Pirates & Privateers: Kathryn and Byron Jackson's Books

Ever yearn to read those wonderful books from childhood? You know, the ones with pictures that are fun to read aloud with a parent or by yourself? These books have a special magic that you can never describe, but they capture your imagination and take you on all sorts of adventures. Pirates, Ships, and Sailors is just such a book.

This collection of twenty-four stories and poems is a delightful treasure. They bring smiles to your lips and make your eyes widen with amazement. The poetry is interspersed between the stories in just the right places to provide a brief respite along your journey. You search for pirate treasure or stow away on a racing yacht. You wonder how a ship can fit into a bottle or what it takes to be a sailor. You dread meeting Flying Dutchman or sailing in a field of icebergs. These are just a few of the voyages awaiting you within the pages of this book, first published as a Golden Book in 1950.

It is the artwork that captures your attention. Few books contain this type of art any more. The pictures are masterfully drawn and possess an element of respect in them that is sometimes lacking in illustrations for children’s books today. You see yourself as a character in them, which draws you into the story. Some contain so much detail that each time you look at them, you discover something new.

Pirates, Ships, and Sailors is treasure worth savoring. It may be written for children, but readers of any age will enjoy this. It’s great for reading before bedtime.