The hue and cry which has greeted the publication of the latest Ladybone children's book - the innocuously titled Brian's Book of Interesting Buildings - has led parent company The Threadbone Press to make a rapid u-turn on the subject of reader support.
The hard-hitting book - which the publishers agree "tackles difficult subjects head-on" - has met with consternation in many quarters and has led to calls for the publisher to issue guidelines on its usage. The Threadbone Press was quick to defend the publication, pointing out that it has always made clear that the children's book is only "suitable for parents aged over 16". Nevertheless it has issued - with unprecedented speed - a series of discussion points and further study questions for qualified professionals to use in helping readers to come to terms with the challenging subject matter. A spokesperson for the Threadbone Press - Quentin Climbe-Downe - explained: "We asked our friends at the Threadbone Foundation for Ethical Teaching Support to take a look at the book and bring their huge expertise to bear on the question of context and interpretation. This they have done and we are pleased to issue the Study Guide free of charge to anyone producing valid proof that they have purchased the Ladybone volume in question. This proves that we are behaving both responsibly and ethically and not panicking at all."
A spokesperson for the Singing Nun who is "named and shamed" in the volume* said, "we are saddened to hear that her name has been dragged into this matter. She herself is perfectly at ease with the situation and has shown no obvious signs of distress. She died in 1985".
Concerned readers can download the Study Guide HERE
*the faultless Sister Luc-Gabrielle is merely named in the volume, no shame whatsoever attaches to her other than that of being responsible for "Dominique", which topped the U.S. Billboard and other charts in 1963. For that she will likely never be forgiven.
The Threadbone Press parent company has assembled all the resources it can muster in an attempt to remediate the developing situation following the publication of Brian's Book of Interesting Buildings. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Leading Sociologists have been drafted to discuss the value of drafting in leading sociologists; The Singing Nun (aka Jeanne-Paule Marie "Jeannine" Deckers) has a great deal to answer for according to her critics but is blameless in this particular case; artist impression of a sociologist; The Threadbone Foundation for Ethical Teaching Support has published a Study Guide.
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