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We All Play
Animals and kids love to play! This book celebrates diversity and the interconnectedness of nature through an Indigenous perspective, complete with a glossary of Cree words for wild animals at the back of the book, and children repeating a Cree phrase throughout the book. Readers will encounter birds who chase and chirp, bears who wiggle and wobble, whales who swim and squirt, owls who peek and peep, and a diverse group of kids who love to do the same, shouting:
We play too! / kimêtawânaw mîna
We play too! / kimêtawânaw mîna
40 pages, Hardcover
First published May 25, 2021
19 people are currently reading
670 people want to read
About the author
Julie Flett
30 books141 followersJulie Flett is a Cree-Metis author, illustrator, and artist. She has received many awards including the 2017 Governor General's Award for Children's Literature for her work on When We Were Alone by David Robertson (High Water Press), the 2016 American Indian Library Association Award for Best Picture Book for Little You by Richard Van Camp (Orca Books), and she is the three-time recipient of the Christie Harris Illustrated Children’s Literature Award for Owls See Clearly at Night; A Michif Alphabet, by Julie Flett, Dolphin SOS, by Roy Miki and Slavia Miki (Tradewind Books), and My Heart Fills with Happiness, by Monique Gray Smith (Orca Books).
Her own Wild Berries (Simply Read Books) was featured in The New York Times and included among Kirkus’s Best Children’s Books of 2013. Wild Berries was also chosen as Canada’s First Nation Communities Read title selection for 2014–2015.
Her own Wild Berries (Simply Read Books) was featured in The New York Times and included among Kirkus’s Best Children’s Books of 2013. Wild Berries was also chosen as Canada’s First Nation Communities Read title selection for 2014–2015.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 321 reviews
November 12, 2021
I loved the author's dedication to her father, which acknowledges his impact on her life: "kinanâskomitin, dad, for your gentle heart and the medicine of your humor. Growing up with you taught me about our connections to the land and inspires so much of the work that I do."
The illustrations are lovely and the text is playful. Reading this book while looking at each picture of animals or children at play slowed down my thoughts and and provided relaxation. My favorite picture is of the bobcats (pisiwak in Cree) that "nudge and nuzzle." A list of all the Cree names for animals is listed in the glossary.
The illustrations are lovely and the text is playful. Reading this book while looking at each picture of animals or children at play slowed down my thoughts and and provided relaxation. My favorite picture is of the bobcats (pisiwak in Cree) that "nudge and nuzzle." A list of all the Cree names for animals is listed in the glossary.
December 17, 2021
Lovely picture book by Cree-Metis Julie Flett, including Cree names for each animal and other things throughout. The art is the main draw here, simple and crisp and sweet, though another plus is that it's dedicated to her father, who taught her about nature and its relations to humans.
May 28, 2021
“...Whether we are running and hopping through the grass or rolling along the street or pondering creatures in the creek, we are all connected, living in relationship and in care of one another, in kinship. In Cree, this is called wâhkôhtowin.” Julie Flett in the author's note.
Exquisitely illustrated, connective, gentle, playful. A refreshing, calm breath.
Exquisitely illustrated, connective, gentle, playful. A refreshing, calm breath.
October 20, 2024
Cree/Métis author and illustrator Julie Flett in her 2021 We All Play: kimêtawânaw (which I own as a board book) presents a sweetly simple combination of text and images, with We All Play: kimêtawânaw highlighting both the Cree language and thirteen endemic to the USA and Canada animals (namely rabbits, foxes, turtles, owls, belugas, seals, geese, bears, bats, wolves, bobcats, snakes and buffalos, singular in the text proper of We All Play: kimêtawânaw but that at the back of We All Play: kimêtawânaw, the plural and diminutive forms are also being featured), the Cree nouns for child and baby, the verbs "to play" and "to sleep" as well as the adverb "also") and equally the interconnectedness of humans and animals, a delightful picture book that should please Julie Flett fans both young and old (as well as newbies of course, as well as readers and/or listeners experiencing with We All Play: kimêtawânaw Flett as an OwnVoices author and artist for the first time).
And in We All Play: kimêtawânaw, Julie Flett draws illustrative and textual parallels between the way in which both the various species mentioned above and equally so children (in other words humans) frolic around, with the repetitive structure of We All Play: kimêtawânaw showing three types of animals engaging in two play-like behaviours each and then being followed by an image of children doing the same and the refrain of "We play too! kimêtawânaw mîna” both being fun and also cementing said similarity, showing and demonstrating for example how seals bubble and bend, snakes slip and slide and children playing outdoors throughout the four seasons often behave similarly if not the same (including at the end of We All Play: kimêtawânaw, both animals and children snuggling together and falling asleep after their active play-times).
With Flett's aesthetically stunning, visually delightful earth-toned illustrations showing animals and children gambolling around on clean, cream-coloured backgrounds and not only reflecting but also visually expanding on her simple and sparse dual language English and Cree text, We All Play: kimêtawânaw acts in a two-fold manner, showing how similar animals and humans are, that both animals and children play and enjoy themselves and also showcasing, also focussing on Cree as a language. So yes indeed, We All Play: kimêtawânaw is a delightful and engaging picture book that is likely to appeal to many young readers, since in my humble opinion toddlers (up to around the age of four or five) should enjoy Julie Flett's playful and cutely depicted animals and older readers will hopefully like and appreciate learning new words in Cree.
And well, the only reason as to why my rating for We All Play: kimêtawânaw is four and not five stars is that I do think Julie Flett should also be including a pronunciation guide for the Cree words on the page of We All Play: kimêtawânaw that features her list of animals (and most definitely, I do find it rather cheering that in We All Play: kimêtawânaw, Flett obviously considers humans as also belonging to kingdom animalia).
And in We All Play: kimêtawânaw, Julie Flett draws illustrative and textual parallels between the way in which both the various species mentioned above and equally so children (in other words humans) frolic around, with the repetitive structure of We All Play: kimêtawânaw showing three types of animals engaging in two play-like behaviours each and then being followed by an image of children doing the same and the refrain of "We play too! kimêtawânaw mîna” both being fun and also cementing said similarity, showing and demonstrating for example how seals bubble and bend, snakes slip and slide and children playing outdoors throughout the four seasons often behave similarly if not the same (including at the end of We All Play: kimêtawânaw, both animals and children snuggling together and falling asleep after their active play-times).
With Flett's aesthetically stunning, visually delightful earth-toned illustrations showing animals and children gambolling around on clean, cream-coloured backgrounds and not only reflecting but also visually expanding on her simple and sparse dual language English and Cree text, We All Play: kimêtawânaw acts in a two-fold manner, showing how similar animals and humans are, that both animals and children play and enjoy themselves and also showcasing, also focussing on Cree as a language. So yes indeed, We All Play: kimêtawânaw is a delightful and engaging picture book that is likely to appeal to many young readers, since in my humble opinion toddlers (up to around the age of four or five) should enjoy Julie Flett's playful and cutely depicted animals and older readers will hopefully like and appreciate learning new words in Cree.
And well, the only reason as to why my rating for We All Play: kimêtawânaw is four and not five stars is that I do think Julie Flett should also be including a pronunciation guide for the Cree words on the page of We All Play: kimêtawânaw that features her list of animals (and most definitely, I do find it rather cheering that in We All Play: kimêtawânaw, Flett obviously considers humans as also belonging to kingdom animalia).
July 28, 2021
A delightful concept book from Julie Flett that will be especially great to read with the littles in elementary school. It's a joyful read and connects children with animals and nature in a lovely way.
February 8, 2021
ART IS GORGEOUS. I really loved this one because it includes words from the Cree language and has a resource that allows you to hear how each is pronounced. Pretty cool and much needed.
I received this advance reader copy from a giveaway sponsored by the publisher--thanks!
I received this advance reader copy from a giveaway sponsored by the publisher--thanks!
November 30, 2021
A warm, cozy book for young children. This was written by a Cree author and has Cree words imbedded into it's text. The picture book combines short phrases and gentle illustrations and ends with bedtime which makes this a wonderful book to curl up together and read before bedtime.
October 31, 2021
A sweet picture book with simple words and simple art showing how animals are like people (or, how people are like animals). Nice details in the art (like a dung beetle rolling bison poop) will reward children who study the pictures.
Kids who love to pretend to be animals will love this.
I was disappointed that there weren't more Cree words worked into the story. Many words are listed in a glossary, but just a few are used in the body of the story. Not many kids sit patiently to listen to what's in the glossary.
Kids who love to pretend to be animals will love this.
Animals hide
and hop
and sniff
and sneak
and peek
and peep.
We play too!
kimetawanaw mina
I was disappointed that there weren't more Cree words worked into the story. Many words are listed in a glossary, but just a few are used in the body of the story. Not many kids sit patiently to listen to what's in the glossary.
July 7, 2021
Rich and simple. Flett's illustrations just get better and better.
July 29, 2021
Children and animals both love to play. This picture book incorporates Cree words into the narrative. Animals play in the grass, hopping, sniffing, sneaking. They peek and peep. Children play too, leaping through the grass or laying down in it. Animals swim and so do children. Animals slide and rumble and wiggle, just like children sledding in the snow. Animals settle down, roosting and yawning, finally falling asleep. Children do too.
Told in very simple language, woven with Cree words, this picture book shows the connection the natural world and its value to children in particular. The Cree words repeat with the children themselves saying them, something that would be great to do in a story time when this book is shared. The illustrations show a diverse group of children playing outside, acting just like the animals. A glossary of Cree words is offered at the end of the book along with a list of the animals who appear on the pages.
A frolic of a picture book that speaks to the importance of outdoor play. Appropriate for ages 2-4.
Told in very simple language, woven with Cree words, this picture book shows the connection the natural world and its value to children in particular. The Cree words repeat with the children themselves saying them, something that would be great to do in a story time when this book is shared. The illustrations show a diverse group of children playing outside, acting just like the animals. A glossary of Cree words is offered at the end of the book along with a list of the animals who appear on the pages.
A frolic of a picture book that speaks to the importance of outdoor play. Appropriate for ages 2-4.
November 24, 2021
4.5 stars. I really like the language explanation at the end.
July 3, 2021
A lovely comparison of animals playing and children playing which emphasizes the connection between everything in nature. There are Cree words included in the text and also Cree names for the animals in an afterword. This would make a wonderful read aloud in story time and if you want to make sure you pronounce everything correctly, you can visit https://greystonebooks.com/products/w... which has a wonderful teacher's guide and a link to pronunciation.
I was going to talk about play being a child's work (a thought that has been attributed to Rousseau, Montessori, Piaget, and Mr. Rogers) but I think it would be more accurate to say that play has purpose - even if there is no thought to that purpose while it is occurring. Animal play often has purpose, too. It might be practicing hunting skills or food gathering or agility. Even as they play, children are learning and developing. So encourage your child to explore nature, to learn, and to play!
I was going to talk about play being a child's work (a thought that has been attributed to Rousseau, Montessori, Piaget, and Mr. Rogers) but I think it would be more accurate to say that play has purpose - even if there is no thought to that purpose while it is occurring. Animal play often has purpose, too. It might be practicing hunting skills or food gathering or agility. Even as they play, children are learning and developing. So encourage your child to explore nature, to learn, and to play!
January 7, 2022
A joyful celebration of play and the diversity and interconnectedness of nature through an indigenous perspective, complete with a glossary of Cree words for wild animals at the back of the book, and children repeating a Cree phrase throughout the book. Lovely illustrations rendered in pencil and pastels.
November 16, 2021
Very simple and cute. Wish the Cree was on every page for every sentence and not just the "We all play" lines
February 2, 2022
I've been a fan of Julie Flett's illustrations for a long while, and this book brings her gorgeous and distinctive aesthetic together with simple but compelling text, perfect for little ones both in an individual setting as well as in storytime. Action words invite the reader to think of ways to embody them, and the book as a whole is playful. The text itself plays with alliteration and similar vowel sounds, and the illustrations play with animals both big and small demonstrating the same words. Poses from both animals and children are highly energetic and expressive. Three Cree phrases are used and repeated, rooting the book firmly in Flett's culture, but the author's notes on pronunciation, Cree words for the animals in the illustrations, and a sweet note about her memories of play with her father invite us all to play along with her. Just perfect.
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November 17, 2021Perfect for storytime, the simple text of this repetitive picture book describes all different kinds of ways that animals and human children play. This would be great for a storytime about animals or movement and I think you could incorporate lots of participation. The earth-toned illustrations are a good match for a book celebrating the natural world and our place in it.
January 21, 2021
Review to follow
October 16, 2021
Beautiful illustrations and gorgeously playful text. We all Play is a perfect addition to our growing collection of Julie Flett stories in the learning commons.
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April 4, 2025Is every Julie Flett book the best Julie Flett book? Probably.
July 17, 2021
Beautiful illustrations, lovely simple text. Perfect for a baby and toddler playgroup.
January 4, 2022
Adorable illustrations
October 24, 2021
Simple, sweet. Interconnectedness/ respect for animals and our planet woven in. Partially in English and partially in Cree, lovely playful art.
Great for 0-5 crew.
Great for 0-5 crew.
June 23, 2024
A book about play with a glossary of Cree words. Utterly delightful.
The animals featured are ones from North America. Each pair of pages show either animals doing something: rabbits hiding and hopping. Or children doing something similar with the phrase: We play too! (kimêtawânaw mîna).
https://pussreboots.com/blog/2024/com...
The animals featured are ones from North America. Each pair of pages show either animals doing something: rabbits hiding and hopping. Or children doing something similar with the phrase: We play too! (kimêtawânaw mîna).
https://pussreboots.com/blog/2024/com...
September 13, 2021
Featured in a grandma reads session.
An endearing book that encourages play, each page showing that kids play, and animals play all in many of the same ways. Underscoring all is that the play each species engages in is important to their lives and their development as they grow. Play may seem random and just a reaction of a happy-go-lucky spirited creature, but it is much more intentional and purposeful to meeting their futures and finding their way in the world.
My group enjoyed this. . .they pretty much dig anything with animals in it.
An endearing book that encourages play, each page showing that kids play, and animals play all in many of the same ways. Underscoring all is that the play each species engages in is important to their lives and their development as they grow. Play may seem random and just a reaction of a happy-go-lucky spirited creature, but it is much more intentional and purposeful to meeting their futures and finding their way in the world.
My group enjoyed this. . .they pretty much dig anything with animals in it.
May 20, 2021
I'm a longtime fan of Julie Flett, she writes the most touching and thoughtful children's books. Her newest one, WE ALL PLAY is a tender display of children and animals connection through playfullness and nature. With simple text and beautiful artwork this is sure to be a favorite in our house for the foreseeable future. My daughter who is three loves all the animals and in no time will have this sweet book memorized. I particularly love how Flett's books always bring diversity to our bookshelf. This one includes Cree language throughout as well as English and a list of all the animals in it in English and Cree too. Thank you to @greystonekidsbooks
for sending us this lovely book opinions are my own.
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For more of my book content check out instagram.com/bookalong
for sending us this lovely book opinions are my own.
•
For more of my book content check out instagram.com/bookalong
January 24, 2021
Beautiful, soft illustrations. Lovely tone throughout the whole book explicitly connecting us to the natural world of which we are a part. The text probably lends itself very well to storytimes that want to incorporate gross motor movement, nature themes, and/or gorgeous #ownvoices books by Native authors & illustrators. Includes a pronunciation guide for the Cree vocabulary that is printed in Standard Roman Orthography and used throughout. Should definitely be on every children's librarians' purchase list for their school or public library. Thanks to Greystone for making an eARC available as part of ALA Midwinter 2021.
September 6, 2021
I've never been let down by a Julie Flett book, and this is no exception. The art is as excellent as ever. The story is sweet and gives us a chance to see the ways animals frolic just like kids do, and the Cree language guide at the end was an excellent touch. Definitely recommended!
August 26, 2025
A short picture book describing the movements and play of animals with a chorus of children saying they play too, in both English and Cree.
AMAZING illustrations. I could not take my eyes off of them. The text is also very good - sparse but well-chosen words offer themselves up for physical engagement with young readers as well as learning new vocabulary without being overwhelming.
A grand diversity of characters and book of indigenous joy. Love it. Will use it for storytimes almost certainly.
AMAZING illustrations. I could not take my eyes off of them. The text is also very good - sparse but well-chosen words offer themselves up for physical engagement with young readers as well as learning new vocabulary without being overwhelming.
A grand diversity of characters and book of indigenous joy. Love it. Will use it for storytimes almost certainly.
March 25, 2021
Every Julie Flett book is a treasure that ought to be in every child's library-- simplistic, soft illustrations of animals and children that always radiate a peaceful feeling. In We All Play, Flett shows all sorts of adorable critter families and the ways that they play-- hopping, swimming, rumbling, and so much more-- just like we humans do, too! We All Play is sweet, delightful, and alive.
June 1, 2021
This is a delightful and gentle book that compares the play of animals in their natural habitats with those of children enjoying the great outdoors. A sweet reminder that Earth's beings have more than a few things in common with one another, and you learn some Cree vocabulary too!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 321 reviews