The word pirate means one who plunders on the sea, and piracy has been around for as long as men and women have longed for adventure and lusted for riches. But it wasn't all fun and pillaging! Being a pirate was not an easy life.
Written by award-winning author Eve Bunting, poetry and expository text are used in this alphabetical examination of the history of piracy. Topics include legendary ships, fabled hideouts, and notorious villains like Edward Teach, also known as Blackbeard. Includes the pirate code of conduct as well as the different occupations aboard ship.---from the publisher
40 pages 978-1585368150 Ages 7-10
Keywords: Talk Like a Pirate Day, pirates, biography, alphabet, information, fun, 7 year old, 8 year old, 9 year old, 10 year old
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After reading this book, you'll be prepared for the annual "Talk Like a Pirate Day" (September 19th). However, you won't just know a few phrases to utter; you'll instead be able to talk about pirates. Like the other alphabet books in this series, this one has a brief, fairly unenlightening, sometimes awkwardly phrased couplet for each letter of the alphabet; it's the information for each letter that's fascinating and informative.
Bunting provides some background on specific pirates, such as Charles Vane ("V"), Captain Kidd ("K"), and the queen of pirates Grace O'Malley ("Q"). Readers also learn that pirates rarely used an X to mark the spot, since they rapidly and freely spent nearly everything they ever plundered, and that countries issued "letters of marque" to pirates, which enabled them to attack and plunder ships without punishment.
Young pirate fanatics will appreciate the interesting information provided but will also find the illustrations riveting. Manders captures all the grit and ferocity of ill-kempt, surly ne'er-do-wells while also offering many visual details of ships, chests of gold, and weaponry. One particularly humorous page tells viewers that "M is for Movie Pirates," showing all the famous actors who have played pirates seated in a theater looking at readers (today's children will recognize Johnny Depp right away).—Maggie Chase, Boise State University, ID on School Library Journal
