Punctuation
Would you ever suspect Punctuation Marks have their very own personality?
Yes, it’s true!
A modern-day fable that takes you on a rollicking adventure full of surprises.
Bringing to life the distinct personalities of the four main characters—Period, Comma, Exclamation Point, and Question Mark—Punctuation to the Rescue is sure to capture children’s imaginations as they embark on a fun-filled adventure, while learning basic punctuation through this very colorful and exciting story.
Exclamation Point is exasperated by how hard it is to do their job when they are so misused. The only way to get their “point” across is to leave! They decide that a sailing trip would be just the solution. Fresh sea air, new horizons to explore. Off to the Island of fun they go…until their sea voyage takes an unexpected turn.
Which punctuation mark best describes you?
Period:
The ultimate symbol of decisiveness and clarity, signaling the end of a thought with firmness and honesty. Strong yet simple, unpretentious, preferring straightforwardness over complexity, without excess or confusion. The period reflects commitment to being concise and purposeful in communication.
Comma:
Can be complex. Good at crowd control. The peacemaker. The comma appreciates clarity and smooth transitions in communication, a natural affinity to balance meaning and maintaining harmony.
Exclamation Mark:
The exclamation point is bold, energetic, and expressive, injecting emotion and intensity. It’s the punctuation of excitement, surprise, and passion, commanding attention with its dramatic flair. Whether conveying joy, urgency, or emphasis, the exclamation point amplifies the message, leaving no room for subtlety. It’s spontaneous, often used to express strong feelings or to make a statement with enthusiasm. While it can be playful or assertive, it always seeks to evoke a response. The exclamation point mirrors the animated and passionate style of communication of someone who loves to make a point with vigor and excitement.
Question Mark:
The question mark is the symbol of curiosity and inquiry: always probing, always seeking answers. Sometimes uncertain, the question mark represents moments of hesitation or doubt, where clarity hasn’t yet been reached. There’s a sense of wonderment behind every question mark. At times, the question mark can be shy, quiet contemplation. It tends to over-analyze, constantly looking for answers even when none are immediately available. The question mark speaks to a thoughtful, inquisitive nature.
About the Illustrator
Sara Not
Sara Not has loved doodling and messing with colors since childhood. When she grew up, she chose to keep up this super fun activity by becoming an artist. She is the illustrator of Fairy’s First Day at School and No Peeking at Presents, and many other children’s books by Italian publishers.
Since illustrating Punctuation to the Rescue, she has been using a lot more exclamation points!!! Lots, lots more!!! Yay!!! Follow her on Instagram @saranot.illustration or visit her website at kidshannon.com/saranot.
Reviews
What They’re Saying About the Book
Reviewed by Carol Thompson for Readers’ Favorite
Punctuation to the Rescue by Cheryl Olsten is a delightful and imaginative children’s book that breathes life into punctuation marks. The story begins in a lighthouse library, where Exclamation Point, tired of being overused, convinces fellow punctuation marks—Comma, Period, and Question Mark—to take a much- needed vacation. However, their sailing adventure takes an unexpected turn as they end up on the Island of Chaos, where words run amok without proper punctuation. As the characters encounter the forlorn Pilcrow and confront the disarray of unpunctuated words, they realize the importance of their roles in bringing order to language. Together, they restore the structure, teaching the words to form proper sentences. The story is filled with clever dialogue, amusing wordplay, and situations that entertain while subtly educating young readers about the significance of punctuation.
Cheryl Olsten’s writing brings personality to each punctuation mark, giving them distinct voices and traits. Sara Not’s illustrations complement the narrative beautifully, adding charm and visual engagement through expressive characters and lively settings. The blend of pencil, ink, and digital techniques creates a whimsical yet polished look that enhances the read. The book also introduces a unique concept with the “Love Point,” a symbol gifted to punctuation marks that hints at the importance of affection and unity. The tale’s playful approach makes it an excellent read-aloud choice for educators and parents, offering opportunities for children to learn about punctuation in a fun, memorable way. Punctuation to the Rescue is an entertaining story that cleverly combines adventure and language lessons, making it a perfect addition to any child’s bookshelf.
Springing from the pages of an old Gulliver’s Travels, in a library’s lighthouse “along the shore of a bustling city,” Period, Comma, Question Mark, and Exclamation Point hop into the hearts of young readers in this gleeful tale. These punctuation marks are in desperate need of a vacation, prompting Exclamation to impulsively pick the Island of Fun as their next stop from a nearby globe. The crew sets sail, but troubled waters—and a territorial shark—quickly alter their course, beaching them on the Island of Chaos instead. There, the punctuation pals find their true calling—saving the island from a “stampede of reckless words” caused by a severe lack of punctuation.
Olsten (author of Mimi & the Gold Baton) highlights important writing mechanics and sentence structure through this entertaining adventure. With the help of Sara Not’s vibrant, amusing illustrations, readers will be spellbound by the story’s stars, each with dialogue crafted in a way that makes their role clear: Question Mark only asks questions, Exclamation Point’s responses come with marked surprise and heightened inflections, and Period adds decisiveness and a sense of certainty to the book’s conversations. Even the group’s new friend, Pilcrow, described as “outdated” but “happy to have company,” plays a special part.
Not’s graphics truly steal the spotlight here, flaunting the punctuation marks’ adventure with lively, rollicking scenes of pure glee, whether it’s Comma’s sombrero in preparation for a tropical getaway or the frantic, animal-shaped words on the Island of Chaos, running amok “without proper punctuation [to] save us.” Olsten transforms these common punctuation marks into unsung heroes as they go about restoring order on the Island of Chaos, and she wisely incorporates the important message of feeling loved—and never overlooking the little, but valuable, things in life—as well, making this buoyant, colorful book hum with not just creativity, but a whole lot of heart, too.
– Booklife