This book initially presents "animated objects." Originating from a collaborative picture book project, selected toys from the therapy rooms of numerous analytical child and adolescent psychotherapists provide direct insights into the therapeutic relationship dynamics and their healing effects. Lehle then explores child play, which is considered the "royal road to the unconscious" in child analysis. It is fundamentally important not only in verbal expression but also in psychoanalytic group therapy. The intersubjective turn in psychoanalysis has broadened the perspective on play and playing, as it simultaneously offers a way forward, into the open. Play and playing create a space of possibilities for change and transformation; they serve as a medium, communication, and self-formation, especially in groups and certainly not only among children. In his groundbreaking book, Lehle delves into these processes, providing insights into clinical processes and group dynamics involving children, adolescents, and young adults. He reflects on self- and group-formation processes, all of which are rooted in playfulness, although they do not always appear playful.