Squiggle Takes a Walk – Punctuation Fun!

Natasha Sharma, children’s book author shares all about Squiggle her upcoming book with Kidsstoppress.com.

One day, a doodle, soon-to-be-named Squiggle, scribbled in a corner of my book, had an existential crisis!

‘Who am I?’ she wondered. Within the rule driven world of punctuation, grammar and sentence construction in a book, where was Squiggle’s place?

I had found my story!

My soon-to-release book, Squiggle Takes a Walk makes punctuation literally come alive as Squiggle travels on her journey of self-discovery through its pages. Woven into the dialogue is the purpose of each punctuation mark.

At another level, the book celebrates every individual’s uniqueness. It recognizes the feeling that children as well as adults sometimes experience – of feeling a bit different, a bit out of place in a crowd. Think back to the difficult moments of starting school, moving home, entering a new class, forming new friends, shifting allegiances and you will see a bit of Squiggle everywhere. And just like Squiggle, you will one day find your perfect spot in the universe.

As a parent with young children, I am always keen to make learning fun. I hope that dealing with a concept as rule-driven as punctuation, in the construct of an action-packed story will do just that. Alongside the importance of learning concepts, we often forget the role of free time and the benefit of boredom, particularly for young children. At a time when our kids are ferried from class to class, when do we give them time to think creatively, to daydream, to let their mind wander uninhibited?

In the little moments of doodling, of experimenting with paints, of messing about in the kitchen, of building homes with sheets and boxes, creativity, innovation and inter personal skills – possibly the most important and lasting of all skills, get strengthened. In lazy afternoons spent with a well-written book, their imagination is fired. They are transported to another world and introduced to new forms of expression.

We must teach and guide our children, but also let the little Squiggles free to find their own happy spot as they grow up.

The author Natasha Sharma is conducting a workshop for children on writing, ‘Punctuation Fun’ at the Kala Ghodha Festival on Wednesday, February 5th,6:00pm at Kitab Khana. Get a sneak peek into the book, learn the importance of a punctuation and make your writing sparkle. Register by sending an email [email protected] with Sub: Registration – ‘Punctuation Fun’.

Squiggle Takes a Walk will release in May 2014 and is being published by Young Zubaan

www.sharmanatasha.com