WAYS TO PLAY

A child’s playtime activities differ from those of other kids—and that’s more than OK.

Riley likes to play in ways that “Bossy Older Cousin Emma” says are all wrong. Emma and her little sister, Violet, make a lot of noise when they play, and they hop from one toy to another very quickly. Riley, however, can sit for hours doing one particular thing, like sharpening crayons until they have “the pointiest points,” perfect for drawing beautiful spirals. “That isn’t how you’re supposed to do it,” Emma says. Riley takes the girls out into the yard with Charlie the dog. Emma and Violet expect Charlie to bring the ball back during fetch, but Riley knows Charlie’s method of playing—being chased around the yard. Eventually, they all fall down laughing. Inspired by her own childhood, Miller-Lachmann, who is autistic, is keenly aware that there are many ways of having a good time, and the straightforward, spare first-person narration centers Riley’s experience. Although it’s never explicitly mentioned that Riley has a diagnosis, it seems likely the child is, like the author, autistic, and many neurodivergent children will feel seen and affirmed. Alborozo’s pen-and-ink artwork has a nostalgic charm, depicting light-skinned human characters with large round heads, similar to mid-20th-century comic strips. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Validating.