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Pretend
What could have been a quiet afternoon at home turns into an adventure for Jimmy and his dad. Their couch turns into a boat! The staircase becomes a mountain! And blankets become a cozy hut, just right to cuddle inside. The one thing they don't have to pretend is how much they love one another. Jennifer Plecas's bold artwork and lively text come together in a celebration of imagination and the love between a parent and child. Great for Father's Day, but wonderful for any day that parent and child spend together.
32 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 12, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
May 22, 2018
My son just loves this book. A boy and his father play pretend and go on an adventure
July 21, 2011
I love playing pretend games like "Going On A Bear Hunt" with the kids who come to my programs. I was tickled a year or two back when after doing a "Polar Bear" version of the game a preschool teacher reported that her group went back to school all pretending to still be shivering from their snow adventure!
Sadly, most of the grownups I run into don't seem to know how to PLAY with their kids.If it's not electronic or an activity planned and run by some group leader, they seem to freak out.
But here we have the sort of parent I love, the sort who gets right into the game with his child, following HIS lead and helping him to improvise. A staircase becomes a mountain to climb,the good old chairs and a blanket tent is built. Father and son riff off of each other's imaginations and have a great time. As Jimmy says about his dad, he's "the best. For pretend and for real".
Here's hoping this book inspires more imaginative play in the moms and dads and the kids they read it to!
Sadly, most of the grownups I run into don't seem to know how to PLAY with their kids.If it's not electronic or an activity planned and run by some group leader, they seem to freak out.
But here we have the sort of parent I love, the sort who gets right into the game with his child, following HIS lead and helping him to improvise. A staircase becomes a mountain to climb,the good old chairs and a blanket tent is built. Father and son riff off of each other's imaginations and have a great time. As Jimmy says about his dad, he's "the best. For pretend and for real".
Here's hoping this book inspires more imaginative play in the moms and dads and the kids they read it to!
November 17, 2014
"Pretend" is a children's book that takes place in a little boys living room. The boy and his father pretend they are in a boat in the ocean. The story continues as the boy and his father move to different parts of their house pretending they are sailors discovering an island. The book concludes with the father and the son coming back to reality and assuring each other that they are the best "pretenders".
This book would address imaginary play in the classroom. Children in the younger grades, especially kindergarten and sometimes 1st grade, should given time in school for pretend play to develop social skills and dialog. This books gives ideas to the students how they can play together.
The reading level of "Pretend" is 2.2, so a second grader in the second month should be able to read this book independently.
This book would address imaginary play in the classroom. Children in the younger grades, especially kindergarten and sometimes 1st grade, should given time in school for pretend play to develop social skills and dialog. This books gives ideas to the students how they can play together.
The reading level of "Pretend" is 2.2, so a second grader in the second month should be able to read this book independently.
September 29, 2016
o Summary: A little boy is wanting his father to play pretend with him. The father and son duo never actually leave their house, but they pretend to do so. While playing pretend they travel in the ocean, go to an island, climb up a huge hill, and build themselves a fort. They both love their pretend experience and have lots of fun.
o Grade level: 3rd
o Appropriate classroom use this could be used as a read aloud and could also be used to tell students what the word pretend means if it is ever a vocabulary word.
o Individual students who might benefit from reading: all students would find this book interesting at a young age since most kids enjoy playing pretend
o Small group use: could read on their own
o Whole class use: read at story time for fun or to explain what the word “pretend” means
o Related books in genre/subject or content area:none
o Multimedia connections available: none
o Grade level: 3rd
o Appropriate classroom use this could be used as a read aloud and could also be used to tell students what the word pretend means if it is ever a vocabulary word.
o Individual students who might benefit from reading: all students would find this book interesting at a young age since most kids enjoy playing pretend
o Small group use: could read on their own
o Whole class use: read at story time for fun or to explain what the word “pretend” means
o Related books in genre/subject or content area:none
o Multimedia connections available: none
March 17, 2017
A little boy and his father engage in dangerous adventures - all without leaving their living room. This is a cute book about a kid with a giant imagination, and a nice reminder to parents to embrace the direction your child leads you in and play along.
November 9, 2018
This book is crap. “Jimmy said” and “dad said” appeared a bajillion times throughout. Horribly written. I gave this book to Goodwill just to get this piece of crap out of my house.
December 4, 2019
Summary: This story is a bout a boy and his dad sitting in the living room and playing pretend. they pretend that the couch is a boat and they are out at sea. They travel to an island and build fires all while sitting on the couch. The father and son both have great imaginations.
Review: I really enjoyed this book because I like to read about the bond that the father and son have. They had fun together and it didn't cost any money. I love that they were able to have fun without any electronics.
Book connection:This book can be paired with books about family or about fantasy.
Quote: " "Let's pretend that the stars are coming out and we're building a campfire," Jimmy said. "And then we can look up at the
Review: I really enjoyed this book because I like to read about the bond that the father and son have. They had fun together and it didn't cost any money. I love that they were able to have fun without any electronics.
Book connection:This book can be paired with books about family or about fantasy.
Quote: " "Let's pretend that the stars are coming out and we're building a campfire," Jimmy said. "And then we can look up at the
March 27, 2019
Pretend is such a cute book. It is about a young boy and his dad, who could have a quiet afternoon. But instead, they take an adventure! It allows kids to have extensive imagination. I give this book 5 stars because the illustrations are awesome. The author also seems like she has a great imagination for coming up with a book like this. I would definitely share this with my own kids, as well as my students.
February 28, 2018
This book is about a young boy named Jimmy and his dad. They are just at home in real life, but they go amazing places by using their imaginations. They sail the seas and even find an island. This was a fun read. I would read this to a young classroom. I think it would show them the power of imagination.
October 8, 2018
Jimmy and his dad begin their adventure by pretending the couch is a boat. The story shows us the imagination of Jimmy in contrast to what him and his dad are actually doing.
This is great book to encourage students to compare and contrast what is in Jimmy’s imagination and what is really happening. I think all children can relate to this book and even adults!
This is great book to encourage students to compare and contrast what is in Jimmy’s imagination and what is really happening. I think all children can relate to this book and even adults!
October 26, 2026
Pretend
by Jennifer Plecas
suggested as book that shows the use of imagination.
found on youtube as Pretend by Jennifer Plecas - Read Aloud with Music and Animation on Gold Star Readers
as father and son share a play time. Using their imagination they go on an adventure and catch a fish. They use their minds to impress their envisioned images.
by Jennifer Plecas
suggested as book that shows the use of imagination.
found on youtube as Pretend by Jennifer Plecas - Read Aloud with Music and Animation on Gold Star Readers
as father and son share a play time. Using their imagination they go on an adventure and catch a fish. They use their minds to impress their envisioned images.
May 31, 2019
A fun story about a little boy and his dad who pretend the couch is a boat and they proceed to have lots of adventures together. Sweet example of parent/child bonding and using your imagination. A nice read aloud for an imagination or father themed story time. Great illustrations, too!
June 12, 2019
Any man who wants to be an even better Dad should read this book. But should kids? It seems kinda weird, to me, to read it from the perspective of a child. But then my kids haven't been Jimmy's age for many years so maybe I'm wrong. *I* liked it a lot.
Thank you Little Free Libraries.
Thank you Little Free Libraries.
June 4, 2020
Genre: Fantasy
Grades: K-1
I loved the artwork of this book. I loved that the father was participating in the child's fantasy. I love that the mom tried to interrupt, but the fantasy just kept going. It felt like a real story.
Grades: K-1
I loved the artwork of this book. I loved that the father was participating in the child's fantasy. I love that the mom tried to interrupt, but the fantasy just kept going. It felt like a real story.
December 28, 2020
A father and son play pretend.
This picture book shows a positive father-son relationship and encourages imaginative play.
Disclosure: Dolly Parton was kind enough to send our family this book through her Imagination Library Foundation.
This picture book shows a positive father-son relationship and encourages imaginative play.
Disclosure: Dolly Parton was kind enough to send our family this book through her Imagination Library Foundation.
February 27, 2026
Grade: PreK-2
Genre: Fiction
**This book was a cute, easy read. It shares about a boy who loves to pretend and the scenarios he creates, and his dad, who plays along with him. I think that overall, it was just a heartfelt book about childhood.
Genre: Fiction
**This book was a cute, easy read. It shares about a boy who loves to pretend and the scenarios he creates, and his dad, who plays along with him. I think that overall, it was just a heartfelt book about childhood.
July 27, 2017
Cute book about using your imagination but very repetitive to read out loud (and not in the good way). But over all a pretty descent book!
January 27, 2018
Really good book about pretending. Shows kids how much fun it can be to play with their family and make up stuff!
March 3, 2018
I love that this is a story of a young boy and his father playing pretend in the house. It's good to see a nice relationship between a father and son in this day and age. Lovely story.
May 24, 2018
What a fun story about a boy and his dad playing pretend!
December 5, 2018
I really enjoyed reading this book and the idea it had. It can be very relatable for young kids when they enjoy pretending so much.
May 8, 2019
Good parental relationships
May 9, 2019
Really cute picture book about pretending. A father and son pretend to be lost at sea.
August 13, 2019
This book has been in heavy rotation lately. I think this is great to help a child explore what their imagination could be.
February 15, 2020
A fun tale of imagination and being in the moment.
March 23, 2020
I like when they build a fort.
November 6, 2020
My three year old grandson likes this book.
February 21, 2021
My son really liked this book from about 4-6. From an adult perspective, it's about truly engaging with your child.
June 23, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. It definitely hit my imagination.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews