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In Which My Child Displays a Profound Lack of Knowledge about both Zoology and Phonics

Mallory: Mommy, will you read me this book?

Me: Sure. The Animal Alphabet. How about, I'll say the letters and you name the animal in the picture.

Mallory: Okay!

Me: Here we go. A is for...

Mallory: Lizard!

Me: Well, actually, that's an armadillo. Good try! B is for...

Mallory: Cow!

Me: Yeah, that's a buffalo. They're kind of like cows, though, so you were close. C is for...

Mallory: Moose!

Me: Mallory, that's a camel. It doesn't even look like a moose. Let's move on. D is for...

Mallory: Whale!

Me: Well, okay, you're in the ballpark, but that's a dolphin, actually. E is for...

Mallory: Bird!

Me: That's a kind of bird called an eagle. That was a good guess. F is for...

Mallory: Wolf!

Me: That would be a fox. G is for...

Mallory: Monkey!

Me: And that would be a gorilla. But gorillas and monkeys are similar, you're right. Okay, I know you'll get this one. H is for...

Mallory: Pony!

Me: Horse! It's a horse! A pony would be smaller than that. I is for...

Mallory: Um...deer?

Me: That's an ibex. I wouldn't have gotten that one either. J is for...

Mallory: Tiger!

Me: Sorry, it's a jaguar.

Mallory: Can we read another book?

Me: Considering that K is for Kingfisher, I think that's a good idea.

Comments

Abbey said…
This is too funny! I love how you tried to stay positive with her answers. I'm not sure I could do that with a straight face!
Anonymous said…
That's pretty funny. I wouldn't be too worried yet though because what kind of children's book would use eagle or gorilla when kids probably don't even know what they are to begin with!

Mom
aimee said…
What kind of animal alphabet book is that??? Ha Ha! I am laughing so hard over here....
H Noble said…
That was great! Abbey told me it was a must read, and she was right!

Classic: When my 11 year old cousin was little and my grandma kept her, they were reading an animal book with a similar ending- when they got to the page with the hippo on it, Berkley shouted out the name of my grandma's 'large' female neighbor! Ha!
Holly

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