Book Review of Play with Me
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The Children’s Book Review
Written by Kat Chen
Illustrated by Lorraine Nam
Ages: 1-3 | 15 Pages
Publisher: Rise x Penguin Workshop (2024) | ISBN-13: 9780593659717
What to Expect: Friendship, play, interactive reading, and making choices.
In this gentle interactive board book, young readers will meet a new friend (or two) and have the chance to practice important social skills, from talking about themselves to sharing with others.
Ellison and Rabbit would like to invite you on a playdate! Everyone likes to have someone to play with—but playing with others is about knowing when to give and take, listening and sharing, choosing and deciding. To play nicely with others, you need to share toys, respect other people’s choices, and listen to them with interest and curiosity. Ellison and Rabbit are really good at playing with others, so go on a playdate with them, and they’ll show you how it works! From sharing their cookies to listening to you talk about your favorite book, they’ll show you what caring, empowering play can be like.
The narrator, Ellison, speaks directly to the reader, inviting them to interact by making choices, answering questions, and responding to prompts. The simple, first-person language pairs well with bright primary colors and artwork that deliberately leaves empty spaces the reader can imaginatively fill. Together, the language and illustrations create a cheerful, encouraging, and joyful atmosphere.
Play with Me is a perfect companion for young readers, for learning social skills, or just for whiling away a few quiet minutes with a friend.
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About the Author
Kat Chen is the author of several bestselling contemporary and historical romance books. She also serves on the advisory board for Books for Newborns.
After becoming a grandmother and spending most of her free time helping with “the fun stuff”—conversations, crayons, and crawling—she was inspired to delve into children’s books and help kids master the art of simple conversation through shared play.
Learn more about Kat and her work at kat-chen.com.
About the Illustrator
Lorraine Nam is an illustrator based in Brooklyn, New York. She was born in Philadelphia and spent her childhood drawing pictures and folding origami to pass the time at her parents’ jewelry store. She now spends her days combining those two loves to create her illustrations.
She is the illustrator of the picture book biography on Neil deGrasse Tyson, Look Up With Me, and the upcoming Wei Skates On, by Olympic Gold Medalist Nathan Chen.
Learn more about Lorraine and her work at www.lorrainename.com.
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