By: Ivonne H. Hobfoll, Child Psychologist

WOW! This book is a beautiful and necessary book, not only for children, but also for parents, child caretakers, and child therapists.

In our fast paced world where children are being driven to multiple activities throughout the week to make sure they are "well rounded and successful in life",we don't realize that we are creatingType A Personality Kids; just "mini versions" of the adults, always looking forthe goal ahead, even if it means we are not enjoying today, right now. In Francesca Ms. Oelschlager reminds us of the loss. Weare forgetting the most important part of childhood, which is to PLAY.

In the process of having fun during play, children are learning about themselves and their world, their abilities, how to make friends, how to cope with all the ups and downs of their lives. Child Psychologists know that Play is a veryeffective way to reach children and get them to expresstheir fears, joys, anger, and other emotions inside them, including what went on that day in school, or with their pet.It's much easier to revive their fish 10 times in playuntil they have stopped crying than in real life.

Ms. Oelschlager has made us see the point of play in this very FUN book! Otherwise, Francesca could be one of those adults, who achieves her goals and can'tunderstand whyshe is depressed. She would have to relearn to "live in the moment and play." I give it a lot of thumbs up!!!