The Wacky World of Job Ads - Part 1

Here's the first installment in what I hope to be a series. I'll occasionally detail the wacky world of job ads, which tend to be really wacky in the freelance biz.

This is one I'm applying to, despite the strange specification (which I've highlighted).

We are an award-winning children’s magazine and book publisher looking to expand our framework of work-for-hire writers and illustrators for possible future projects. Our publications are all animal/nature/environment based, and include Zoobooks (for ages 6-12), Zootles (for ages 4-7), Zoozoo (for ages 6 months to 3 years), as well as e-newsletter and web content writing.

As needed, we assign non-fiction articles of varying lengths, fictional stories of up to 350 words, and illustration. All assignments will have specific individualized criteria as to subject and aim, but we are looking for child-friendly copy and artwork that both educate and entertain. Factual accuracy is crucial, and anthropomorphism is not accepted.

I love this. Why do they have to come out and say it so blatantly? Were they getting too many furry porn illustrations? Do they think the a dog wearing clothing is against God's will? Even if the clothes are tasteful, like a bee suit on a pug? Somebody better not tell them about Disney. They might just keel over and die.