Play Lady: La Senora Juguetona

by Eric Hoffman, Carmen Sosa-Masso, Suzanne Tornquist (Illustrator)

A moving story about how the kids in the neighborhood help their "Play Lady" after she's the victim of a hate crime. Includes activity and teaching ideas.

32 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1999

Reviews

[Peace Teachpeacenow · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Play Lady by Eric Hoffman and illustrated by Suzanne Tornquist is the story of a kind neighborhood woman who lets the local children play in her garden. One day her trailer is vandalized. Warning Note: The graffiti on the trailer is very strong and full of hate.

The children are upset for this to have happened to their friend.  So they take action and get their parents to help fix up the mess.

It is a story of about giving of oneself in ways that make a difference and shows activism is possible even by young children who see a wrong and work to make it right.

Written in both Spanish and English, the book features a multicultural mix of people. The main character, the play lady, is Korean. The children are black, Hispanic, and white. One is in a wheel chair. The book provides strong, positive role models for all children.

A Teach Peace Now recommended book.

[Aimee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a bilingual book, spanish and English. The theme is really friends helping one another. These children make a friend with a woman who lives by herself and something happens to her home, then the whole neighborhood joins in to help her fix it up.