Recognize this?

What about this? Look familiar?

That’s what I thought. Of course, you recognize them. They are two beloved children’s books by Bill Martin Jr.

Ever seen this one?

Didn’t think so. Even at a glance,  it’s pretty obvious which book or books are appropriate for children. Apparently, it wasn’t very obvious to the Texas State Board of Education. Last week the Associated Press reported (“Confusion bars children’s author from curriculum”) that the board, in all its brilliance, banned the work of Bill Martin Jr. and Bill Martin from elementary school curriculum.

I know the covers are easily confused, and “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom” just sounds like a natural extension of Marxism, but this mistake could have been avoided with some relatively simple research. Apparently no one did the proper research, and it was a classic case of assuming someone else did the homework.

If they’re making decisions about what our children will study in school, shouldn’t they all be doing their homework?