Can we go out to play?

This is a picture book for reading with preschool or kindergarten-aged children. It is designed to inspire the imagination and help children to develop their language skills by using made up fantastical words. This word play will strengthen children's understanding of how written language works and how much fun it can be to make up your own words.

The story is set in a kindergarten at play time. Because it is raining the children can't go out to play. The children are fed up with days of only being able to jump in puddles. In addition, their beloved wooden blue play pirate ship has been condemned. It is no longer safe to play on and has been roped off and a sign saying 'keep off' has been hung in front.

Instead of going outside, the children invent a game of imagination. They each take a turn to imagine the most amazing children's playground. There is a giant roundabout, a giant seesaw, a giant slide with a pool of gloopy jelly at the bottom, a giant climbing frame, giant swings, and of course a fantastical play pirate ship. The children make up or combine known words to give names to their respective imagined ideas.