Pirates & Privateers: Eric Ode's Books

This collection of poems introduces children, young and old alike, to life with pirates and an assortment of critters associated with them, such as a pirate dog or the kraken. The poetry contains an element of realism, but humor abounds in the text and the colorful, whimsical illustrations that capture the essence of each poem’s subject. The book contains twenty-six poems that will bring smiles to a pirate’s eyes. The rhymes and cadence quickly snare readers, but the real treasure comes from reading these gold nuggets aloud.

When You’re a Pirate Dog
The Missing Pirate Flag
I’m Kraken
The Pirate and the Princess
Captain Myrtle’s Turtle Boots
When Stan Was a Student
Treasure Hunt
Pirate Pat’s Fancy Hat
Red Eye Jack, the Pirate Ghost
Biscuits
Pirate Stew
Sing Hey Hi-Dee Ho!
No One Tells the Captain!

Jerry, the Juggling Pirate
Crusty and Rusty and Musty McGee
The Pirate Molly Mae
Missing
Marooned on Coconut Island
A Sea Serpent’s Life
Captain Keel’s Fishing Trip
The Pirate’s Birthday Party
A Tight Fit
A Pirate’s Curse
Commodore Quail
Seven Clever Pirates
Off the Map

In addition to the poetry, readers will discover several “really bad pirate jokes” and, at the center of the book, is the Puffer Fish, the pirate ship. The cutaway view provides an interior view of the vessel with sections, clearly labeled, to show important aspects of the ship, such as where pirates play, crew members and what they do, and where the prisoners are kept (although to these pirates, the prisoners are considered tourists).

Interior Page: When You're a
Pirate Dog and Other Pirate Poems
(Source: Pelican Publishing, used with
permission)

Sample page from When You're A Pirate Dog and Other Pirate Poems by Eric Ode
Copyright © Eric Ode, Illustrations Copyright © JHI Holdings Ltd,
Source: Pelican Publishing Company, Inc. used with permission

From the first page, which depicts a pirate ship that sports not only the traditional Jolly Roger, but also black sails with a skull and crossed swords emblazoned on one, to the last, where the vessel sails into the sunset, this book whisks you away on voyages you least expect. The poems and artwork are excellent on their own, but it is the combination of the two that spins the magical web that tantalizes and captures your imagination. Each pirate reader will have his or her own favorites, but beware. Like the “betcha can’t eat just one” slogan for Lay’s Potato Chips, I bet you won’t be able to choose just one.

Meet the author
Meet the illustrator

    Paulina and the Pirate’s Hat
    By Eric Ode
    Pelican, 2018, ISBN 9781455623518, $16.99

Paulina loves to read, especially if her book takes her on an adventure. She gets so caught up in the story, she forgets to look where she’s going. When this happens one day, she finds herself aboard a ship. But not just any old vessel. The Rusty Cuttlefish belongs to pirates, and the captain is decidedly unhappy because she’s sitting on his hat!

Once the squashed hat is retrieved, Paulina announces that it is most certainly the wrong hat for a pirate captain. The crew agrees and, on her recommendation, they set sail for the best places to find the needed wool, feather, and lace for a true pirate captain’s hat.

Children, old and young, who often have their noses in books will definitely identify with Paulina. The story sounds like a grand adventure, but is basically a sedate quest, although some of the bright, colorful artwork suggests more excitement in faraway places like Puddle Jump Island and the Komoromoro Jungle. Paulina watches rather than fully participates until the very end of this tale where a surprising twist occurs. The pictures contain a few familiar pirate tropes, such as a peg leg and tattered clothing, but while the pirates wear old-fashioned attire, she dresses in t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers. The characters come from a variety of ethnicities. The text is fairly easy to read, but young pirates (ages 3-8) can easily tell the story just from looking at the artwork. At the book’s end, Ode includes directions on how to make your own pirate hat from old newspapers, which makes Paulina and the Pirate’s Hat a fun way to integrate reading with art.