Clear pencil-and-ink drawings with bright digital coloring inspire activity in a book that intentionally encourages physical play. Straightforward dialogue between a parent and two children (brown-skinned) and corresponding illustrations depict imaginative rough-housing in a home setting. “Earthquake!” “Wrecking Ball!” “Rolling Pin!” and “Doughnut” are a few of the expressions and wrestling-style moves enacted by parent and a younger child who uses a hearing aid. When an older sibling wants to join in, the need for a code word is explained so that the play remains safe and fun for all. Occasional full-page illustrations convey the make-believe scenarios, such as when the parent dogpiles on the kids in a “sandwich” move (an animated picture shows the parent lying on the supine siblings amidst the layers of a bread, cheese, lettuce, and deli meat sandwich). For families familiar with creative physical play, this book might offer some new moves or reminders about safe boundaries. For novice wrestling families, the book suggests easy ways to engage in silly, consenting, full-body play.

A lively and humorous depiction of healthy rough-and-tumble play between siblings.

When the oldest and youngest siblings decide to rumble, they do so with great imagination and careful consent. Wrecking ball! Steamroller! Bear hug! Sandwich!... The list goes on of inspiringly creative physical play scenarios, with a running narration of text bubbles between kids. When the middle sibling decides to join, the other two inform her of their code word (“Cantaloupe”), which means “Stop everything!” An engaging and encouraging model of healthy rough-and-tumble play, the benefits of which are explained in pointer-rich back matter for parents and caregivers.