The Game of Light

Les Jeux

by Hervé Tullet

In the dark, use a light and the pages of this book to make designs on the ceiling.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Art

14 pages, Board Book

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Hervé Tullet is the creator of more than fifty children’s books, including Press Here, which has been translated into twenty-seven languages. He loves to provoke surprise with his books, as well as in the dynamic workshops that he takes part in. He lives in Paris and is celebrated internationally for his playful, inventive, and interactive storytelling.

Reviews

[Ghazaal B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book and her twin (The Game of Shadows), are serious sources of creativity for me. As a [future] cinematographer and a [current] light enthusiast, this due have really blown me away with ideas and the possibility of infinite creativity.
Don't look for the Ebooks. The books are out of print so you might find used ones on Amazon or E-bay. Do not hesitate. These "Le Jeux" Series might actually change your life.

[carpe librorum :)]

Este autor estava em destaque na biblioteca e esta era uma das obras que pude explorar. Faz parte de uma série de livros-objecto simples e surpreendentes. Com uma lanterna, vai projetando a luz e revelando a história:

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Novelty item that encourages the reader to shine a flashlight through the die cut board pages to cast shadows on the walls and ceiling.

[Melissa Swistek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love these interactive books for babies! The reader shines a light through the page to allow the shadow shapes to play on the ceiling.

Requires a little coordination and practice.

[Maquandolofai unfiglio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr P incantato dalle ombre che si creano. Lo usiamo al buio prima della nanna

[Ghazala Ansari · Rating 5 out of 5]

We unpacked the book in the night. It was just Zizou (he's one and a half) and me to begin with. But over the next 40 mins, the entire family jumped into the game! All of us wanted to feel the boat sailing on the wall, and wait for the flowers to drop from the ceiling, and catch the little fish swimming across walls. A friend of mine was right - dammit, the french really do get it!

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could be fun to read to Baby Girl and use a flashback to shine the cut-outs on the wall. Just reading this normally made me feel nauseous with so many cut-outs on each page. Or maybe this could be a Daddy/Daughter book 😉

[Parsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

My class:

We can't read this, it's daytime, there is no light, normally you should read this with a light behind each page... What? It's sunny? Oh yes! Oh I get it, you can hold the pages up in the sunlight and then it makes the shadows on the ground. Oh look, there are flowers, so pretty!

[Johanna Florez]

my foster baby pulled this off the library shelf himself when I thought we were done picking books, and is absolutely captivated by the pages even when there's not light shining through them. a winner for infant visual stimulation

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

We wish this book was longer! A simple board book, flashlight or lantern needed.
Explore this with your toddle, preschooler, middle schooler or older ASAP. You will not be disappointed!

[Alexa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The use of light and shadows in this book is super cool.

[Banshee Mabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una perla, come tutti i libri di Tullet.
Per illuminare le forme ritagliate del libro al buio.

[Leo]

Leo did not like it when he was younger and he still doesn't like it at 10 months old.

[StoryTimeReadAloud · Rating 4 out of 5]

Board book with cut outs to shine a light through. Awesome for a cozy bedtime story at home, shining shapes on to the walls and ceilings. Also worked very well with my first grade students--they squaled with glee at each new page. The text is fine-but it was the shining lights that put it over the edge.

[Asho · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a clever idea: shine a flashlight through the cutouts in the book to make patterns on the wall or ceiling. I can't wait to read this one to my baby boy!

Updated January 2016: My baby boy is now almost 4 years old (how?!) and although I had read him this book a few times through the years it never clicked...until now! Now he LOVES it. His dad showed him how to shine a flashlight on the book and make the shadow pictures, and he is fascinated. As a bonus, his 14-month-old sister also thinks it's great and oohs and ahhs and points at all the shapes and patterns. This is so simple, but something I would never think to do, and definitely a hit!

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is definitely a different kind of book conceptually. You're supposed to read this book with a flashlight so that you can project the cut out images onto the wall of a dark room. Darkness would make it it harder to see the words, but the words aren't really the focus here. This is a nice craft book. Younger readers would probably enjoy this quite a lot. Keep it in mind for younger readers or for creative types.

[N · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went out and bought this, which is rare for me working in the library, and it was so, so cool for about the first 20 minutes and then I didn't want to play with it anymore. I really only like the stars. I don't really think I'm the target audience though. My 2 year old is pretty into the flashlight now.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hervé Tullet writes and illustrates fantastically imaginative and artistic books for young children, and this book is no exception. My three-year-old daughter loves reading/playing with it before bedtime (simple text accompanies cut-out images that you shine a flashlight through to make fun patterns on the wall). This is a book we're very happy to have in our children's collection.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author is amazing! I love his work! This title is a book of cutouts that when held up to a light will make the pattern on the wall. This perhaps the most fun bedtime story I've ever read. I highly recommend this title.

[Michelle Nero · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another interactive book by Tullet. The girls and I grabbed the flashlight and headed to the basement to create magical objects on the ceiling. We must have read it at least five times in a row.

Fun, but nothing terribly special.

[Tatiana]

It's really nice!

[Georgiana · Rating 3 out of 5]

To be used with flashlight.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The kids (and parents!) got a kick out of this at storytime.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. You need a flashlight to have fun with it. Kids would LOVE it. Fun bed time activity. I think I'd like to own this one someday.

[Marissa Elera · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not Tullet's best, but still creative.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Neat idea.

[SB · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this would be a really fun way to change up evening reading!

[Him · Rating 5 out of 5]

we have a great bed story time with this book

[Katterley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun interactive book you should read with a flashlight. Did I mention fun?

[Marcia Van Camp]

This book has lots of fun cut out shapes so you can shine a flashlight through it and make patterns on the wall.