Pirate Books -- Kid Lit

Pirate Book Reviews! These are samples of books I am making available to the kids in my March Break program.

Series Information
Allison Lassieur and Liam O'Donnell. The Real World of Pirates. Mankato, Minnesota: Edge Books, 2007.

My Review
Take a trip back to the Golden Age of Piracy and learn about what it took to become a pirate back in the 1700s. From pirate gear to pirate treasure, this series of short books describes pirate life using clear vocabulary and vivid illustrations. In addition, each book is sprinkled with trivia facts about pirates. Did you know that Blackbeard wove hemp into his hair and lit it on fire to frighten his enemy? Great for nonfiction-loving reluctant readers.

Book Titles

The History of Pirates: From Pirateers to Outlaws
The Pirate Code: Life of a Pirate
Pirate Gear: Cannons, Swords and the Jolly Roger
Pirate Hideouts: Secret Spots and Shelters
Pirate Ships: Sailing the High Seas
Pirate Treasure: Stolen Riches

Book Information
Lock, Deborah. Pirate. DK Publishing, 2005.

My Review
In the tradition of DK books, opening this book is like having a museum in print format. It's filled with pirate information in bite-sized facts, with many informative photographs of pirate artefacts.


Book Information
Havercroft, Elizabeth. A Year On a Pirate Ship.  Minneapolis, MN: Orpheus Books Ltd, 2008.

My Review
This book discusses pirates in more of a story format, with some "Where's Waldo?" style item-finding throughout the book. Not a book to work with if you need solid facts, like dates and/or names.

The Art of Reading

Book Information
Reading is Fundamental. The Art of Reading: Forty Illustrators Celebrate RIF's 40th Anniversary. New York: Dutton Books, 2005.

My Review
This book is a treasure trove.  It highlights books that inspired forty well-established illustrators. From well-known classics (including Charlotte's Web and The Outsiders) to lesser-known books (especially The Thirteen Clocks by James Thurber), readers get a snapshot of a variety of books. Equally important, through the short essays and through illustrations that each artist creates about their chosen books, young readers can see how reading provokes thought and motivates achievement.

Reading Is Fundamental is a literacy-focused nonprofit group whose goal is to achieve a reading America, inspiring children to become lifelong readers. Their services include free books and resources for children and families that need them the most. Their website (www.rif.org) features a variety of activities, book lists and articles about literacy.

My Notes
My favourite illustration was Kevin Hawkes` Freddy the Detective, in which Freddy is shown holding a magnifying glass. Readers can see that Freddy`s shadow is in the shape of a boy wearing a Sherlock Holmes outfit. As Hawkes described it, the shadow represented himself as a boy, searching for clues for the next Freddy mystery.

A Family of Readers: The Book Lover's Guide to Children and Young Adult Literature

Book Information
Parravano, Martha V. and Roger Sutton. A Family of Readers: The Book Lover's Guide to Childen's and Young Adult Literature.

My Review and Summary
A Family of Readers is a thorough guide to children's and youth literature from the editors of Horn Book, a publication whose articles and book reviews focus on children's and youth literature.

This is a must-read for parents who want to become actively involved in their children's reading, and for professionals who want to further their knowledge of children's literature. This book addresses many subjects in children's literature, from "boy" books, board books and biographies to young adult literature. There are many brief essays written by children's authors and subject specialists.

Reading materials recommended in A Family of Readers extend beyond the classics; it features contemporary recommended reading lists by grade level. A Family of Readers often discusses childhood development, from how to choose board books based on the developmental needs of babies, to providing reading selections for teens who need "private reading" space.

A comprehensive, enjoyable book.

My Notes
I particularly enjoyed reading "Unlucky Arithmetic -- Thirteen Ways to Raise a Nonreader".

Little Bear and the Marco Polo

Book Information
Minarik, Else Holmelund. Little Bear and the Marco Polo. New York: Harper, 2010.

My Review
Little Bear is full of themes that children in primary grades will love, including adventures and sailing. Parents will like the book's informative/educational aspects. Note: even though this book identifies itself as a level one book for beginning readers, it is not an introductory reader. There is no rhyme or repetition of words. Sentences do not follow a clear pattern. Some of the vocabulary is quite challenging. Depending on the child's reading abilities, Little Bear would be an enjoyable read for a student in Grade Two (or nearing the end of Grade One).

Enchanted Glass by Diana Wynne Jones

Book Information

Enchanted Glass by Diana Wynne Jones. HarperCollinsCanada, 2010.

My Summary and Review
Diana Wynne Jones has done it again! She continues to write gripping fantasy novels! Her latest is "Enchanted Glass", in which Andrew inherits his granfather's magical field-of-care. After mysterious young Aidan suddenly appears one day, both must combine their magical abilities to ward off otherworldly, sinister beings. It's particularly enjoyable to see how Wynne Jones weaves fantasy, magic and Shakespearean fairies into an enchanting plot!

Witch Week by Diana Wynne-Jones

My Review/Summary

"Someone in this class is a witch," begins Diana Wynne-Jones' Witch Week. This book can be read on its own, or as part of Diana Wynne-Jones' magical Chrestomanci series. Diana Wynne-Jones' boarding school novel explores a world in which witchcraft is forbidden, and where witches are burned. In class 6B, there are a few witches, each of whom has different talents and abilities, but no one wants to be identified! Diana Wynne-Jones creatively touches on many different themes in this book, including the dangers of being careless and joking around with something serious, the idea that one action has many possible consequences that could alter history, as well as the importance of including people, and not punishing others based on differences. A thrilling read for fun or for a school project.

Oh, Daddy! by Bob Shea

What an enjoyable, bright, bouncy picture book! This book gives Dad chances to act incredibly funny, and to ask a lot of questions in funny voices too! The lucky listener also develops storytelling skills by saying the way things should go.

SPOILER ALERT! Lots of laughs and hugging to come!

Stand Straight, Ella Kate : The True Story of An American Giant by Kate Klise and M. Sarah Klise

My Summary
When you think of a giant, what comes to mind? Jack and his beanstalk? Fables? Fairy tales?

Ella Ewing (1872-1913) was a real American giant! By the age of thirteen, she was almost six feet tall. At seventeen, she was 8 feet tall. Being bigger wasn't always better, though, as many people were mean to Ella.

Take a walk in Ella's large shoes, and learn how she used her height to become famous, to travel, and to accomplish what many "normal" people from her time could not dream of.

My review
Through the illustrations, readers get a good sense of Ella's size, especially on the title page, where her head bends at the top beside a lamp shade so that her body can fit on the page. Also quite interesting are Ella's size-related facts on the inner cover pages of the book. Imagine having size 24 feet! An excellent beginner biography.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

My Review

The Invention of Hugo Cabret is a magical story of a young boy in the old train station of 1920s Paris who dreams of restoring and repairing an automaton (a machine like a robot). Children (or adults) who love reading history, who enjoy looking at art, or who are fascinated by mechanical toys should try this book. Selznick's Caldecott medal-winning illustrations and photographs are integral to the storytelling process, and add key pieces of information that are not written in the text of the story.Through the illustrations and through the story, readers get a real taste of Hugo's world: 1920's Paris and the famous old train station.

Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key by Jack Gantos

My Summary/Review
Life, for Joey Pigza, is like being a constantly coiled spring. Joey tries to be helpful, but he can never stay focused on one thing at a time. His teacher has to constantly remind him to follow the rules. One day, Joey unintentionally causes a serious accident in his classroom, and is sent to a special school. Will Joey ever learn to change?

"Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key" is a critically acclaimed book about a boy with attention deficit and behavioral issues. For this reason, I suggest that parents and caregivers read this book through before discussing it with their children. Even though he is constantly wired, at heart, Joey often tries to do what is right. Readers will find themselves voting for Joey throughout the entire book.

Princess Pigtoria and the Pea by Pamela Duncan Edwards

Summary
Princess Pigtoria visits Prince Proudfoot to decide if they should marry. But, after the Princess orders a pizza party…


My Review
A positively perfect new picture book! It playfully updates the classic story. The plot twist will please preschoolers! A fun opportunity to practice “p” words and expand vocabulary.


My Notes
I recently taught programs for preschoolers about farms and farm animals. I highly recommend this book to read aloud, and to make a construction paper pig with the story.


Need to pair this with another good book? Try Dooby Dooby Moo by Doreen Cronin.

Theodore Boone, Kid Lawyer by John Grisham

Book Summary

Thirteen year old amateur lawyer Theodore Boone has unwittingly become wrapped up in his town's largest murder trial.

My Review

In Theodore Boone, Kid Lawyer, John Grisham has written a mystery/suspense novel that is neither mysterious nor suspenseful. Grisham passes by many chances to introduce action to the novel, and there is no mystery. The law information that Grisham introduces to readers slows down the pace of the plot. 

Devoted young mystery readers should seek out other authors and novels, including:

Richard Scrimger's "From Charlie's Point of View" and
Brian Doyle's "Angel Square"

Young mystery readers will also enjoy Graeme Base's illustrated books: "The Eleventh Hour" and "Enigma"