“Eats, Shoots & Leaves: Why, Commas Really Do Make a Difference!” by Lynne Truss and Bonnie Timmons

Coming soon to impeccably punctuated playgrounds everywhere. Just finding a kiddie version of Lynne Truss’ New York Times bestseller (yes, they put it on the cover twice) “Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation” was enough to make me spill coffee all over myself with glee. And they’ve even made it child-friendly by replacing the adult version’s homicidal, gun-toting bear with a cuddly, cupid-like archer of a panda. Combining small children’s great love of grammar with their fondness for punctuation-based punch lines? Genius.

“Probuditi!” by Chris Van Allsburg

The cover of Chris Van Allsburg’s latest is a testament to the wonders of sepia-toned illustration. But what does the emphatically punctuated title mean and why is the pig-like, pearl-wearing matron on the cover leaping over a chair, flounced panties flying? And why is she so oddly menacing? If I were five, I’d be frightened. Ok, fine, I’m still frightened. And the mystery spiral on the back of the book, a wide-eye girl’s face half in the frame, terrified and staring, doesn’t help matters much.

“Mommy?” by Maurice Sendak, Arthur Yorinks, Matthew Reinhart

Is there some sort of law that requires all children’s books to end their title with some kind of punctuation? Regardless, the sight of a Max from “Where the Wild Things Are” look-alike poking a mummy underneath the word “Mommy” is a fabulous reminder of why puns—and Maurice Sendak—are great. I have to admit though that the mummy, dripping in bandages that look like fresh pasta, is mildly terrifying, as is the goofy green-eyed ghoul on the back cover. From the thickness of the spine, and its light weight, it seems like pop-up book. But I plan on fleeing this traumatic children’s book section long before I can find out.