What Game Shall We Play

Pat Hutchins' Woodland Friends

by Pat Hutchins

The animals ask each other what game they should play, but only Owl has an answer.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Fiction

Paperback

First published August 16, 1990

About the author

Pat Hutchins is an English illustrator and writer of children's books.

She won the 1974 Kate Greenaway Medal from the Library Association, recognising the year's best children's book illustration by a British subject. The work was The Wind Blew, a picture book in rhyme which she also wrote. It shows how "a crowd of people anxiously chase their belongings" in the wind.

Reviews

[Christy Swanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome kid book love the art work in this book .
Look for more by pat.

[Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

After about 5 billion times of reading this one in one night, my son decided to take it from me and read it to me himself. Some pages were skipped and none of the words were actually read but he used the pictures as context clues to tell me what the story said. Just based off the look on his face, I could tell he was proud of himself which made the story all the better.

[Cara Byrne · Rating 3 out of 5]

"'What game shall we play?" they asked. "I don't know. Let's go and ask ____." A group of woodland creatures look for something to do, not realizing they are playing a game all along. Unique illustrations and a nice repetitive storyline engaged my toddler throughout the book.

[Shelbi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great child’s book! Especially if they like animal books!

[Miss Pippi the Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

The animals want to play a game. They find each other, but cannot decide until Owl arrives. It's time to play hide and seek!

2025 storytime theme: Pat Hutchins

Reviewed from a personal copy.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Playful sequencing PreK-2 book great for Story Walks or developing retelling skills. Used it for virtual lesson as Story Walk video.

[Mia Balsamo · Rating 5 out of 5]

PB22: This picturebook is probably not deserving of five stars because it is extremely simple and really does not even have any meaning behind it, but I had to give it a five because of the memories I have with this book. It is a great book for young children who just enjoy being read to. My mother would read this book to me almost daily, sometimes multiple times each day and eventually I began to memorize the words so as she was reading the book one day I read the words that I knew to be on that page. For about a minute my mom thought I had taught myself to read, but then she figured out that I had only memorized the words. Every little child needs a book that they know my heart, regardless if it is the best book out there or not.

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The pictures are wonderful. I could imagine she got the idea for the story by listening to her sons.

I got very discouraged when Alissa ate the pages of the books I was reading to her. I read bits and pieces of books and stories whenever I could.

Then I heard Dr. Barbara Swabey speak on TV about children and literacy. She reminded me that kids don't need to see the pictures or even the pages when we read to them Thank you for liberating me, Dr. Swabey!

Thank you for telling me about Dr. Swabey, Anita Ruth Kilpatrick!

[Jessy · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a short book that would be ideal for young students (k-2). The book goes on to a search for each character, and they each have their own expertise for looking. Each animal tags along to find the next friend so that they may all decide on a game.

I don't care much for the book because it doesn't have much meaning to it. I think it's best for young children who don't care what you are reading, as long as you are reading something to them. With that said, it is a short book.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have always been a fan of Pat Hutchins and her simplistic almost folk art style as well as her simple story line aimed at the very youngest. Isn't it great that the game the animals finally play is hide and seek. The fox of this story reminds me of the fox in her Rosie's Walk and the owl is similiar to her owl in Owl tried to Sleep.

[Jessie · Rating 1 out of 5]

A little too simple, a bit too boring... and a bit long.

[Angela · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is a bit too simple and boring. I think kids would enjoy it, but because of its length, they would loose interest quickly.

[Carrie Marie Lawson Brewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about a group of animal friends trying to find a game to play: Owl suggests hide and go seek!!