I love reading to my kids. Right now I especially love that Gabe will snuggle on my lap to read before naps and bedtime. (It's the only time he will sit still.) Just now I was reading one of the $1 board books I had picked up at Target the other day. (Our growing library of paperbacks and hardbacks stay in Julia's room, up and away from Gabe's destructive nature!) I know these books are cheap (which is good, because soon all the corners will be chewed up and mangled), so I don't expect the best literature or even a darling storyline. (Although I don't know why it would be so hard to include those. I mean, why would anyone write a dumb story, no matter how inexpensive the book or how novice the audience? Oh well. On with the post and out with all the parenthetical comments...)
Anyway, I was reading this story about a hard-working bumble bee when I came upon a blatant error. Here, see for yourself.
And so for once he joins in too, and finds it so much fun.
Bobby's has a lovely time playing with everyone.
You caught it too, I am sure. I mean, this isn't just a misplaced apostrophe. (Which is another problem all too common these days. I just don't know why most things plural are given an apostrophe. Maybe they need to put greater emphasis on that possessive vs. plural lesson in, what, second grade?) The sentence doesn't even sound right. Did anyone proof this book before sending it off to the $1 Spot!? It kind of blows my mind. Of course I don't mind typos in hastily-written blog posts, emails, comments, or other informal writing. (Just as I hope my occasional errors are forgiven.) But when I see one in a published work, I am quite taken aback.
Anyway, Gabe doesn't mind. And this book will soon become one of his chew toys, and will be long gone before the grammatical error can do him any harm.
Yeah, I will continue to occasionally buy the decently-cute board books at Target. Although, referring to the tile of my post, I do think my dollar is worth more than that. Still, you won't find me proof-reading each book before purchasing. Well, probably not.
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4 comments:
You have made a grammatical error--It's "taken aback," not "taken back." Ha ha ha haaaa, but seriously, that is a horrible typo! I don't care what the audience or price range is, they deserve to have a grammatically sound book! Babies deserve proper grammar too. Just ask Aunt Josephine. I would probably take a Sharpie to that sucker.
I do the same thing! I'm always so embarrassed when I see typos in my own writing. And the apostrophe thing is really annoying.
Drew, you are just too quick for me! As I was reading over my post Julia was begging to watch a show on my computer. I spotted the very typo you referred to and determined to fix it after my shower and let Julia have her show before the tantrum escalated! That's not to say I NEVER have errors in my posts, though.
Yikes, I just gave those books to Erin's baby--how embarassing for the teacher to give out such a present!
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