Pling's Party: A Five Star Book

Instructive but punctuated with excitement—a rousing read-aloud work. 
- Kirkus Reviews

My husband often gives me story ideas. I usually smile and say, "Great idea, honey," and go back to what I was doing. Most writers will tell you they like coming up with their own ideas, much like a three year old wants to build their own block castle. (Yes, I am the three year old here.) But one day, over a year ago, he said something that had me running for a pad and paper. "What would happen if the exclamation point was the character?" My brain started going a hundred miles per hour picturing all the fun he/she/it would have. Thus, Pling was born. Great idea, honey.

After many drafts and lots of feedback, Pling was ready to go out into the big, wide world. And I am tickled pink with the results. Both Kirkus Reviews and Reader's Favorite have given my little Pling great reviews. Reader's Favorite even awarded it a five star seal! I am so happy my little friend has been so well received and can't wait to hear the opinion of the most important readers, kids!

You can check out the reviews below.

Pling's Party Kirkus Review

An exclamation point is too exuberant to follow the rules in this picture book.
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Pling, a smiling exclamation point with an expressive face, must follow an unnamed narrator’s one rule: “He can only be in a book two times.” But dramatic events all around him just seem to call for Pling, from a sudden rainstorm to Baby Goat’s wonderful birthday party, which keeps erupting into action: “Presents! Disco light! Broken chairs! Roller skates! Ice cream! Chewed-up hats! Hot dogs! Confetti!” When the narrator decides that disobedient Pling’s services are no longer necessary, the party becomes glum and lifeless, with dispirited periods rather than exclamation points: “So much fun. All the fun you could have.” Finally, Pling is recalled to end things on a happy note—“but no getting carried away.” Children learning about punctuation can get a good sense of how to use the exclamation point through the contrasting situations that do and don’t call for emphasis. Haughee’s lesson goes down easy, with plenty of creative anarchy for kids to enjoy and sentences that beg to be vigorously read aloud. The skillful digital and acrylic illustrations by Holm are appropriately vibrant, fun, and varied.

Instructive but punctuated with excitement—a rousing read-aloud work.

See the review on Kirkus here. 

Pling's Party Reader's Favorite Review

Meet Pling, an exclamation mark in the storybook Pling's Party by Arielle Haughee. Pling makes things exciting for readers but the rule he must follow is that he can only be in a story twice. Let us read the story and start working with Pling.

One day three goats were playing outside in the grass and it started to rain. The goats were brought inside and they decided to have a party to celebrate Baby Goat's birthday. They baked a yummy cake and decorated it with pink icing on every layer and by then Pling had already appeared in the story more than twice. The goats decided to play music. Baby Goat shook her tambourine, Middle Goat tapped the xylophone, and Big Goat pounded a ten-foot drum. The rest of the animals in the party joined them and played other instruments. Everyone played musical chairs after that and it was a rocking party. The rain stopped and the goats went back outside.

Meet Pling is a fun read and introduces young readers to an exclamation mark and they will learn how to identify it as they go through the story. Readers can practice reading and learn where to emphasize and also learn the difference in how a sentence is read when a period is used and when an exclamation mark is used. Sharon Lane Holm's illustrations are adorable and fun and they make the story and Pling entertaining and charming. Arielle Haughee's approach to teaching children about an exclamation mark is unique and fresh and tutors and parents can use this story in classrooms and at home to teach their children about the exclamation mark and its role in a sentence.

See the review on Reader's Favorite here.

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