Pirates and Privateers

Pirate Glitterbeard
by Oksanna & Larissa Crawley
Rebel Mountain Press, 2023, ISBN 978-1-989996-14-0, US / CAN $14.95

Freedom. This is an important word to pirates. But Pirate Gruffybeard of The Heart’s Desire isn’t free. He has a secret and if the crew finds out, they may not listen to him anymore.

He loves anything that’s pink and glittery, but only in his cabin when he’s alone can Pirate Gruffybeard be his true self. One day, he sprinkles pink glitter on his beard and puts on a pink skirt. Just then, the lookout cries out a warning: Pirate Squidlips and the Rotten Turnip are approaching. If she captures his ship, Pirate Gruffybeard knows he and his crew will be shark bait.

Without thinking, he runs out on deck. The crew is stunned. Rather than hide, he shares his secret. Instead of being horrified, his crew share theirs until the lookout once again shouts. Time is running out. They must act. Should they sail closer and fight the Rotten Turnip? Pirate Gruffybeard thinks not, but what can they do to turn the tables in their favor?

Written for young pirates, this story is about having the courage to be who you really are. The authors, a mother-daughter team, have created a unique story that demonstrates through narrative and colorful illustrations that it’s okay to be quirky and that just because you are does not mean you can’t be courageous too. This is a tale about acceptance and following a different path. While these pirates may not be what readers expect, they are true to pirate lore and come up with an ingenuous way to escape the danger they face.

Meet the author
 
Review Copyright ©2023 Cindy Vallar

A Pirate Christmas
Based on episode “A Pirate Christmas” by Dana Chan
Illustrated by Francesco Legramandi
Random House, 2022, ISBN 978-0-593-56393-9, US $8.99 / CAN $11.99

On Nochebuena (Christmas Eve), Santiago Montes, his sister Tina, his cousin Tómas, friend Lorelai, and Kiko (Santiago’s pet frog) have a campout to await Santa’s arrival. All should go well, but Santiago’s magic compass warns that Santa needs their help.

Enrique Réal de Palacios has had enough. He’s tired of being on Santa’s naughty list. He wants to get presents just like the other children. And this Christmas Eve, he makes that wish come true. He stops Santa’s sleigh and steals all the presents, taking them back to his ice castle.

Santiago and his friends must intervene and save Christmas. At the same time, perhaps Enrique will discover the true meaning of the holiday.

This is a sturdy board book for children, that serves either as an introduction to Nickelodeon’s Santiago of the Seas animated series or as a treasure for when fans can’t get enough. The pictures are boldly colorful and expressive. They easily encapsulate the tale even if young pirates haven’t yet mastered reading on their own. The text combines English and Spanish, as well as Hispanic culture. Unfortunately, the story is told more than shown, but for young pirates this won’t matter much. It includes many of the tropes from the show, although this time their vehicle is Santa’s magic sleigh rather than a pirate ship. A Pirate Christmas is a simple tale that teaches valuable lessons in a fun way.

Meet the series
 
Review Copyright ©2022 Cindy Vallar

Ned the Knitting Pirate
By Diana Murray
Illustrated by Leslie Lammle
Roaring Brook, 2016, ISBN 978-1-59643-890-3, US $16.99 / CAN $19.50

The men of the Rusty Heap are rugged and fierce, and they often sing while they work. The only different pirate among them is Ned, who likes to knit and wears a fuzzy hat – two things no self-respecting pirate should do, at least according to the captain. Finally, Ned is given a choice. He must cease knitting or he must walk the plank. In his heart Ned is a pirate, so he packs away needles, yarn, and knitted items, including a blanket bearing a pirate crest. Then one night a sea monster attacks the ship and only Ned has the means to defeat it.

 
The muted colors and captivating artwork bring this tale for young pirates to life. Ned looks more like a girl than a boy, but perhaps that works best since this is a tale of not quite fitting in and yet being accepted because of his unique skill. The catchy song the pirates sing begs young pirates to join in as the book is read. Ned the Knitting Pirate provides a fresh look at pirate life that demonstrates non-violence is sometimes the best way to thwart an enemy.

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Review Copyright ©2016 Cindy Vallar





The Ultimate Pirate Handbook
By Linda Hamilton
Illustrated by Mathieu Leyssenne and Jason Kraft
Templar Books, 2015, 978-0-7636-7963-7, US $19.99 / CAN $25.99

So you want to be a pirate?

This interactive guide is a handbook for young pirates between the ages of five and eight who want to learn the answers to that question. First up is a pyramid showing who’s who on a pirate ship and who’s most important. Next proceed aboard the vessel where you must learn the different parts of your new home. Of course, with that comes the nitty-gritty about what life at sea is really like from food to bathroom facilities to personal hygiene. Every pirate needs to know what to wear when – going ashore needs fancy duds, while everyday attire is more practical – and don’t forget how to talk like a pirate or to sign the rules that govern all pirates. Defending yourself is equally important, but fighting also requires that you know what to do in case of injury or sickness. To be fair, you also need to know what will happen if the pirate doctor can’t heal you, but at least you’ll be having a wealth of treasure to send home to loved ones. Once you know all this, you get to meet the most famous pirates in history.

Characters pop up, windows open, and envelopes unseal allowing young pirates to explore the life and world of a sea dog. The book begins with a warning to all landlubbers – life isn’t always a swashbuckling affair where riches abound. There are also scurvy knaves lurking to steal away that treasure. So beware: This book isn’t for the faint of heart.

Full-fledged pirates (adults), rather than pirate hopefuls or pirate apprentices (children), should be aware of some drawbacks. The font chosen is, at times, difficult to read, especially where the print is small. While the list of crew members is one of the most extensive among books like this, it actually is missing one crucial hand – the quartermaster, perhaps the most important pirate on any ship. Young pirates may have trouble finding the head after reading this book, since it says the bathroom is near the stern rather than the bow. Rule five in the articles is a bit of a puzzler, even for an adult pirate. The definition for “dead lights” and “heave” are incorrect, “swaggy” is a modern word not found in dictionaries and never used by pirates, and “wannion” is misspelled. There are also a few historical errors. The chest of medicine Blackbeard received wasn’t for a ship. He held some important citizens and blockaded the whole port of Charleston for ransom. Francis Drake received his knighthood after his circumnavigation of the world seven years before the Spanish armada, rather than for his part in defeating the Spanish invasion force.

In spite of the flaws, this handbook if kind of like a fun hide-and-seek game where the reader must delve into every nook and cranny to find delectable tidbits. The artwork contains a treasure trove of detail that everyone will want to study in great detail to see what they missed the first time.

 
Review Copyright ©2015 Cindy Vallar


 


Greenbeard the Pirate Pig
By Andrea Torrey Balsara
First Ideas Publishing, 2012, $19.95

Greenbeard is a guinea pig who faithfully tends his garden, where he grows lettuce and carrots, his two favorite foods. One day the breeze brings the scent of the sea to him, and he dreams of being a pirate. Rather than continue farming, he sets out for the coast and new adventures with his crew – a treasure-loving rat named Snug Rumkin.

Greenbeard is a three-chapter paperback full of expressive, colorful pictures that will captivate children. The book is packaged with an eight-inch Greenbeard, complete with pirate regalia, including his carrot sword and green beard of lettuce. At the end of this first book in a series about Greenbeard’s adventures, the author includes the lyrics and music for this guinea pig’s favorite song about himself.

While readers will easily fall in love with their own Greenbeard, the characters, and the artwork, this first tale lacks adventure. It takes us from tending his garden to acquiring a ship, but then leaves us as Greenbeard and Snug Rumkin sail away. There’s the promise of more adventures to come, but a bit of excitement in this first book would ensure that young pirates return for more. Hopefully, the forthcoming book, Greenbeard the Pirate Pig and the Isle of Lost, will fill that void.

Meet the author

 
Review Copyright ©2013 Cindy Vallar


 



How to Pulverize Pirates
By Catherine Leblanc
Illustrated by Roland Garrigue
Insight Kids, 2013, ISBN 978-1-60887-192-6, $14.99

What if pirates want to steal from you? What if pirates land in your hometown? What if pirates seek buried treasure in your house?

Pirates can be scary to young children, and this book provides interesting suggestions as to how they can overcome this fear. For example, they might saw off a pirate’s wooden leg or soap the gangplank so the pirates slip and slide as they disembark from their ship. A page of stickers showcasing some of these notorious villains are included with the book.

There isn’t much of a plot to this story, and while the ideas for overcoming the fear of pirates are amusing and entertaining in the first half of the book, the second half lacks the same inventiveness and humor. Also, few parents will appreciate the last suggestion – if the house is a mess, blame it on the pirates – which seems like odd advice from an author who is a psychologist.

What saves this book are the fabulous illustrations. The fiendish pirates come alive, while the deceptively-innocent children show they have more tricks up their sleeves to pulverize anyone who threatens their safety. Garrigue’s caricatures bring the story to life and spark the imagination. And it’s not every day that a rubber duck defeats the pirates!

Review Copyright ©2013 Cindy Vallar





The Pirate, Pink
By Jan Day
Illustrated by Janeen I. Mason
Pelican Publishing, 2001, ISBN 1-56557-879-5, $15.95

Red Beard regales Pink with tales of being a pirate, so she’s ecstatic when the day comes that he takes her with him. But once at sea, things don’t turn out as she expects. No matter what she does, her father only has time for his gold. Then he threatens an old woman with walking the plank. Pink rescues her from a watery grave, which only angers Red Beard. He explains that a pirate is fierce, and Pink vows to be as bad as she can. But the meaner she becomes, the less she likes being a pirate. Even though she loves her dad, she just can’t be a pirate like him.

Written for young pirates, this is a tale of adventure and truth. Each buccaneer must live his own life and have her own dreams. The text provides great opportunities for reading aloud or for youngsters to act out Pink’s adventure, while the colorful illustrations bring the story to life.

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Review Copyright ©2012 Cindy Vallar

Pirate Pink and Treasures of the Reef
By Jan Day
Illustrated by Janeen I. Mason
Pelican Publishing, 2003, ISBN 1-58980-086-9, $15.95

Pirate Pink returns in a new adventure with her best friend, Juan. They head for Turtle Bay to discover what treasure a recent storm has unearthed. After spying a derelict ship, they climb aboard. But this isn’t just any vessel. This is the Barracuda and the nasty Captain Snagg owns her. Juan spots a few gold coins, but when a thorough search fails to turn up more treasure, Pink ventures under water. She soon locates the missing chest, but before they can recover it, Snagg returns. Can they escape this dastardly villain? Who will end up with the treasure?
        
A rainbow of colors illustrate Pink’s tale, from her mother’s attempts to teach her daughter to act like a lady to searching for treasure underwater and facing the fearsome Snagg. This picture book is a treasure trove for young pirates, especially bonnie lasses, filled with vibrant sea life and an audacious scavenger hunt that requires brains, rather than brawn, to escape.

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Review Copyright ©2012 Cindy Vallar
 




Pirate Nap: A Book of Colors
By Danna Smith
Illustrated by Valeria Petrone
Clarion Books, 2011, ISBN 978-0-547-57531-5, US $14.99

The pirates on Spyglass Street practice their trade inside and out. They spy. They attack. They feast and dance. Mostly, though, they hunt for treasure. Anything to avoid the dreaded NAP. As they plunder through the house, they discover colors galore in unusual booty found in every nook and cranny. But beware the purple monster from the sea!
        
Although color abounds throughout the pages of this book, the story singles out specific colors on different pages, but not on every one. This is a good story for reading aloud, especially in a group, and young pirates will readily parrot or anticipate as the reader progresses through the story. The illustrations contain a humorous tinge and the eyes of the characters draw you into the story. The pages are simple, rather than busy, and provide young pirates with lots of opportunities to see how these pirates take everyday objects and turn them into pirate fare.

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Review copyright © 2011 Cindy Vallar



 

The Octonauts & the Great Ghost Reef
By Meomi
Immedium, 2009, 978-1-59702-019-0, $15.95

The Octonauts – Captain Barnacles Bear, Peso Penguin, Tweak Bunny, Dr. Shellington, Turnip the Vegimal, Sauci Dog, Kwazii Kitten, and Professor Inkling – can’t wait to arrive at their vacation spot. As their Octopod nears Great Reef City, the intrepid adventurers notice something’s amiss. Instead of a vibrant, colorful coral reef, populated by all types of plants and animals, they see a ghost town. The buildings are abandoned. The only colors are white and gray, and eerie creaks and moans whistle through the silent streets.
 
Then they discover one lone resident, Mr. Slowstache, but this turtle is in the midst of packing up his dilapidated house and moving to a new location. He explains that the more visitors came to stay, the more buildings were erected and the whiter and more brittle things became until everyone moved elsewhere. The Octonauts offer to help Mr. Slowstache find a new home, but he’s a bit particular. The beach where he grew up is too crowded and lacks sufficient shade. There’s no seagrass to eat at the mangroves and the water’s too murky. Kwazii Kitten, the pirate amongst the Octonauts, is a bit perturbed, but Captain Barnacles comes up with a solution. They need to find out why Great Reef City became a ghost town and, if possible, bring it back to life.

This is the mystery the Octonauts must solve in this latest title in this series for young pirates. In doing so, they learn to cooperate and care for one another. Readers also discover how they use technology to solve problems. Although not a pirate book, this is a story about life beneath the sea. The contrast of colorful illustrations with the muted grays, blues, and whites of the ghost town clearly show young pirates the differences between environments we take care of and those we don't. The pages are filled with treasure to discover and strange animals and plants are identified. This is a good book for reading aloud with young pirates, but those slightly older will also enjoy this adventure.

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Review copyright © 2010 Cindy Vallar





Pirate Treasure Hunt!
By Jan Peck
Illustrated by Adrian Tans
Pelican, 2008, ISBN 978-1-58980-549-1, US $15.95

Captain Dare is in need of pirates to hunt for treasure! Are you game? If so, say, “Aye, aye, Captain” and don’t sound like a lily-livered landlubber when you do. Beware of dangers along the way – a hungry crocodile, a ferocious jaguar, a snake pit, and a threatening buzzard. There be treasure to find, but it be not quite what a young pirate expects.

Thus begins this rousing adventure for young pirates. This picture book isn’t meant to be read alone or in a quiet place. It compels the listener to participate by repeating phrases the reader speaks.

Tans’ colorful and vibrant illustrations bring the story to life. The pirates’ faces display a variety of emotions as they tackle dangerous situations to secure the treasure. Teamwork is essential for such an adventure, which Tans clearly demonstrates.

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Review copyright © 2009 Cindy Vallar





A Year on a Pirate Ship
By Elizabeth Havercroft
Millbrook Press, 2009, ISBN 978-1-58013-547-4, US $22.60

What do pirates do when they’re on their ship? This question is explored within the pages of this book. From the loading of the ship to attacking prey to weathering a storm at sea, readers will learn what occupies the pirates through words and pictures. The colorful illustrations not only show what pirates do, but also allow young sea rouges to participate in the tale. Each double-page spread has oodles of objects to dazzle the eye and to hide in plain view a variety of treasures for readers to find.

A Year on a Pirate Ship is a great way for young pirates to practice vital skills like counting and locating. They can see inside a ship to discover what goes on belowdeck. An exciting adventure that delights and entertains.

Review copyright © 2009 Cindy Vallar





My Pop-Pop is a Pirate
By Pat Croce
Illustrated by Julia Woolf
Running Press Kids, 2008, ISBN 978-0-7624-2871-7
US $15.95 / CAN $17.00 / £9.99

Show-and-Tell Day is big at young Paz’s school, but on this day there’s a special theme – families. When it’s her turn, Paz talks about her pop-pop, who doesn’t have an ordinary job. He’s a Pirate! Of course, the teacher scoffs at such a tale and the children laugh, but Paz persists. The teacher promises they will have a serious talk about Paz’s behavior after their field trip. But on the way to the aquarium, there are surprises in store.

Made of sturdy pressed boards, this is an interactive story that is sure to please young children. They’ll readily identify with the happenings at school, and the artwork is simple yet full of interesting details and eye-catching colors. There are flaps to lift and a very special surprise as you turn the last page. My Pop-Pop Is a Pirate is a book youngsters will treasure and enjoy for a long time.

Review copyright © 2008 Cindy Vallar





Puzzle Pirates
By Susannah Leigh
Illustrated by Brenda Haw
EDC Publishing, 2006, ISBN 978-0-7945-1359-7, US $6.99

Joe attends pirate school, but his report card shows he needs more practice before he can earn his cutlass. His uncle, Buccaneer Bill, has just the solution. He’s found a treasure map and with Joe’s help, they can find the treasure and Joe can prove how much of a pirate he really is! It won’t be as easy as it sounds, though. Joe must first find his uncle’s ship, the Salty Seal, and then decide how best to come aboard. Then there’s the voyage itself with rocky reefs and other pirates intent on taking the treasure for themselves. Finally Deadly Isle, where the treasure resides, didn’t get that name for nothing! Only with your help can Joe and Buccaneer Bill succeed in this adventure.

This puzzle book will satisfy any young puzzler. It includes items to spot, mazes to navigate, ladders to climb, pirates to identify, maps to navigate, clues to defeat the pirate skeletons, and ropes to negotiate. The pages are filled with fun and games that will occupy young pirate apprentices when the ship is becalmed.

Review Copyright ©2007 Cindy Vallar





Pirate Fun
By Emma Less
Illustrated by Steve Harpster
Sterling Publishing, 2007, ISBN 978-1-4027-3804-3, US $5.95 / CAN $7.95

Pirate apprentices of three years and older who like to scribble will find this a delightful treasure. The pages are of pressed board and have sections that are blank. Readers use the six crayons that come with the book to color in the missing parts: the pirates’ ship, their clothes, the treasure, and the captain’s hideaway. At the very end of the book is a maze the pirate captain must navigate to reach the buried treasure. The wipe-off pages allow readers to explore the world of pirates over and over again.

Review Copyright ©2007 Cindy Vallar





That’s Not My Pirate
By Fiona Watt
Illustrated by Rachel Wells
EDC Publishing, 2007, ISBN 978-0-7945-1702-1, US $7.99

Written for babies and toddlers, this board book combines simple tactile concepts of rough, soft, silky, bumpy, glittery, and fluffy with basic elements of piracy, such as bandanas, hats, spyglasses, boats, eyepatches, cutlasses, and hooks. The touchy-feely sensations and simple, repetitive language guides the young reader to explore and repeat the words aloud. The colorful drawings invite them to look for the not-so-obvious treasures incorporated into the drawings. Great for reading aloud together to find out which is “my pirate.”

Review Copyright ©2007 Cindy Vallar





On a Pirate Ship
By Sarah Courtauld
Illustrated by Benji Davies
EDC Publishing, June 2007, ISBN 978-0-7945-1702-1, US $9.99

What’s it like to sail on a pirate ship? Here’s your chance to find out! Set sail with the captain and his crew, but watch out for stormy seas. Keep a watchful eye for a treasure ship to plunder. Beware! Danger lurks – a pirate hunter is on your trail.

Aimed at young children just learning to read, this book introduces them to life at sea as a pirate. The large, colorful illustrations compliment the simple text. Danger is hinted at, but never overt. There are opportunities for readers to shout out warnings and “Aargh!” A great way to get a young pirate-in-training’s feet wet before launching into more adventurous tales.

Review Copyright ©2007 Cindy Vallar





Pirate Jigsaw Book
By Struan Reid
Illustrated by Peter Allen
EDC Publishing, 2007, ISBN 978-0-7945-1432-4, US $14.99

A pirate’s world is filled with both adventure and mundane tasks. Through the use of puzzles, search-and-find games, and colorful pictures, young readers learn about the life of a pirate. You begin your exploration with seeing how pirates lived on their ships. From there you experience the capture of a prize, marooning captives, hiding your treasure, spending your booty in a pirate town, and standing trial for piracy.

The left side of each two-page spread contains a jigsaw puzzle in a frame. The pieces come out easily and then readers reassemble the puzzle inside the frame. Underneath is a picture of the puzzle so that assemblers have a visual guide to reconstruct the ship, the island, the town, or the court room. The right page includes a brief paragraph about what the puzzle shows and the items readers must find in the puzzle.

Written for pirates-in-training who are older than 36 months, this book is constructed from pressed cardboard, so the puzzle pieces are sturdy and fit inside the book’s pages. Sometimes a puzzle piece is shaped to match something in a pirate’s life, such as a ship’s wheel, a parrot, or a cutlass, and all pieces are big enough for little hands to hold. The Pirate Jigsaw Book is a fun and educational way to learn about pirates. The illustrations are crammed with all sorts of little details that will keep young pirates searching for hidden treasure. It provides a well-rounded view of sea rogues without glamorizing them, but the cartoonish illustrations are entertaining.

Review Copyright ©2007 Cindy Vallar





Pirate Bob
by Kathryn Lasky
Illustrated by David Clark
Charlesbridge, 2006, ISBN 978-1-57091-595-6, US $15.95 / CAN $23.95

Beneath a rogue’s moon lies the Blackbird. Aboard this ship, Pirate Bob waits. His nose itches, a sure sign that gold is near. He, like his friend Yellow Jack (so named because of his pale lemon hue), loves treasure. When the lookout spies Concordia, the captain orders sails loosened and guns primed. Boarding the ship and gaining the gold are minor problems for Bob. What will he to do with his share of the gold? How can he trust the other pirates, including Yellow Jack, who crave the money as much as he does?

This story combines hopes and fears with dreams and friendships. As readers follow Bob’s adventures, they are introduced to the key concepts of piracy, from stealing treasure and chasing prey to boarding a ship and divvying the loot. The dangerous life a pirate leads is subtly woven into the tale. The colorful renderings of the action will ensnare readers much as pirates bait a trap. The facial expressions of the characters bring them to life. Pirate Bob is a great story for reading aloud or for keeping the treasure all to oneself.

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Review Copyright © 2006 Cindy Vallar





Backbeard and the Birthday Suit
by Matt McElligott
Walker and Company, 2006, ISBN 0-8027-8065-2, US $16.95

Imagine someone hairier and meaner than Blackbeard, a nasty pirate indeed. To make him even scarier, think of the stench of a garbage can. Who do you have? Backbeard! The hairiest pirate who ever lived!

Backbeard is captain of a motley crew aboard the Five O’Clock Shadow, where they celebrate in grand pirate fashion Backbeard’s birthday. After the party, though, Polly (Backbeard’s parrot) quits, and gazing in the mirror, Backbeard realizes he’s a mess.  So into town he strolls to Edwin’s Fine Fashions. The clerk doesn’t have any pirate clothes, but he improvises and comes up with an unbelievable new birthday suit for the captain. Upon his return to his ship, though, the crew fails to recognize him. Not only must Backbeard regain control of his ship and men, he also has to convince them he’s still the most-feared pirate sailing the five seas (two have yet to be discovered).

The tale itself is reminiscent of The Emperor’s New Clothes, but with pirates as characters and actually clothing everyone can see, even if they might need shades to do so. Backbeard’s crew has appropriate names for pirates: Sweaty McGhee, Mad Garlic Jack, Scarlet Doubloon. The pirate slang is present as well: hornswoggle, walk the plank, shiver me timbers, and more. In this tale, a rough tough pirate meets his softer side, which results in humorous situations. What makes this book shine are the colorful illustrations. Each one captures the reader’s eyes and compels you to explore the illustration in greater depth, looking for the nuances that are oftentimes missed with just a glance. This is a great book for reading aloud, and the pictures allow the children to tell the story even if they can’t read the words. From the front cover to the back cover, there are treasures to delight the eye.

 

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Book Review Copyright © 2006 Cindy Vallar





Shiver Me Letters: A Pirate A B C
by June Sobel
Illustrated by Henry Cole
Harcourt, 2006, ISBN 0-15-216732-3, US $16.00

This pirate captain and his animal crew are in desperate need of letters to make them tough!  So far they only possess “R” (think AARRRGH). It’s just not enough. So off they sail to lands near and far snaring the needed letters until they get to “Z”, which gives them a bit of trouble.

Shiver Me Letters is great fun for reading aloud with young children just learning their alphabet. What makes this a special treasure is that it’s a pirate tale rather than just the usual A-B-C book. The text provides ample opportunity for reader participation, and little pirates will have fun seeking the letters along with the pirates since the artist incorporated them into his eye-captivating and colorful drawings. One or two of the letters require a keen eye to locate (not blatantly obviously to the casual seeker). The words are all associated with pirates and the sea, although “landlubber” will be foreign to most children. This is a perfect way to teach the alphabet while introducing your children to your secret passion – to be a pirate! It’s also a wonderful way for children and parents to spend quality time together.

Review Copyright © 2006 Cindy Vallar





by Caroline Stutson
Illustrations by Robert Rayevsky
Chronicle Books, 2005, ISBN 0-8118-4239-8 US $15.95

Captain Pup and his crew of pirates set sail aboard their ship, Rover. The voyage is a fair one – no bad weather, no cats – and they soon arrive on the shores where they’ve buried their treasure. On the return trip, however, not far from Barbados, their fortune takes a turn for the worse when the pirate-hunting cats attack. Who will be victorious in this sea battle? What happens to the pirates’ coveted treasure?

Geared toward young pirates, who haven’t learned to read or are just beginning to discover that magical world, this rhyming tale will engage them with repetitive phrases that allow them to participate in the voyage. A special treat for readers comes when the content of the treasure chest is unveiled. Pirate Pup is ideal for reading aloud. The true treasure of this tale, however, is the artwork that accompanies the narrative. Robert Rayevsky masterfully depicts pirate life down to minute details, such as the face of playing cards or the illustration of a peg-leg pirate in one sea rover’s book. No matter how many times a child looks at the illustrations, he/she will discover something new. Although colorful, the pencil and watercolor pictures on coffee-stained paper have a subdued quality to them, which allows them to entertain without arousing children’s energy to inappropriate levels.

View an Inside Spread of Pirate Pup

Review Copyright © 2006 Cindy Vallar





by Giles Andreae
Illustrated by Russell Ayto
Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2005, ISBN 1-4169-0713-0, $15.95

Flinn loves dinosaurs. One day at school while drawing a picture of one, he runs out of markers. Miss Pie, his teacher, sends him to the closet to get what he needs. Instead of finding markers, he discovers a pirate captain whose ship has been stolen by pirates! Flinn volunteers to help Captain Stubble recover the Acorn, as do three of Flinn’s friends, who also love adventure. Just then, the back of the closet opens to reveal a battered old pirate ship waiting for them. Eventually, they catch up to the Acorn, but when Flinn peers through his telescope, he discovers the pirates aren’t your run-of-the-mill kind. No! They are pirate dinosaurs, and Tyrannosaurus Rex is their captain.

Dinosaurs are a favorite of young children, so I thought Flinn would be their captain. Instead, they are the villains in this story, as real pirates are. The story provides children with opportunities to participate in the telling, and the illustrations allow youngsters to tell the story themselves once they know what happens. This is a fanciful tale, one daydreamers will readily enjoy.

Review Copyright © 2005 Cindy Vallar





by Cornelia Funke
Illustrated by Kerstin Meyer
Scholastic, 2005, ISBN 0-439-71672-1 US $15.95 / CAN $21.99

Molly sets sail for her grandmother’s house. She’s not bothering anyone, just minding her own business. Captain Firebeard and the pirates of the Horrible Haddock don’t care. They rob and plunder all ships regardless of size and passengers. This time, though, they’ve taken on more than they can handle, for Molly may be small, but she’s feisty! She refuses to identify her parents and where they live. Instead, she shuts her mouth and does all the chores the pirates demand of her, all the while knowing that sooner or later, the pirates will rue the day they captured her.

This picture book is a delightful introduction to piracy for young children. There is no violence, but the pirates still come across as mean and nasty. What makes this particular book a rarity is that it is a story for girls! Not only is Molly one clever girl, but so is her rescuer, and never a more imposing woman has anyone met. An undercurrent of humor laces the story and illustrations, and children will cheer when “P…P…P…Pirates” attack the pirates!

Review Copyright © 2005 Cindy Vallar





By Frank G. Fox
Pictures by Scott Cook
Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2003, ISBN 0-374-33669-5, $16.00

The baby comes from up river, but the people of New Orleans know nothing else about him. Thinking him an ordinary infant, the rivermen name him Jean Laffite. Within a short time, though, he proves them wrong. He favors chicory-flavored coffee to goat's milk. He learns to walk three days after his arrival, but prefers swimming. At the age of seven he swims up the Mississippi River, then floats back down to New Orleans, counting all the trees lining the riverbanks along the way. He soon acquires more knowledge about the Mighty Mississippi than anyone else, so when the river suddenly dries up, everyone seeks out Jean Laffite. He must discover the reason for the water's disappearance and devise a solution to the problem.

Jean Laffite and the Big Ol' Whale is an original tall tale based on a real person, who became a legend just as Davy Crockett did. Although he lived almost two centuries ago, we still have trouble discerning fact from fiction where he's concerned. Laffite was a master of deception through misinformation. Fox's character comes up with an ingenious solution to the problem of the whale. The author includes tidbits of truth through this whopper of a tale, reminiscent of the classics like Paul Bunyan and Pecos Bill. At the very end of the book, Fox includes a brief explanation about the real Laffite.

The color paintings that depict the story have an abstract quality to them that complement the tallness of the tale. Viewers will want to lean in close to see if they missed any minute details.

This story of Jean Laffite, the gentleman pirate who became a hero of New Orleans during the War of 1812, has no pirates, ghosts, or buried treasure in it. Instead, it's a subtle story of friendship and helping others in need. Any collection that includes tall tales will want to add this one.

Review Copyright ©2003 Cindy Vallar





Copyright © 2022 Cindy Vallar



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