As this rambunctious picture book fully illustrates, everyone loves to play. Lots of activity keeps a youngster healthy and strong. As you page through this celebration of play with its rhymed narrative, it becomes clear that "play" takes many forms.

Where a puppy and its mother may engage in a game of tug-of-war with an old sock, some polar bear cubs enjoy sliding in the snow and a group of squirrels play tag high up in the branches of a tree.

Be it rolling in the mud (elephants), seeing how high you can jump (kangaroos) or surfing the waves (puffins), every creature enjoys some type of playtime. Not quite as spontaneous as the "critters," the human family featured in the book spends their time together building a dog house, cooking together, and, best of all, frolicking at the beach.

Just in case you need them, the author also includes some "Play Tips" at the back of the book. Hopefully not too many individuals will need advice on how to handle their child's "unscheduled" time, but if they do, Ross has a few suggestions.