17 pm

  5. I love this book! Playtime is so important! One of my favorite places to play is the beach! 🙂

    By Sheri Dillard on April 21, 2020 at 11:01 am

    1. Hello Sheri! ❤ ❤ ❤

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:17 pm

  6. We have two family favorites. One is baseball in the pool. Outfielders must swim to the ball while batters swim the bases. A second family favorite is cat and mouse which is hide and seek in reverse. The cat hides and the mice must find the cat and get back to base without being tagged. The reversal adds a whole new level of suspense.

    By Gayle Veitenheimer on April 21, 2020 at 11:06 am

    1. The reverse hide & seek sounds especially fun. Thanks for commenting, Gayle 🙂

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:18 pm

  7. During lockdown, Mom is teaching me to play Tic-Tac-Toe. She covers the board with Cheerios and tells me to pick ONE. Then she puts my mark there. Sounds easy enough. The only problem is I don’t know what “one” means, so I eat all 9 in a fraction of a second. Then we play again. And again. And again. Then Mom gets a headache.

    Love and licks,
    Cupcake

    By Cupcake on April 21, 2020 at 11:07 am

    1. Ha!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:18 pm

  8. Exploring outdoors and a box full of well-loved dress-up items for virtual adventures of all sorts! Congratulations on this delightful book!

    By Susan Macartney on April 21, 2020 at 11:08 am

    1. Thanks, Susan :)!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:19 pm

  9. What a great concept. Fantastic! We like pick-up basketball and baseball. Really, anything with a ball!

    By Mary Warth on April 21, 2020 at 11:10 am

    1. True!!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:19 pm

  10. Play outside was the best! Favorite games are Rummikub and Monopoly.

    By Sylvia Mary Grech on April 21, 2020 at 11:12 am

    1. Outside play was my go-to as a kid in the country. Hide & seek in the corn. Rummikub again–must look that up!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:20 pm

  11. Our favorite family game is to play cards. Our favorites are pinochle, spades and euchre.

    By lmconnors on April 21, 2020 at 11:14 am

    1. I haven’t heard of euchre either. Cool-sounding name 🙂

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:20 pm

  12. As my kids got to college age they gravitated to somewhat indecorous card games, like Cards Against Humanity, that I don’t find as fun. I’m more a fan of simple games and hope to soon get out and play some cornhole/bean bag toss. I also do a lot of doodling, which I consider a form of play.

    By fspoesy on April 21, 2020 at 11:17 am

    1. Agreed! Doodling = play. I’ve only played Cards vs. Humanity a couple of times, and I have to admit that it can be quite fun.

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:21 pm

  13. My family has always loved playing board games, not super active, but it’s something everyone agreed on. 🙂

    By Cheryl Johnson on April 21, 2020 at 11:21 am

    1. A classic 🙂

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:21 pm

  14. Our favorite game during at the beach is “Over, Under” with the waves.

    By Helen on April 21, 2020 at 11:25 am

    1. Sounds refreshing right about now!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:22 pm

  15. Logic puzzles & ‘retro’ board games like Sorry and Mousetrap.

    By Lucky Jo Boscarino on April 21, 2020 at 11:27 am

    1. Mousetrap and sorry–old favorites I have not played in ages! Thanks for commenting, Lucky Jo 🙂

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:22 pm

  16. Growing up in the country in Montana, my children always loved snowball fights in winter and water balloon fights in summer. Lots of silliness and giggles accompanied the “fights” along with the occasional tears.

    We also enjoyed board games,puzzles, free form dancing, and reading outloud!

    Thank you for the reminder of the importance of playfulness

    By Gail Atherley on April 21, 2020 at 11:29 am

    1. Sounds lovely! Montana, the little I have seen of it (driving to Yellowstone), was beautiful!!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:23 pm

  17. Before having to stay away from grandkids, I’d engage my grandson in creative dramatics, where we would go on imaginary adventures in the basement or backyard. Now that I’m on my own, I dance to 60’s tunes–very freeing and great exercise.

    By Judith Snyder on April 21, 2020 at 11:30 am

    1. Can you do any virtual games with them? Not the same, but better than nothing! Maybe charades?

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:24 pm

  18. We love playing outside with our dogs! Thanks for the post Tara and congratulations, Maria!

    By Elizabeth Curry on April 21, 2020 at 11:32 am

    1. Dogs love to play! And it’s so fun to do it with them!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:24 pm

  19. This looks like such a great book! Love the active verbs. My favorite way to play as a kid was catching fireflies, jump roping, or jacks.

    By rosecappelli on April 21, 2020 at 11:46 am

    1. I caught many a firefly in my day too, and toads, which were always released 🙂

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:24 pm

  20. At naptime we “play” by taking turns telling a short story sentence by sentence or sometimes, sentences by sentences.

    By C.S. Boyll on April 21, 2020 at 11:47 am

    1. Sounds lovely and relaxing 🙂

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:25 pm

  21. My grandsons love hiking and biking. Indoors, boardgames are a becoming a great alternative to screen time.

    By LeeAnn Rizzuti on April 21, 2020 at 11:53 am

    1. True! One can only look at a screen for so long!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:25 pm

  22. Thanks for this post, Maria! I love to play by creating and goofing around with the pup. We also like to play board games as a family. Play is so important!! 🙂

    By adavis6385 on April 21, 2020 at 11:59 am

    1. Hi Amanda :). Pups are the best playmates 🙂

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:26 pm

  23. I love the idea of this, Maria! I totally agree that play has, in many ways, gone by the wayside, so I’m glad you’re fighting to bring it back! My favorite organization that is doing the same is LetGrow.org–perhaps you’re a fan, too!

    By Sara Matson on April 21, 2020 at 12:06 pm

    1. I will check it out, Sara–thank you!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:26 pm

  24. Oh this looks like such fun! Thanks for sharing

    By Katie Giorgio on April 21, 2020 at 12:24 pm

    1. 🙂

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:26 pm

  25. This is perfect timing, reminding us all the importance of play! What a great book – can’t wait to read. The the image of the dolphins reminds me of my family’s time at the beach every year. We are always scanning the water looking for the dolphins, except when we are in the water playing like dolphins!

    By Laura M Perdew on April 21, 2020 at 12:24 pm

    1. It’s so fun to watch dolphins! I lived in San Diego for a year, and loved seeing them surf and leap. So joyful!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:27 pm

  26. Can’t wait to read your new book, Maria:-) I’m always playing with my furries: hiking with pooches Rosy + Ford (who also is obsessed with tennis balls), getting my house rabbit trio to dance on their hind legs for treats, and tickling my chinchilla!

    By Nancy Furstinger on April 21, 2020 at 12:26 pm

    1. Hi Nancy! So nice to have all of these furry playmates :)!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:27 pm

  27. maria,
    Love your playful language.

    By Susan Twiggs on April 21, 2020 at 12:31 pm

    1. Thanks, Susan!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:28 pm

  28. Love your books, Maria. My kiddies aren’t so little anymore, but we love to play card games, especially week long UNO tournaments. When they were little, Hide & Seek was one of their favorite games. Congrats on the new book. I’ll be looking out for it.

    By Angela De Groot on April 21, 2020 at 12:41 pm

    1. I love playing UNO, and have played it a few times recently :). And I was great at hiding and squishing myself into small spaces as a kid!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:28 pm

  29. Hula hooping,jumprope and building natural fairy houses! Play is the way! Thank you for writing this book and giving one away!

    By Paige Cunningham on April 21, 2020 at 12:59 pm

    1. Hear-hear, Paige! Play every day!!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:29 pm

  30. Love the word play!

    By TerriMichels on April 21, 2020 at 1:05 pm

    1. Merci :)!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:29 pm

  31. Love the illos in these!

    By Mirka on April 21, 2020 at 1:05 pm

    1. Agreed, Mirka–Mia’s art is very playful & beautiful!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:29 pm

  32. Outside: we love to play and explore on beaches, finding hidden treasures. I can’t wait to get back to the beach!
    Indoors: our favorite games right now are Clue and Mysterium.

    By Gabi Snyder on April 21, 2020 at 1:20 pm

    1. I haven’t heard of Mysterium–will check it out. Thanks, Gabi. Outdoor play is the best kind!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:30 pm

  33. My son sent me a video of his kids playing in the dog house. My kids loved climbing trees and climbing in closets and making forts. We even played who can clean the house fastest….I made stop and go signs and they ran through the house cleaning ….that was the best game ever…for this sneaky homeschooling mom.

    By kiwijenny on April 21, 2020 at 1:46 pm

    1. This is the perfect time for forts & tree climbing!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:30 pm

  34. Sadly, I am dreadful at playing. We used to play a lot of chasing games when I was a child…not since. This book might make me try more things! Thanks.

    By Nancy Ferguson on April 21, 2020 at 2:08 pm

    1. I too am guilty of not playing enough!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:31 pm

  35. Sounds like Cupcake has learned fractions and time without knowing it;)

    By Patti Ranson on April 21, 2020 at 2:23 pm

  36. My kidlets have all grown and are in various stages of flying the coop. My husband and I play a board or card game every night – tonight it’s crokinole!

    By Patti Ranson on April 21, 2020 at 2:27 pm

    1. My mother-in-law and her partner play cards every night too!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:31 pm

  37. Garbage or gin if cards. Sorry if a board game:) Seems to be a lot of all of the above going on these days!

    By Karin Larson on April 21, 2020 at 2:42 pm

    1. Which is great! Board games & puzzles too!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:32 pm

  38. This looks like such a fun book! Our family’s favorite game is bocce ball which we play wherever we go. We have our own rules and no one wins or loses because we always forget to keep score!

    By claireannette1 on April 21, 2020 at 2:44 pm

    1. I am of Italian descent (you’d never guess, right?), so was introduced to bocci a long time ago upon visiting relatives in Italia 🙂

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:35 pm

  39. Did not know ravens played in the snow. If I learn nothing else today …
    Thanks for modeling word PLAY.

    By mcglentim on April 21, 2020 at 3:00 pm

    1. They are very smart & playful creatures! Crows & other corvids too!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:35 pm

  40. Sorry, Uno, Tic Tac Toe, and monopoly have always been our favorites. However, “keep it up”(volleyball passing minus the net) in the water at the beach is always a winner.

    By Rebecca E. Guzinski on April 21, 2020 at 3:14 pm

    1. We played a version of “keep it up” with the badminton birdie 😉

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:36 pm

  41. Thank you for sharing

    By Kassy Keppol on April 21, 2020 at 3:18 pm

    1. 🙂

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:37 pm

  42. Anything outside…running, biking, hiking, walking…enjoying the sunshine!

    By Tonya Girouard on April 21, 2020 at 3:19 pm

    1. So true!! Especially in the woods 🙂

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:37 pm

  43. This is absolutely what I needed to see – something fun! Thank you!

    By Rinda Beach on April 21, 2020 at 3:31 pm

    1. Thanks, Rinda :).

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:37 pm

  44. Scrabble is my favorite board game. Hockey is my favorite active game. (Also, I’ve watched ravens play with snow. They are amazing creatures. What a great idea for a book!)

    By Janet Frenck Sheets on April 21, 2020 at 3:52 pm

    1. They are indeed!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:38 pm

  45. Thanks so much for featuring Play Like an Animal here, Tara!! And thanks to all who have commented. I will be back to respond 🙂

    By mariagianferrari on April 21, 2020 at 4:02 pm

  46. Maria, as always, I love your books and this one is no different! My family has fun doing Corn Hole tournaments in the evenings when it’s nice outside! 🙂

    By Debra Kempf Shumaker on April 21, 2020 at 4:07 pm

    1. I had to look up corn hole, Deb ;). Sounds like fun!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:39 pm

  47. Maria: We love to play UNO and of course make-believe princesses. Love your book. Play on.

    By Carole Calladine on April 21, 2020 at 4:22 pm

    1. UNO is the best!! I also like memory 🙂

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:39 pm

  48. Oh how we need a book about playing!! Thanks!
    Our family loves to play board games, especially when everyone comes home for the holidays!!
    Summer..it’s playtime in LBI (a beach in NJ)
    Puppy playtime ,hmm Hank does not know he is 9 years old…he thinks he is still a puppy!!! 🙂

    By seschipper on April 21, 2020 at 4:26 pm

    1. Playing with dogs is the best!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:39 pm

  49. Congratulations, Maria! This book sounds fantastic. Our family loves playing Harry Potter Trivial Pursuit.

    By jennagrodzicki on April 21, 2020 at 4:33 pm

    1. I like trivial pursuit too. Haven’t played in ages!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:40 pm

  50. Congratulations! I couldn’t agree with you more re play. Monopoly is a family favorite.

    By rnewman504 on April 21, 2020 at 4:41 pm

    1. A classic. I have the dog version of it too 🙂

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:40 pm

  51. Congrats Maria and Mia! My favorite game to play with my kids when they were small was “Hibernate” which involved making a bear ‘den’ from blankets and lying very still and cuddled up. Sounds suspiciously and delightfully like napping! 😉

    By Cathy Ballou Mealey on April 21, 2020 at 4:46 pm

    1. Yes it does!! Very cozy, Cathy ❤

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:40 pm

  52. Wonderful, lyrical fun in your book, Maria…and LOVE the illustrations!!
    For fun, and something I need to do more these days, I unpack my giant canvas bag of watercolor paints, brushes, and papers….and lose myself in the painting process…or head outside with my camera in search of an unusual way to really, truly ‘see’ something.

    By csheer18 on April 21, 2020 at 4:51 pm

    1. That sounds great!! I wish I had time to do that now!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:41 pm

  53. I love the concept of this book. Play is definitely important! I play with my kitties, enjoying the romp in the room as they dash. Exercise for us all! 🙂

    By susaninez0905 on April 21, 2020 at 4:52 pm

    1. Cats love to play too, and it’s fun to watch them play chase!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:41 pm

  54. Maria, your lyrical, lovely, FUN picture book is just what is needed NOW! Watercolor ‘painting play’ and searching out unusual ways of ‘seeing’ with my camera lens are the ways I relax and play.

    By csheer18 on April 21, 2020 at 4:55 pm

    1. That sounds great! Any creative pursuit is a form of play 😉

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:42 pm

  55. Uno for cards and Clue for board games :0)

    By Aileen Stewart on April 21, 2020 at 5:02 pm

    1. Clue–haven’t played that in ages!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:42 pm

  56. This looks like a fun book, Maria! I love watching squirrels romp and play in my backyard. For family games, we love kitchen dance parties and backyard tag.

    By Abi on April 21, 2020 at 5:39 pm

    1. Squirrels were in an early version of the book! Love watching them dance & chase each other up and around trees!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:43 pm

  57. So cute! Just tweeted this out to the world. Love the illustrations!

    By Lisa Robinson on April 21, 2020 at 6:08 pm

    1. Hello & thanks, Lisa!! ❤ ❤ ❤ Love Mia's art too!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:44 pm

  58. Lately my favorite way to play is making collage art. I also love walking my dog, doing photography and writing poetry. My husband and I were playing Words with Friends, but it wasn’t always friendly.;)

    By Sarah Tobias on April 21, 2020 at 6:41 pm

    1. I miss walking my dog :(. I don’t know of Words with Friends–will check it out!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:44 pm

  59. I play “Find the Cat”. It is amazing how 10 cats can disappear in a house, especially one that currently has a cone on its head.

    By Stephen S. Martin on April 21, 2020 at 6:47 pm

    1. Ha! Clever creatures!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:44 pm

  60. I love the idea of this book, Maria! Unsupervised, natural play is becoming a lost art. My grands & I like to pretend we are wolves and howl. LOL

    By Kathy Halsey on April 21, 2020 at 6:47 pm

    1. Hi Kathy! A-WOOO! That sounds like fun 😉

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:45 pm

  61. Hide-n-Seek!

    By supermario6 on April 21, 2020 at 7:42 pm

    1. YES!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:45 pm

  62. My favorite form of play as an illustrator is abstract painting in old sketchbooks. I have a small bookshelf of old sketchbooks and sometimes I’ll go through these books and paint over whats there or add more loose drawings, sew in extra pages, that kind of stuff. I have a baby boy on the way so I might need the extra play time now!

    By Bhandi on April 21, 2020 at 8:02 pm

    1. That sounds like a fun process–definitely playful. Congrats!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:46 pm

  63. Guilty of not playing nearly enough! But, when I do get to play…I play with words, word sounds, reading.

    By Linda Mitchell on April 21, 2020 at 8:14 pm

    1. Word play–our friend, Tara, is a master of that!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:46 pm

  64. Play IS so important. I love the concept of your book and the pages you shared. Right now my favorite form of play is making up dances with my nieces.

    By Jennifer Blanck on April 21, 2020 at 9:52 pm

    1. That sounds like fun. Have you had virtual dance parties?

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:47 pm

  65. Congratulations! This book was so fun fun to read my kids. A lot of playful and active words.

    By Ashley Congdon (@AshleyCCongdon) on April 21, 2020 at 9:54 pm

    1. Thanks, Ashley! I hope they enjoyed it 🙂

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:47 pm

  66. Yes fun book! I love the illustratons! Maybe I should repaint this what do you see clouds illustrations in memory of the cloud game. Ha. I will thanks

    By Mireya on April 21, 2020 at 10:22 pm

    1. That would be great! Have fun, Mireya!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:47 pm

  67. What a great idea for a book! My favorite games are those I play with my Chihuahuas: fetch, hide and seek, tricks. Sometimes I sing to my bird and he dances.

    By Chelle Martin on April 21, 2020 at 10:58 pm

    1. What kind of bird? Did you ever see the videos of the dancing cockatoo, Snowball–they’re great!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:49 pm

  68. I love your book. I have a bilingual book PB manuscript, I Want to Play With the Animals. Your’s is so alive with action! Delightful!

    By Ellie Langford on April 21, 2020 at 11:17 pm

    1. Yours sounds great! In what other language?

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:50 pm

  69. Your book looks like so much fun. I’m sure it will encourage more children to play. When our kids were little, we used to go camping and play softball with a big red plastic bat and large white ball. My husband and I have just started playing gin rummy again.

    By Barbara Farr Renner on April 22, 2020 at 12:20 am

    1. I hope it will encourage more parents and teachers and kids to play!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:50 pm

  70. Fun idea! We’re big fans of Monopoly over here..but playing like animals sounds a lot more active! Great stuff..

    By Deb Sullivan on April 22, 2020 at 5:22 am

    1. Perfect for playing now, and burning off some excess energy!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:50 pm

  71. Running barefoot on any greenery or sand we find around Brooklyn!

    By Victoria on April 22, 2020 at 8:02 am

    1. Enjoy!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:51 pm

  72. Never stop playing! Never stop imagining! I love to roughhouse with my dog and we hunt for “things” in the woods.

    By Kate Woodle on April 22, 2020 at 11:19 am

    1. Play every day 🙂

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:51 pm

  73. Yay, Maria! I love this idea! My husband and I play cribbage. And go snowmobiling!

    By Rebecca Van Slyke on April 22, 2020 at 11:32 am

    1. Hi Rebecca! I haven’t been on a snowmobile since high school. It was so fun!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:52 pm

  74. Sounds and looks like a great book. We all need to play!

    By dorothywiese on April 22, 2020 at 11:49 am

    1. Indeed we do!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:52 pm

  75. This looks fantastic! I definitely want a copy!

    My favorite family game is Scrabble. I’ve been playing a lot of it online the past 6 weeks while dad has been isolated in a hospital. It’s lifted both our spirits. I can’t wait until my sons are old enough to play.

    For now, they love to play hide-and-seek and peek-a-boo 🙂

    By Kate on April 22, 2020 at 1:52 pm

    1. I am sorry to hear that, Kate. I hope he’s better now ❤

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:52 pm

  76. I absolutely love the “Ravens play in the snow” page! The first time I saw ravens rolling and sliding down snow and climbing back up to do it again–it was so affirming of the playful and how-just-like-us connection we share with them. So excited and happy on a snowy day 🙂

    By jenniemacdonald on April 22, 2020 at 2:19 pm

    1. How cool that you’ve seen them playing in person! They’re so big!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:53 pm

  77. Looks like another great book, Maria! I can’t wait to read it. All the best to you.

    By Laurie L. Warchol on April 22, 2020 at 5:07 pm

    1. Thanks so much, Laurie! I hope you are well ❤

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:53 pm

  78. I really want to read Maria’s book! I love the emphasis on play as universal among humans and animals! I love the illustrations! Watched Free Willy 2 and 3 on TV the other day, and was struck at how playful orcas are in the wild.

    By Patricia Tilton on April 22, 2020 at 7:26 pm

    1. I hope you will get a chance to read it, Patricia, once libraries open up again.

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:53 pm

  79. I couldn’t agree more. Maria’s words resonate so strongly with my own thoughts on play. Hat off to you for celebrating it in this book, Maria!
    So many indoor and outdoor play favorites. Current ones, due to ages of grandchildren, are the board game LIFE and scavenger hunts.

    By marty on April 22, 2020 at 9:08 pm

    1. Scavenger hunts are the best!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:54 pm

  80. I’ve been playing online Scrabble every weekend with family members in other states!

    By Susan Johnston Taylor on April 23, 2020 at 11:38 am

    1. I haven’t played Scrabble in waaaay to long!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:54 pm

  81. We love to act out picture books. I can’t wait to try this one!

    By LenoraBiemans (@BiemansLenora) on April 23, 2020 at 1:15 pm

    1. Have fun!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:54 pm

  82. We love to play in the dirt. So I guess we could plunder like piggies? LOL. Sounds like a fun book. And I agree-PLAY is essential! Congrats!

    By Angie on April 23, 2020 at 5:38 pm

    1. Plop away!! Mud is fun 🙂

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:55 pm

  83. Congrats, and a big ‘yay’ for play! Thanks so much for the neat use of wonderful words, and the illustrations are terrific.

    By Gail Hedrick on April 24, 2020 at 9:55 am

    1. Thanks, Gail! I love Mia’s art too!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:55 pm

  84. Congrats! Well we have been playing our board games alphabetically and this week we reached the gauntlet of monopoly games!

    By Lauri Meyers on April 24, 2020 at 7:21 pm

    1. Great idea! Enjoy!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:55 pm

  85. Congratulations!…I am all set to play and enjoy this lovely book.

    By kathydoherty1 on April 24, 2020 at 9:49 pm

    1. Have fun, Kathy!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:55 pm

  86. These illustrations are beautiful! Love this idea! My family has been loving outdoor freeze tag as the sun goes down with music blaring. Music of choice is Shakira’s Try Everything from Zootopia and Crazy Train sung by Queen Barb from Trolls World Tour. We throw in a little Coco too!

    By Amanda Sincavage on April 27, 2020 at 11:27 am

    1. That sounds like so much fun! There are so many cool versions of tag! That didn’t quite make it into the book–not enough room!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:56 pm

  87. Looks like such a fun book! Our favorite family game is pretend – even over facetime, my five year old grandson likes to play hide-and-seek. We speak pretend languages, and imagine we are in hot tubs when we are really in cardboard boxes. It’s a great warm-up to writing picture books!

    By Carol Gordon Ekster on April 27, 2020 at 12:24 pm

    1. Pretend languages sounds fun & definitely like a great way to pre-write. Enjoy, Carol!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:57 pm

  88. Love to play pretend. We play like a puppy to teach how NOT to bite:). Love this book and will put it on my to be read, borrowed or bought list. Thanks for sharing.

    By Elizabeth Saba on April 27, 2020 at 1:54 pm

    1. Those puppy teeth hurt! Good luck with that!!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:57 pm

  89. Congratulations, Maria, on your latest! Our family loves card games, but when the kids were younger, they created all sorts of imaginative scenes together. To the power of play!

    By ptnozell on April 27, 2020 at 3:25 pm

    1. Play is powerful, Patricia!! Thanks for commenting 🙂

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:59 pm

  90. Book sounds great. When my daughters and grandsons and we get together we love playing a fast paced card game.

    By Sue (Susan Uhlig) (@susanuhlig) on April 28, 2020 at 2:35 pm

    1. Hi Susan! That sounds fun!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:59 pm

  91. Congratulations on your book, Maria! Our favorite family game is Boggle.

    By evelynchristensen on April 29, 2020 at 10:16 pm

    1. Another classic!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 7:00 pm

  92. Wonderful — great reminder to play! Love your engaging verbs and the lovely art. Congratulations!

    By Lucretia Schafroth on May 1, 2020 at 3:25 pm

    1. Thanks so much, Lucretia!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 7:00 pm

  93. Hide and seek never grows old. It’s a family tradition which anyone can play anytime of day and makes life easier to deal with. Thanks God for play.

    By aliciaminor on May 2, 2020 at 7:22 pm

    1. A timeless classic!

      By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 7:00 pm

  94. Thanks again so much for having me here, Tara 🙂

    By mariagianferrari on May 4, 2020 at 6:15 pm

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