These days, we seem to have less and less time for play. At school, children are focused on exams, while at home we’re all glued to our phones and iPads.   

Here, Michael Rosen shows us why we need more play in our lives. He explores the influence of play on everyone from Shakespeare to Dickens and Dali, delving into the history of play via puns, nonsense, improvisation and physical toys. He also explains why play is a core part of child development, proven to bolster creativity and resilience.   

Above all, play should be fun - and this book is full of silliness and laughter. Every chapter features exercises and prompts for creative indoor and outdoor play for all the family, with specially designed pages for scribbling, word play and more, illustrated by Charlotte Trounce.