Pirates & Privateers: Gareth's P. Jones's Books

The decks are swabbed. The hull careened. Even the pirates have taken baths. Just one thing keeps the pirates in port. They haven’t a captain to command them. First Mate Hugh looks high and low, on land and in the water, for his replacement – a pirate with courage, brains, and heart. But what he thinks he sees, isn’t who is really there. It takes a dude dressed in pirate clothes to ask just the right question for the crew to realize who will make the perfect captain.

The instant the cover opens, young readers are immersed in the world of pirates. The gangplank awaits and the sails contain a sea shanty, while a bird holds the music. The vibrant pictures promote exploration and each pirate is unique. First Mate Hugh also keeps the ship’s journal, which includes details on the loss of Captain Scurvy Sea Dog Sid. What’s most ingenious is first we see what Hugh sees when he spots potential captain candidates, and then we see who the person really is. This allows readers to guess at who the character might be and then be astounded when the truth is revealed. The text pokes fun at piratical lore and the oft-repeated question begs for young pirates to join in. The combination of narrative and illustration are a perfect melding that complement each other and make Are You the Pirate Captain? a tale young pirates will want to read or have read to them again and again and again.