Exclamation Mark by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Since this is a book about punctuation there are a few puns involved. A lot of kids at young ages want to fit in with everyone around them and feel the pressure to do that and I think this book shows that it’s okay to be yourself and everyone is unique in their own way. I really appreciated this book because it gives a good lesson to the readers to be confident in who they are. Appalled by his own power he tries it again and again, becoming more confident in himself each time. The exclamation point couldn’t take it anymore and exclaims, “Stop!” with all his might. From there the questions go on and on about who he is and what he likes to do. So he ran away, one day he bumps into a question mark. From the start this exclamation point new he was different, he tried everything he could to fit in with everyone else but nothing worked. The book begins with an exclamation point surrounded by numerous period points. I'd also like to take this moment to say that while I appreciate this story, exclamation marks should be used sparingly, particularly outside of dialogue. With bright colors and simple drawings, it will quickly capture the eye. In short, this is a story of discovering your own, unique abilities, loving yourself for them, and being loved for them. He goes to show off himself to the periods, who love him as well for what he can do. The question mark badgers exclamation mark, and exclamation mark tells him to STOP! Question mark likes exclamation marks emphasis and exclamation mark begins to experiment with what he can do. Then he meets another outsider: the question mark. He tries to fit in, but he just can't, and that upsets him. It is a story of a punctuation mark who feels like an outsider in a world of periods. The story itself is a good story to be telling children. I think it might go over the heads of the young children who will be reading it, but it certainly made this English major/grammar fiend giggle, and I think that it will please parents too.

Exclamation Mark by Amy Krouse Rosenthal