Ways to Play by Lyn Miller-Lachmann, Gabriel Alborozo
Published by Levine Querido on August 8, 2023
ISBN: 1646142594
Pages: 32
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads

Riley likes to play in ways that his bossy older cousin Emma says are all wrong. Emma and her little sister, Violet, make a lot of noise when they play. Riley, however, can sit for hours doing one particular thing, like tearing paper or sharpening crayons or lining his stuffies up by size. Riley finally takes the girls out into the yard to play ball with Charlie the dog. Charlie doesn’t play ball right so they have a grand time chasing after him around the yard illustrating Riley’s point that there are lots of ways to play. Although it’s never explicitly mentioned that Riley has a diagnosis, it seems likely the child is autistic, like both the author and illustrator; many neurodivergent children will feel affirmed. There are cartoon-like illustrations of fair-skinned children with big heads and no adults present. Reminiscent of the Peanuts comic strips.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library