Play with Us: 100 Games from Around the World

by Oriol Ripoll

This collection of more than 100 games from around the world will keep kids busy having fun all year round. Included are traditional games that can be played indoors and outdoors, alone or with a group, and run the gamut from quiet board games to wild games of chase. The games are grouped according to similarities—games of chase, games of chance, marble games, and board games—and can be played with readily available materials such as dice, chalk, pebbles, balls, coins, sticks, marbles, and playing cards. Examples of games include nine variations of hopscotch and many interesting variations on tag such as the Honeycomb played in El Salvador, Mother Raven's Eggs from Thailand, and Boa Constrictor played in Ghana.

Genres: Games

128 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2005

Reviews

[Danielius Goriunovas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vaizdi, išsami ir visai įdomi! Aprašyti žaidimai įvairūs - nuo fizinių iki lentos. Šiaip visai įdomūs, skirtingi ir dar su papildomais aprašais iš kurių tautų kilę - visai įdomu pamatyti, kokie tradiciniai žaidimai žaidžiami Peru arba Indonezijoje!

P.S. Sužinojau belgišką šaškių variantą - laimi tas, kuris nebeturi šaškių. Kitaip tariant žaidimas tampa ne saugojimo žaidimu, o "imk, mušk šią šaškę". Labai įdomu!

[Darlene Ivy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A blend of games and craft projects to make the parts of the games. Although the country of origin is noted, few games have any commentary about the history of a game. Games are organized by board, solitaire, chase, strength, hopping, chance, marbles, hidden objects, throwing, hand, and ball. Back matter includes index of games by continent and sample game boards.

[Mary Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent resource for games for children - from active to quietly strategic, single or multiple players, indoors or out. There are cultural tidbits spread throughout, but this book focuses on teaching how to play the games, so many games only list the country or culture from which the game originates. It recommends the games for ages 5 and up, but some could be used in a preschool context.

The book provides detailed explanation of how to play each game with playful (but detailed) pencil/watercolor illustrations.

Above all, I am struck by how these games are timeless and allow for so much learning with such simple materials. What a great answer to "I'm bored" or new activities in any group setting. I can't wait to share these games - they look so fun!

[Georgiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fav games:

Skelly - New York
Hopscotch game trying to get bottle cap into certain spaces (includes attempts at knocking other players pieces out of the game.)

Bagh chal - Nepal
"Move the Tigers". Strategy game where 4 tigers try and get sheep pieces. Sheep opponent has 20 pieces to try and block tigers in.

Gachanko - Japan
Spiral home vs. home version of jan ken pon (paper, rock, scissors)

Kabaddi - India, etc.
Two team tag game where person must recite "kabaddi" while trying to tag and must not run out of breath while on opposite side.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of more than 100 games from around the world will keep kids busy having fun all year round. Included are traditional games that can be played indoors and outdoors, alone or with a group, and run the gamut from quiet board games to wild games of chase. The games are grouped according to similarities—games of chase, games of chance, marble games, and board ga...more

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The kids and I had fun trying out some of these games. Mostly the board games. This is a book I'd consider buying.