We Can Play Anything!
Published on 7. August 2025
Book
Hardback
28 pages
978-1-78250-955-4 (ISBN)
Description
"Do you want to play at my house?
You can stay and play all day.
We can play anything!"
Maybe the friends will bake cookie animals that roar and quack, be butterflies fluttering in the wind, count rainbow birds, sleep in an animal hotel or put on a show -- together they can play everything!
This vibrant and beautifully simple story from multi-award-winning author-illustrator Marit Tornqvist celebrates the extraordinary imaginations of young children and reinforces the value of play.
You can stay and play all day.
We can play anything!"
Maybe the friends will bake cookie animals that roar and quack, be butterflies fluttering in the wind, count rainbow birds, sleep in an animal hotel or put on a show -- together they can play everything!
This vibrant and beautifully simple story from multi-award-winning author-illustrator Marit Tornqvist celebrates the extraordinary imaginations of young children and reinforces the value of play.
Reviews / Votes
'A celebration of boundless imagination, this picture book will enchant and delight.'-- Foreword Reviews
'Tornqvist captures an enchanting mix of a child's imagination and reality. Endlessly immersive.'
-- Kirkus Reviews
'Celebrates the extraordinary imaginative play of young children and reinforces the value of play. It is packed with endless details for children to spot, with simple words and diverse representation in this beautiful bright book.'
-- Kindling
'A simple celebration of imaginative play with vibrant, gorgeous illustrations.'
-- Youth Services Book Review
'In each scene that the children imagine, you can see how their minds work and how something simple can become larger just with a little imagination. A simple picture book that celebrates imagination and the importance of play.'
-- YA Books Central
'A vibrant celebration of imagination and the value of play.'
-- Geek Dad
'One of our favourite reads... all about the endless possibilities of imaginative play.'
-- Playing With Primrose (Instagram)
'A picture book built on simplicity. Filled with charm and one that could easily become a timeless classic.'
-- Mammy Gittins (Instagram)
Praise for Wake Up, Let?s Play
'A celebration of childhood and friendship, replete with imagination, ambition, and even a bit of mischief? Touching, memorable, exquisite.'
--Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
'I like the soft style of the illustrations and all the vibrant colors.
This board book is adorable from start to finish!'
-- Books for MKs
'The concept is strong and the illustrations are charming.'
-- Youth Services Book Review, 5 stars
Praise for Now That Night Is Near
'A beautifully illustrated cat's-eye view of a quiet bedtime on a farm.'
-- Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
A sweet story, showing how night-time gently creeps into a country farm... The illustrations are soft and cozy and filled with all kinds of little details. '
-- Youth Services Book Review, 5 stars
'The illustrations are soft and peaceful, perfect for getting a little one off to sleep. This is a comforting story, one that has the reassuring message that all is well and safe for the night.'
-- Kaleidoscope Magazine
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Edinburgh
United Kingdom
Target group
Children/juvenile
Interest Age: From 3 to 6 years
Product notice
Paper over boards
Illustrations
colour illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 257 mm
Width: 216 mm
Thickness: 10 mm
Weight
363 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-78250-955-4 (9781782509554)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Marit Toernqvist was born in 1964 in Uppsala, Sweden and divides her time between the Netherlands and Sweden. She studied illustration at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam. In 2011 she was awarded a Golden Plaque from the Biennial of Illustration Bratislava, one of the most prestigious children's illustration awards. In 2024, Marit was the winner of the esteemed Johannes Vermeer Award, the Dutch state prize for the arts, the first time the award was presented to a specialist in children's book illustration.