The children’s book with a very rude subplot
Oxford University Press defends educational story after reader spots something fishy going on
IT WAS meant to be an innocent tale following the adventures of three youngsters, Biff, Chip and Kipper Robinson.
But Oxford University Press has been forced to defend one of its children’s books, after speculation that its illustrations showed men “cruising” in a park.
The publisher has moved to reassure parents that its books are “created with the utmost thought and consideration”, adding that they take care to ensure that none of their books “cause harm or offence to any child”.
The much-loved Biff, Chip and Kipper books were created in the Eighties to help children learn to read, and are still used in infant schools across the country.
Earlier this week, reader Ed Brody posted illustrations from one of the books on Twitter with the caption: “Somewhat dubious scenes spotted in the background of a friend’s [four-yearold’s] school book.”
The first picture has a group of three men in the background talking to one another and standing close to bushes. In a subsequent illustration, the three men are nowhere to be seen and in their place is an elderly woman who is so shocked at what she has seen behind the bushes that her glasses and hat have sprung off her head.
In both pictures the character of Wilma appears content, playing in the park with what appears to be a fishing rod, oblivious to what is going on in the background.
OUP released a statement last night, saying it was “aware of the recent Twitter and media coverage referencing the illustrations from two Biff, Chip and Kipper books”.
“We would like to reassure you that our books are created with the utmost thought and consideration,” the publisher said. “Our stories have been delighting children, parents and teachers for over 30 years, and have taught millions of children to read, here and around the world.
“We take the utmost care to ensure that our content is age-appropriate and would not cause harm or offence to any child who reads our books.” The image of the startled grandma, it said, is taken from the book Pond Dipping. “There are pages missing in the original tweet, which takes the images from Pond Dipping out of context,” said the publisher.
Various activity takes place in the intervening pages, including two children running away at high speed, dogs chasing each other, a man carrying a mysterious large bag and then the startled old woman.
However, it is not obvious what has caused the elderly woman to become so surprised.
There are hundreds of Biff, Chip and Kipper stories, and they are are sold in 130 countries around the world. The books, written by Roderick Hunt, were made into a BBC television series in 2000.
OUP said the books are “a wonderful mixture of stories including familiar settings to reassure children, and fantasy adventures to inspire them”.