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WE CAN PLAY ANYTHING!

Name: WE CAN PLAY ANYTHING!
Author: Marit Törnqvist
ISBN: 9781782509554

by Marit Törnqvist ; illustrated by Marit Törnqvist ; translated by Polly Lawson ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 21, 2026

As endlessly immersive as a child’s imaginings.

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A youngster pitches a playdate to a friend.

This charming picture book translated from Dutch has a very simple premise: One kid invites another over and speculates about the kinds of games they might play. The text is spare, with just one or two simply structured sentences per spread, which will appeal to newly independent readers. The focus here is on the painterly illustrations, each a frame-worthy work of art. Through rich use of color and texture, Törnqvist captures an enchanting mix of a child’s imagination (a whimsical “rainbow-bird tree”) and reality (the kids playing with an elaborate farm toy set). One fetching scene blends the two as the children race through a meadow with actual farm animals and a plush zebra tagging along. Indeed, attentive readers will notice several stuffed toys (including the aforementioned zebra and a penguin) who come to life and accompany the children on their adventures, whether leading a train made up of cardboard boxes or sitting in the audience as the youngsters perform a play. Toward the end, the children lounge in a kiddie pool with penguin and zebra floaties while the plushies lie in the nearby grass. The book’s narrator is brown-skinned with short dark hair; the friend is pale-skinned with blond pigtails.

As endlessly immersive as a child’s imaginings. (Picture book. 3-8)

Pub Date: April 21, 2026

ISBN: 9781782509554

Page Count: 28

Publisher: Floris

Review Posted Online: May 4, 2026

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2026

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
YOU ARE THE LOVELIEST
by Hans Hagen & Monique Hagen ; illustrated by Marit Törnqvist translated by David Colmer

- BOOK REVIEW
NOW THAT NIGHT IS NEAR
by Astrid Lindgren ; illustrated by Marit Törnqvist ; translated by Polly Lawson

- BOOK REVIEW
WAKE UP, LET'S PLAY!
by Marit Törnqvist ; illustrated by Marit Törnqvist

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ON THE FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN

by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Laura Hughes ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 21, 2016

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of...

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Rabe follows a young girl through her first 12 days of kindergarten in this book based on the familiar Christmas carol.

The typical firsts of school are here: riding the bus, making friends, sliding on the playground slide, counting, sorting shapes, laughing at lunch, painting, singing, reading, running, jumping rope, and going on a field trip. While the days are given ordinal numbers, the song skips the cardinal numbers in the verses, and the rhythm is sometimes off: “On the second day of kindergarten / I thought it was so cool / making lots of friends / and riding the bus to my school!” The narrator is a white brunette who wears either a tunic or a dress each day, making her pretty easy to differentiate from her classmates, a nice mix in terms of race; two students even sport glasses. The children in the ink, paint, and collage digital spreads show a variety of emotions, but most are happy to be at school, and the surroundings will be familiar to those who have made an orientation visit to their own schools.

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of Kindergarten (2003), it basically gets the job done. (Picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: June 21, 2016

ISBN: 978-0-06-234834-0

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: May 3, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2016

Categories:

CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
A PERFECT PLACE TO PLAY
by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Jim Valeri

- BOOK REVIEW
ON THE FIRST DAY OF FIRST GRADE
by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Sarah Jennings

- BOOK REVIEW
FIVE LITTLE BUNNIES
by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Dan Yaccarino

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THE MOST MAGNIFICENT THING

by Ashley Spires ; illustrated by Ashley Spires ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2014

Spires’ understanding of the fragility and power of the artistic impulse mixes with expert pacing and subtle...

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Making things is difficult work. Readers will recognize the stages of this young heroine’s experience as she struggles to realize her vision.

First comes anticipation. The artist/engineer is spotted jauntily pulling a wagonload of junkyard treasures. Accompanied by her trusty canine companion, she begins drawing plans and building an assemblage. The narration has a breezy tone: “[S]he makes things all the time. Easy-peasy!” The colorful caricatures and creations contrast with the digital black outlines on a white background that depict an urban neighborhood. Intermittent blue-gray panels break up the white expanses on selected pages showing sequential actions. When the first piece doesn’t turn out as desired, the protagonist tries again, hoping to achieve magnificence. A model of persistence, she tries many adjustments; the vocabulary alone offers constructive behaviors: she “tinkers,” “wrenches,” “fiddles,” “examines,” “stares” and “tweaks.” Such hard work, however, combines with disappointing results, eventually leading to frustration, anger and injury. Explosive emotions are followed by defeat, portrayed with a small font and scaled-down figures. When the dog, whose expressions have humorously mirrored his owner’s through each phase, retrieves his leash, the resulting stroll serves them well. A fresh perspective brings renewed enthusiasm and—spoiler alert—a most magnificent scooter sidecar for a loyal assistant.

Spires’ understanding of the fragility and power of the artistic impulse mixes with expert pacing and subtle characterization for maximum delight. (Picture book. 4-7)