Hi, I know this is going to be a piece of cake for some experienced folks here, so a little advice is appreciated. I just received an eagerly awaited Caldecott winner and opened it up. I was disappointed to see a 4 sentence inscription on the inside cover written in a sloppy hand. ("To my two wonderful boyz - who I miss when traveling You will always be my babies xo your momma 3/08 My try to Georgetown")

So I'm disappointed. The inscription isnt even beautiful, you know?! There is also just a bit of water damage, possibly unseen by the sender. I do want the book however. The question is, should I make the sender aware of my disappointment and ask that she be more careful as this is unpostable, or should I just let it go? Or is there a third option I'm unaware of? Thanks in advance.

Actually, inscriptions/writing on the inside cover are postable.

No writing or highlighting or underlining on text pages

• a signature or note on the flyleaf or inside front or back cover is OKAY

That's from the condition criteria guidelines. That you can't mark RWAP. If you don't want books with inscriptions on the inside, you should write an RC saying so.

The water damage is another story. That, rather than the writing, would make this book unpostable.

As to whether you want to ask for your credit back or not, it's your choice. You could mark it RWAP and ask for a credit or mark it RWAP and simply let the credit go because you can still enjoy the book, if the water damage is not that extensive.

Oh darn, thanks. I didn't realize inscriptions were postable. I don't like it, but if it's postable that's fine. So glad I asked! It saved me further embarrasment. As for the water damage, it's slight enough so that I can certainly overlook it. Thanks for taking the time to answer.

Inscriptions are postable (if not on text pages).  Liquid damage is unpostable.  The book should be RWAP, requesting credit return (or not) is entirely your option.

I agree about the water damage.  There is a line not to be crossed - "NO water damage".  Give 'em a little and they'll take a lot.  Stop it at NO.  It's the only way to enforce the quality standards here.  Believe it.

Ruth