The Semicolon

by Britt Sayler, Dorota Rewerenda (Illustrator)

Overview

For one young child, nothing has been the same since losing their father. Words won't fit together. Playing soccer is no longer fun. And every night brings the same terrible dream... a black, slurping pit that looks just like the period their father taught about as a grammar teacher. Periods mean something has ended, forever.

After receiving the gift of their father's old grammar book, other symbols appear in the dream. The comma that carries one idea to another might keep the child from being slurped up for a while, but to escape their nightmare for good, the child must make a startling discovery - one that will reach beyond dreams to help heal their grief and teach them the meaning of their father's favourite symbol of all.

Written by Britt Sayler and illustrated by Dorota Rewerenda, The Semicolon is a compelling, sensitive picture book that gives voice to the experience of childhood depression. Inspired by the use of the semicolon by mental health advocates around the world, this story will help parents and educators begin conversations with children about big feelings, finding hope and building emotional resilience.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781039120662
Publisher:	FriesenPress
Publication date:	08/29/2022
Pages:	36
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.09(d)
Age Range:	Up to 6 Years

About the Author

Britt Sayler is a writer originally from Calgary, Canada, who is thrilled to make her picture book debut with The Semicolon. She holds a Graduate Certificate in Creative Writing from Humber College and has worked as a magazine editor and freelance writer across the country. Britt has twice been longlisted in the national CANSCAIP Writing for Children competition (2018 and 2020), including for an earlier version of this story. She was compelled to write about the difficult topic of childhood depression after navigating her own challenges with mental health and learning that 1 in 30 children within the average age range of picture book readers is currently depressed. Britt writes for both children and adults, and lives with a rescue dog who makes an appearance in The Semicolon!

To learn more, visit www.brittsaylerbooks.com.

Editorial Reviews

2022-11-29
In Sayler’s debut children’s book, a youngster is at a loss after their father’s departure but finds unexpected solace in a punctuation mark.

Every night “after Dad left,” the unnamed narrator has dreamt of a black pit that swallows everything, including them. One day, Mr. Smeechie, the protagonist’s father’s teaching colleague, drops by and gives the child a copy of their father’s grammar book, along with a quick lesson. Two nights later, the child has the same nightmare, but this time, punctuation marks offer support to navigate the darkness. When they learn of their father’s favorite symbol, the semicolon, it helps them reach a place of fond memories: “I saw the black pit…But I also saw the comma, the raft that meant there was a way across.” Rewerenda’s dark, wondrous illustrations sensitively depict the protagonist’s shifting emotions; the narrator is depicted as light skinned and slim, with shoulder-length black hair, and Mr. Smeechie is portrayed as brown skinned with glasses and a beard. Overall, the book offers a great way to encourage young people with grief and depression to open up. It also shows that not having the words to describe one’s feelings is a common part of life and that there are always ways to carry on.

A heartfelt story of navigating emptiness and finding hope for the future.

Kirkus Reviews