Exclamation Mark!
Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Author
Tom Lichtenheld, Illustrator
Scholastic Press, Fiction, March 2013
Suitable for Ages: 5 and up
Themes: Fitting In, Standing Out, Punctuation
Opening: “! He stood out from the very beginning.”
Synopsis: An exclamation point feels that he stands out from all the periods. Although he tries to fit in, he isn’t like the other marks. He is depressed until one day he meets a question mark ?, who pellets him with questions until he yells Stop! He tries bigger words: Wow! Yippee! Way to Go! Cool! Boo! Then more exclamations rush from his mouth and he shows all his friends what he can do. At last he’s found his purpose.
Why I like this book: Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld have teamed up to create another very simple and creative story that both children and adults will find an entertaining way to understand the role of a period, question mark and exclamation mark. The story idea is brilliant. I also think their humorous story will spark many meaningful discussions at home and in the classroom about fitting in, self-expression and finding one’s place in the world. Lichtenheld’s illustrations really bring the punctuation marks to life in a delightful way for kids. The background looks like lined homework paper. The marks all have facial expressions. The art is simple and progresses to an explosion of colorful words at the end. This book is a must for the classroom. Visit Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld at their websites.
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