Several children got an unsuitable book at a recent literacy event sponsored by the Forsyth County Public Library and held at the Children's Museum of Winston-Salem.
A very unsuitable book, the directors of both institutions say.
A library staff member picked up nine copies of Atlas, Schmatlas: A Superior Atlas of the World at a local bookstore for $1 apiece to give out at the event, along with other books.
The staff member thought that it was a children's book, said Sylvia Sprinkle-Hamlin, the library director.
But it's not. It turns out that the book contains a lot of vulgar language. It's a parody of an atlas by Craig Robinson, and it's intended for adults.
"The person who bought the book didn't read it carefully," Sprinkle-Hamlin said. "If you see the book, it looks like a children's book. It was on a sale rack. Mistakes happen, and you learn from your mistakes."
The Library Journal warns that Robinson's book looks a lot like a real children's book because of its "late 1970s educational-inspired cover art" and interior layout.
Nine children out of the 500 or so kids at the May 2 event received free copies of the book.
Sprinkle-Hamlin sent an apology letter to someone who complained, saying that she is sorry that children received "this highly inappropriate book as their gift book for the evening." She also apologized to the museum. Elizabeth Dampier, the executive director of the museum, said that the museum had simply made itself available to the library to hold the event, which was designed to promote literacy.
She said that the mistake, while unfortunate, would not mar the museum's close relationship with the library.
Sprinkle-Hamlin said that new measures have been established to ensure that books are properly screened.
The Hispanic League had donated money that the library used to pay for the books handed out during the event.
Maria Aristizabal, the president of the group's board of directors, said she had not heard any complaints about the book, but that the group would probably discuss the matter at a future meeting.
"I'm 100 percent sure it was an honest mistake," Aristizabal said. "No one would purposely do that."
wyoung@wsjournal.com
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