Russ
Istar
No wonder it didn't sell very well. That said, I've been wondering whether liberal use of exclamation marks might be fine for children's books or YA novels. I've been told that YA books in particular allow for, some would even say require, a more upfront telling (as opposed to only showing) of what's going on inside a character.
For children's books I have no idea.
What I have been told for YA writing is not to underestimate your audience and write down to them. That apparently is a mistake. I understand that the only difference for YA books is usually subject matter, and how adult language/issues are presented and even that second one is shrinking.