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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to really dislike it when picture books are just wrong?

445 replies

mousyfledermaus · 18/10/2011 21:44

for example "a squash and a squeeze" the house from the outside does not match (windows/doors) the inside.
not to mention funny proportions.

OP posts:

onlyaname · 20/10/2011 20:48

I agree about the house in a Squash and a Squeeze. But the one I have really studied is Each Peach Pear Plum. I refer back to the drawing on the inside cover to check where exactly the action is taking place. It's pretty accurate!

As for The Smartest Giant my DD turns the page before I can even start singing!

I hate the rhyme on the last page of Giraffes can't Dance. Too many words in the first lines and it doesn't scan. I hate reading it.

ninjasquirrel · 20/10/2011 20:53

Having read most of this thread I can't believe no one else seems irritated by the way half the lines don't scan in Squash and a Squeeze. I keep having to put words in or take words out!

YY to upside down butterfly though.

BlathersFright · 20/10/2011 21:07

I used to get narked at the Dromedary in Dear Zoo too until I looed it up and realised that it was just a type of Camel - a bit like a Dalmation and a Labrador are types of Dog. I now just call it a Camel.

The snake has to be too "slithery" though as I don't want the DCs assuming Snakes are scary.

ItchyChin · 20/10/2011 21:09

Fantastic thread. Yes I do find A squash and a squeeze doesn't scan well. Yes I spent at least 10 minutes searching for the ladybird on EVERY page in What the Ladybird Heard.

I used to think I'd not read The Tiger Who Came To Tea as a child but the frisson of excitement imagining going out to tea IN THE DARK (!), and in a NIGHTIE (!) is coming back to me.

My Smartest Giant in Town song is a very similar tune to the youtube link - hurray!

Currently reading The Cat in the Hat Came Back - as a bedtime story every night! Bit of a marathon! Also have to pronounce 'zed' 'zee' all probably very confusing! Also anyone else pretend they are on Cbeebies or Jackanory (shows age) when they read stories and try not to stumble?!

Underconstruction · 20/10/2011 21:17

When DD1 was into counting everything we started counting the "ten little girls in two straight lines"... turns out old Ludwig wasn't very good at keeping track of his rows of little girls (or boys)... sometimes he loses a couple, sometimes he gains a couple. (What would be worse on a school trip, losing a couple or gaining them?)

Mummytime - Peepo is English, peekaboo is American... very clumsy in my opinion!

ThePsychicSatsuma · 20/10/2011 21:29

it's not fair. Both Pluto and Goofy are dogs...yet one is a pet and one is a man...

ThePsychicSatsuma · 20/10/2011 21:30

and for the love of crackers what animal is Pete?
cat? wolf? yet another dog? some kind of boar?

MinnieBloodBar · 20/10/2011 21:30

Itchy I do the pretend CBeebies bedtime story thing!

I'd be rubbish. They would not hire me. Fortunately, I am not a professional actress...

leftangle · 20/10/2011 21:31

DD thought she spotted an error in an first bible stories book
...and Jesus told them to walk on the good road...
They shouldn't walk on the road that's for the cars, they should go on the pavement. I'm struggling to explain that one to her.

We have a book where the rabbit farmers keep chickens and have eggs and bacon for breakfast.

MuddlingThru · 20/10/2011 21:35

Cat in the Hat - it clearly states 'our mother was out of the house for the day', there are clearly no other adults within the house. Makes me want to call Social Services everytime I read it.

northernrock · 20/10/2011 21:45

Bear Hunt is SO obviously a man with a bunch of kids-his kids! I don't get why some on here find that so hard to understand!!??

Elmer the effin Elephant gets right on my tits. So, Elemer is best buds with a lion, a tiger and a rabbit..?
In fact I hate the way almost all books for under 3's are about pissing Jungle animals. Who don't eat each other. Grrr.

AblativeAbsolute · 20/10/2011 21:52

MaskedWoman your husband sounds fab .

brdgrl · 20/10/2011 22:02

This is not an error.
But DH bought Each Peach Pear Plum for DD when I was pregnant. She's never seen it, though, because of the hunting scene.

Why does this bother me so? It's not as if I intend to conceal the existence of hunters, real or fictional, from her forever. Anyone else find it off-putting?

ItchyChin · 20/10/2011 22:04

Pete is a cat - I know because they tell me on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. He however looks nothing like a cat.

Iggly · 20/10/2011 22:26

I find squash and a squeeze does scan - didn't at first but does after a few reads. The house thing did bug me!

I bought DS a peppa pig book the other day and there's a stray "very" in a sentence - unfortunately the book is in DS's room so can't check

Someone mentioned brown bear brown bear upthread because of the blue horse. It also has a purple cat??

As for Meg's Veg - no plot hole but Meg and Mog books in general are a bit loony especially Meg's Castle?!

LibraryLil · 20/10/2011 22:27

We've bought some sets of Disney books published by Parragon Press, and in September I wrote to them offering my services as a proofreader. I was appalled to find that in 13 books there are over 60 typo and grammatical errors (e.g. whales' tales instead of tails in an Ariel one; painted roses instead of planted in Alice in Wonderland; lead instead of led in Snow White) including inconsistencies of upper and lower case, types of spelling, etc. Did they reply? No, they couldn't be bothered. So I wrote to Disney - and they haven't replied, either. They obviously don't care about the readers, or care that they're setting a bad example to children; they just want to take our money and run ...

Another thing that I'd like publishers to think about is that some of these books are being read to children while they're in bed, so while black type on a dark brown, green, purple or black background might look dramatic in daylight, it's practically impossible to read in low light levels. Luckily as my daughter likes me to read the same book over and over again until she knows what's coming next, it isn't long before I can more or less remember what I'm supposed to be reading!

MsMarple · 20/10/2011 22:45

Not an error as such, apart from maybe an error of judgement, but if I have to read the words "Stickman, I'm stickman, I'm stickman, that's me" one more time I may have to screeeeeeaaaaam.

In fact I have hidden it at the back of the bookself to lessen risk of picture book induced meltdown occuring.

Call me an old cynic, but did she run out of new words to fill the pages with, and resort to repeating the same sentence over and over?

traceface · 20/10/2011 22:47

we also have the non-mirror version of the bookstart book!
And the Lucy The Ladybird "I've learn't to fly" really annoys me.
Also, in the peppa pig annual, there's a story where dad and mum have to work so Mrs sheep takes Peppa and Suzie to playgroup, but then it says george is there too. Then Daddy pig picks up peppa and george, but the picture shows peppa and suzie in the car and no George, then when they get home, george is already there, playing Happy Mrs Chicken on the computer with mummy pig! Trememdous time travel going on
Not a story book, but the DIngle Dangle Scarecrow should surely shout very loudly, and whsiper very softly I can't actually sing it without adding a whispered "ly"

backonthedecaff · 20/10/2011 22:53

Iggly, no need to disturb DS - there is a stray 'very' in the Peppa Pig book. Have been close to taking the tippex to it.
Also hate, hate, hate last few rhymes in Giraffes Can't Dance - they don't scan and I can't find a way to make them no matter how I try. Thankyou to all for clearing up the familial relationships in Bear Hunt; will sleep easily tonight.

bumpertobumper · 20/10/2011 22:54

The Elephant and the Bad Baby!!!
Baby in trouble for not saying please, while the elephant goes round stealing things!!!

NonnoMum · 20/10/2011 23:00

Just had pointed out to me that at the end of the Gruffalo's Child, it's just the Gruffalo, and not said child, who snores and snores and snores...

So, Gruff child could still be awake and carry on wandering about in the dark

mamaduckbone · 20/10/2011 23:13

Love this thread! DS2 thinks the older girl in Bear Hunt is the mummy but I'm going with older sister.
Buster bugs me, although I do like some of the stories. In 'Buster gets dressed' he puts on his shoes - 'Buster can tie his laces' - he's meant to be about 2 FGS.

Bubbaluv · 21/10/2011 00:34

The Minosaur really annoys me. It seems clear to me that it was originally going to be a rhyming story, but the author just gave up and left it half and half.

mamandeouisti · 21/10/2011 00:42

LibraryLil - know exactly how you feel about offering your proof-reading services! However, I thought in Alice in Wonderland they actually did paint the roses...it's been a while so I can't remember. My personal hates were ALL Mr Men books (DS knew not to ask!) - just SO dull. Thankfully I was never really subjected to Thomas et al. All time fave is Room on the Broom (not caring at all whether it's a bow or the bow)!

WanderingStar1 · 21/10/2011 01:38

Peetle - I agree totally about the three little pigs! I also insert that line about the 'chinny chin chin' and my three year old twins recite it dutifully whenever they 'read' the book to themselves! It's a good job we grown ups know better than the book authors.... :)

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