Waterstone's admitted it had blundered after recommending a novel packed full of expletives, sex and violence for children as young as eight.
Grisly crime book Sawbones, the story of a serial killer who tours the US murdering young women, was featured by the retailer in a children's catalogue as suitable for "reluctant, struggling or dyslexic readers aged eight-plus". The first sentence contains the F-word, reported the Sunday Times. "Over the next 113 pages it used the F-word and its variant 89 times," it went on. "The plot includes three male castrations, references to oral sex, limbs being amputated and an attack on a girl by a vicious dog."
Sunday Times hacks claimed credit for exposing the gaffe, but elsewhere it was reported that the alarm was raised by a mum on Twitter and a marketing website. "This weekend Waterstone's admitted it had made a 'terrible mistake'," said the paper. "It said it would immediately recall all copies of the catalogue." Heads may roll - just like in the book
Meanwhile, there were red faces at government website Direct.gov after it emerged its Buster's World pages for children had the same name as a porn site.
"Direct.gov's Buster is a sheriff dog who guides children around games, while Buster of Bustersworld.com is a man who loves pictures of men and balloons," reported Metro. "The adult site was registered by BigBoys Balloons in 2000, long before Direct.gov's effort." In its less than effusive response, the Department for Children, Schools and Families said it was "clearly a mistake". "We regret the supplier's usual thorough checking procedures seem to have failed," said a spokesman. All rather embarrassing given that child internet safety is supposed to be a key concern for the government.
Children's workers take note: next time one of your charges starts kicking and screaming, they're not being difficult but are suffering from a full-blown psychiatric disorder.
That's if a new condition is accepted into the guidebook of the American psychiatric profession, reported The Guardian. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual has been criticised "for formalising character traits and emotions into mental conditions". "Among proposals is 'temper dysregulation with dysphoria', characterised by 'severe, recurrent outbursts of temper' that are 'grossly out of proportion to the situation'," the paper reported. "The 'symptoms' must have been 'diagnosed' before age 10." In other words, a childhood tantrum. It's enough to make an early years worker kick and scream.
Essex Police Museum is encouraging children as young as five to make their own truncheons at a one-day event during half term.
"Decorating a truncheon is an opportunity to learn about the history of policing while having fun," curator Becky White told the Waltham Forest Guardian. And we thought the police wanted to steer young people away from weapons.
