A Bunch of Punctuation

Gr 2–5—In this slight but lively volume, Hopkins showcases poems about punctuation. From commas to periods and every dash in between, kids' favorite marks are sure to find the spotlight at least once. "A Punctuation Tale" begins the adventure with a grammar introduction, leading into a solo poem for each mark, and capped with a punctuation-inspired poetry challenge. The poems do not adhere to any one particular structure, instead showcasing a variety of styles that seem best suited to their corresponding subject. Bloch's illustrations combine airy line drawings atop flat washes of color with the bold the punctuation marks. Most often the illustrations aid in illuminating meaning, though the duo with quotation-mark eyes may be a trifle unsettling or distracting. Perhaps not every poem works as well as it could, but as a whole this collection has great potential as a teaching tool.