What do you think?
Rate this book
A Time for Playing
From a chipmunk chase to otters frolicking in a stream, this photographic study explores how and why diverse animals play.
Hardcover
First published September 1, 1994
1 person is currently reading
6 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
Read
December 2, 2015Title: A Time for Playing
Author: Ron Hirschi
Photography: Thomas D. Mangelsen
Genre: Photographic Essay
Theme(s): Play, Animals
Opening line/sentence: Follow a chipmunk on its busy summer day.
Brief Book Summary: All animals play in order to learn and in order to survive. This book uses pictures as well as descriptive captions to explain how animals play with each other.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Children's Literature - Beverly Kobrin
Poetic prose and photographs will delight little ones as they learn how animals play in the wild. In addition to squirrels chasing each other, big white polar bears are shown wresting with each other. Other related titles by this team include A Time for Babies, A Time for Singing, and a Time for Sleeping.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: Ron Hirschi grew up in the Pacific Northwest and developed a deep love and respect for animals. He went to college and studied Wildlife Ecology and has worked for various organizations as a wildlife biologist. Thomas D. Mangelson has dedicated his career as a photographer to the appreciation and protection of North American wildlife. Together they have fashioned a wonderful children's book for kids four through eight years old using photographs of animals at play in the wilderness.
In the text, Hirschi explains some of the reasons why play is good for animals: it helps them learn, strengthens their muscles, and enables them to feel part of a community. Enjoy the photographs of chipmunks exploring the world, elk calves in a meadow, grizzlies in tall grass, polar bears dancing, otters grooming one another, a fox chasing a magpie, and baboons in a group. Hirschi ends the book on a high note of celebration: "Watch closely and you will see many animals playing in the air, on the waves, or in the trees. Like you, these playful animals probably don't ask why they play. They simply play." Book Review by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Response to Two Professional Reviews: Both reviews emphasize why play is so important for animals. The book gives great examples to show the reads how animals play together. The second review also discusses the author, Ron Hirschi, and how he has a great love for animals.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: The setting of this book is extremely helpful to it's storyline. There are different settings such as the wilderness river or tall grass in a field. Each setting that each group of animals are in assist the theme of the story: all animals play differently in different environments. The settings are also extremely beautiful and descriptive.
Consideration of Instructional Application: Have students brainstorm how they play in order to learn and grow. Have students write down three ideas that show how their playing can learn to learning. Do they play specific games at school? Do they play vocabulary games at home? Explain to students how we are just like the animals in the story; children also need to play in order to learn.
Author: Ron Hirschi
Photography: Thomas D. Mangelsen
Genre: Photographic Essay
Theme(s): Play, Animals
Opening line/sentence: Follow a chipmunk on its busy summer day.
Brief Book Summary: All animals play in order to learn and in order to survive. This book uses pictures as well as descriptive captions to explain how animals play with each other.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Children's Literature - Beverly Kobrin
Poetic prose and photographs will delight little ones as they learn how animals play in the wild. In addition to squirrels chasing each other, big white polar bears are shown wresting with each other. Other related titles by this team include A Time for Babies, A Time for Singing, and a Time for Sleeping.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: Ron Hirschi grew up in the Pacific Northwest and developed a deep love and respect for animals. He went to college and studied Wildlife Ecology and has worked for various organizations as a wildlife biologist. Thomas D. Mangelson has dedicated his career as a photographer to the appreciation and protection of North American wildlife. Together they have fashioned a wonderful children's book for kids four through eight years old using photographs of animals at play in the wilderness.
In the text, Hirschi explains some of the reasons why play is good for animals: it helps them learn, strengthens their muscles, and enables them to feel part of a community. Enjoy the photographs of chipmunks exploring the world, elk calves in a meadow, grizzlies in tall grass, polar bears dancing, otters grooming one another, a fox chasing a magpie, and baboons in a group. Hirschi ends the book on a high note of celebration: "Watch closely and you will see many animals playing in the air, on the waves, or in the trees. Like you, these playful animals probably don't ask why they play. They simply play." Book Review by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Response to Two Professional Reviews: Both reviews emphasize why play is so important for animals. The book gives great examples to show the reads how animals play together. The second review also discusses the author, Ron Hirschi, and how he has a great love for animals.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: The setting of this book is extremely helpful to it's storyline. There are different settings such as the wilderness river or tall grass in a field. Each setting that each group of animals are in assist the theme of the story: all animals play differently in different environments. The settings are also extremely beautiful and descriptive.
Consideration of Instructional Application: Have students brainstorm how they play in order to learn and grow. Have students write down three ideas that show how their playing can learn to learning. Do they play specific games at school? Do they play vocabulary games at home? Explain to students how we are just like the animals in the story; children also need to play in order to learn.
Displaying 1 of 1 review