Chapter 7 Play as a Context for Social Development
(0-2 years):
Hines, Anna Grossnickle. (2010). I am a backhoe. New York: Tricycle Press, an imprint of the
Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House.
A boy and his father read a book about trucks and the boy pretends that he is each type of truck read about. He gets down on his knees and digs in the sand as if he is a backhoe. He rolls over like a roller truck. The relationship between father and son is strengthened through their interest in trucks and the shared experience of reading and imagining together.
Bauer, Marion Dane. (2009). One brown bunny. New York: Orchard Books, an imprint of
Scholastic Inc.
One brown bunny goes out to find friends to play with. He encounters two red birds, three black bears, four blue fish, and many other forest friends, all of whom were too busy to play. In this rhyming, counting and color-naming book, children learn that although friends can’t play with you sometimes, they are still your friends in the end.
Ross, Michael Elsohn. (2009). Play with me. Berkeley, California: Tricycle Press an imprint of Ten
Speed Press.
This book looks at children and animals and how they all play with their parents. The author dedicates the book “to children everywhere-may you have plenty of time to play” and includes play tips in the back of the book for simple, natural and inexpensive toys, pretend time, and outdoor space to jump and tumble. He compares animals playing to learn survival and social skills, just as children play to “test their limits and learn about the world around them.”
(3-5 years):
Aliki. (2010). Push button. New York: HarperCollins Children’s Books, a division of HarperCollins
Publishers.
This book addresses the high-tech toys that many small children play with today. The little boy pushes buttons all day on a boom box, telephone, DVD player, and more until his finger gets sore and needs to be bandaged up. Then he reads his books, kicks a ball, digs in the dirt, paints and has a great time with simple toys and his imagination.
Mazer, Norma Fox. (2007). Has anyone seen my Emily Greene? Cambridge, Massachusetts:
Candlewick Press.
Charming book about a father who made lunch for his little Emily then can’t find her when it’s time to eat. He looks behind the curtains, under the table, upstairs, downstairs, in the tub but no Emily. Children will delight as they can spot Emily on each page but father can’t find her, simulating the “hide and seek” game all children love to play.
Bloom, Suzanne. (2009). A mighty fine time machine. Honesdale, Pennsylvania: Boyds Mills
Press Inc. a Highlights Company.
Anteater, aardvark, and kangaroo trade some candy for a time machine kit. They work to build a time machine out of a cardboard box full of many small items, get in it, and wait for it to go. When it doesn’t move, they each find something creative to do as Samantha the aardvark turned the cardboard box time machine into a bookmobile. This book teaches children to use their imagination and turn everyday things into creations.
Merz, Jennifer. (2007). Playground day. New York: Clarion Books a Houghton Mifflin Company.
Using descriptive word groups of adjectives, verbs, and adverbs the author gives voice to a little girl spending a day at the playground. Each activity compares the little girl’s play to the similar activity done by an animal: she builds like a beaver and leaps like a frog. She plays outside all day getting lots of physical exercise until she leaves the park asleep in her wagon with her stuffed animals all around, pulled by her parent.
(6-8 years):
Bunnett, Rochelle. (2003). Friends at Work and Play. Bellingham, Washington: Our Kids Press.
This book shows pictures of real children both playing together and helping each other complete work tasks together. The text explains in detail, using the children’s names, how they are interacting and what exactly they are doing. This books is very multicultural in that it has pictures of children from diverse ethnicities, both rural and urban dwellings, and has a significant representation of children with special needs. Adapting play to include those children in wheelchairs and walkers is an emphasis of this text.
Cowell, Cressioa. (2006). That rabbit belongs to Emily Brown. New York: Hyperion.
The power of imagination is the focus of this book. Emily loves her rabbit, Stanley, and she pretends that they go on many adventures together: into space, deep sea diving, to the Amazon. Emily explains that because she takes such good care of Stanley, her rabbit makes the best toy ever, which is why everyone on those adventures wants him. Of course, she will never give up her beloved toy.
Beaty, Andrea. (2006). When giants come to play. New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers.
Whimsical giants are the main characters of this story that calls upon the imagination. The giants are shown in many different modes of play, including jump rope, tea party, car races, and swimming. The illustrations clearly demonstrate play and the ability of calling upon creativity to engage in self-play when friends cannot come out to join you.
Soman, David and Jacky Davis. (2010). Ladybug girl at the beach. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers (Penguin Group USA Inc.)
Part of the Ladybug Girl series books, this book features Lulu and her dog, Bingo, experiencing play at the beach; each of the books feature her playing in different scenarios. In this book, Lulu builds sandcastles and uses her imagination to dig for pirate treasure. Swimming in the ocean and being careful around the waves is another element of play children experience in this book. Even though she is at the beach with her mom and older brother, engaging in self-play and independent safe play is a backdrop of this story.
(9-12 years):
Cotton, Cynthia. (2008). Rain play. New York: Henry Holt and Company.
Utilizing beautiful prose, this story has children playing outside on the playground until it begins to rain. Illustrations of African American children couple with the prose to show them incorporating the weather into their play: jumping puddles and making boats, until lightening forces them to go inside. Creative, active elements of play are exemplified throughout this story.
Javaherbin, Mina. (2010). Goal! Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.
The power of sports and friendships are examined in this story. Set in South Africa, Anji escapes his poverty and bleak living conditions by playing soccer. His friends rally together to play, despite their chores and the unsafe streets. They consider themselves unstoppable as a team.
Boelts, Maribeth. (2007). Before you were mine. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons (Penguin Group).
A boy talks to his dog, which his family has adopted from the animal shelter. He talks to the dog, questioning what happened to the dog in his previous home. He praises the dog for being such a good companion and enriching his own life and play. This book makes a great discussion on incorporating animals into playtime and the responsibility that comes with treating them appropriately so they stay your close companion.
McPhail, David. (2003). Henry Bear’s park. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
Asked to be a caretaker for the park by his father, Henry takes on the responsibility for maintaining a safe and appealing park area, but realizes just how much work it takes. This story emphasizes a balance between work and play. In addition, thinking about respecting and caring for play space is a theme that can be addressed.