The Day Punctuation Came to Town
(Language Is Fun!)

Having moved to Alphabet City, the bright purple Punctuation family gears up for their first day of school. Exclamation Point leads the way enthusiastically, while lagging Question Mark considers queries: "Do you think everyone will be nice?" Comma, who "kept pausing," lingers behind them, and period brings "the line to a close." Their new classmates, in various hues with simple accessories, are perplexed by the Punctuation family, but after introductions, the new friends divert themselves by creating commands, questions, and short sentences. Comma, feeling unwanted by the letter strings, sneaks away, leaving the letters in speedy words (boom, duck, and run) to crash. After realizing that it is essential to slowing text, Comma promises to "keep things in order." Though the explanations can feel repetitious, Gard and Sonke deliver a punctuation primer disguised by an upbeat story and plentiful wordplay. Ages 5-8. (Aug.)