LET'S RUMBLE!

A day of indoor tussling ends not in tears but in sibling togetherness—and opportunities for more creative play.

Two roughhousing kids devise clever names for their many moves, from King of the Castle to Tickle-Bot. As their play gets more raucous, the younger child asks if they can stop. The older one proposes using a code word: “Something we can say when we don’t like the game or if someone gets hurt.” “STINKY FACE!” proposes the younger one, and “SQUISHY BUTT!” The older sibling counters with, “BANANA?” “PINEAPPLE?” The two compromise with “CANTALOUPE,” and the game continues—until the middle sibling, unseen until now, joins the fray with a “SNEAK ATTACK!” The newcomer must learn the guidelines, including the safety word, and then the rumbling resumes. Payne and Pimienta demonstrate that rules aren’t hurdles to playtime; in fact, they can make good times even better. Presented entirely in speech bubbles, the text alternates enthusiastic exclamations with clearly delineated explanations about the importance of the characters' code words. Energetic cartoon illustrations set against plain white backdrops bring to life the kids’ antics; Pimienta also portrays the children’s wild flights of fancy. While performing the Tickle-Bot, for instance, the eldest—depicted as a wheeled automaton—pursues the youngest, arms outstretched. The characters have light brown skin; the youngest uses a hearing aid.

A fun approach to helping rambunctious kids navigate boundaries.