Is this wrong?

[xstitch]

I have just been helping my dd with a puzzle in one of her 'learning books'. One question is: "true or false? They are sat on a blue picnic blanket!"

I think is should be "sitting". Also why is it an exclamation mark?

Apologies in advance for the probable misuse of the colon, I get very confused with them.

It should be sitting. No idea about the exclamation mark unless it is unlikeley that "they" would be sitting on the picnic blanket.

Yes, sitting. Incorrect participle, past simple I think instead of present.

And perhaps the exclamation is because the picnic blanket is supposed to be pink. They like gender crap in these books don't they?

Is it worth e-mailing the publisher to complain. I am really fed up with correcting dd's grammar and being undermined by things like this.

oops excuse the missing question mark .