Children's literature and children's play play a key role in children's development, providing them with tools for cognitive, emotional, and social development. This master's thesis explores the motifs of children's play in the literary works of two important authors of Croatian children's literature, Mata Lovrak and Sanja Pilić. Mato Lovrak uses play as a means of learning, survival, and developing social skills. Lovrak's children develop creativity and imagination through play, which they use to solve problems and cope with crisis situations. Sanja Pilić uses play to explore inner emotions and social interactions. Her characters use play to express their inner desires and dreams and to face challenges. Pilić emphasizes imagination and creativity in children's play, which serve as a means of emotional and social empowerment. The aim of the thesis is to analyze the motifs of children's play in the selected works of these authors and to compare their approaches to the presentation of the motifs of play and its role in children's development. The work also explores various aspects of children's play and its importance in literature and pedagogical practice. The analysis shows that both authors, although with different emphases, use play as a fundamental element for the development of children's skills, values, and emotional stability. The work contributes to a better understanding of the significance of children's play in children's literature and provides valuable insights for further research and application in an educational context. The results are useful for literary theorists, pedagogues, parents, and everyone involved in the upbringing and education of children.