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Posts tagged ‘Pirates’

Meet the Piratesons

9781742836706By: Knife & Packer

Part of the Freak Street series

When you live on Freak Street the Pirateson’s are pretty much an average family. Sure their house is a boat, and they have a pet piranha. Patty Pirateson is more interested in skateboarding than doing pirate things and their dad is certain he will be the one to find a long-lost treasure map leading to the Golden Underpants. They didn’t expect to come across Captain Cuddle or get stranded on an island with a volcano about to blow them up. Sometimes though solutions come from the strangest of places. And the Golden Underpants might be something other than what is expected.

A silly story perfect for someone looking for something fun. The story is quirky and entertaining, the illustrations bold and colourful. Each chapter is quite short making it a good choice for young or reluctant readers.

Publisher: Scholastic Australia

Published: 01 February 2014

Format: Paperback 96 pages

Categories: Pirates, Humour

ISBN 13: 9781742836706

Purchase: here or use Booktopia link on the side of the page

Category:

Fiction 4-9

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How Pirates Really Work

This was sent to me by the publisher

how-pirates-really-work

By: Alan Snow

It starts as a tale of a young boy running away to sea on board a pirate ship and quickly becomes an instruction manual on being a pirate. The illustrations are really detailed and all up it is a very informative book. It covers everything from the parrot, to weapons and what to do with your treasure. A really nice touch though is it lists some famous pirates throughout history, it gives a little information about them and leaves plenty unsaid if you want to research more about them. This is a cross between  a picture book and a non-fiction one and it sits comfortably in that middle ground.

The sheer amount of text and detail makes it a book more appropriate for older picture book readers and some of the illustrations have so much detail in them you can look at them for a long time and still find new things to see.

Perfect for someone with a love of pirates.

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Books

Published: 07 November 2013

Format: Hardback 32 pages

Categories: Picture Books, Pirates

ISBN 13: 9780857079558

Purchase: here or use Booktopia link on side of page.

Category:

Picture Books

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On the Trail of the Golden Toucan

I received my copy from the publisher

9781742990026By: Susan Cason

The Pirate Company

Tom Applecross is the son of a famous explorer and he has hit on very hard times because his dad is missing, presumed dead and his step mum wants him out of the way, that is why she is shipping him off to Boston. Tom doesn’t want to go to Boston. It seems life is taking him somewhere else too. The ship he is on is attacked by pirates, then he gets lost overboard and found by those very same pirates. The pirates don’t want him on board, some seem to think he is nothing but bad luck. Tom has to find a way to prove he belongs there or it’s back to Boston. Then he finds out his step mother was keeping a very big secret from him and Tom decides it’s time to right some wrongs.

A romp of a pirate tale. It cracks along at a wonderful pace and has plenty of dirty, nasty silliness you’d expect from a story about pirates. Tom is gutsy, he doesn’t just float along in misery because that’s the hand he has been dealt, he tries instead to survive and do something about it. Tom is a great central character, not the strongest, or the bravest but he is very determined to survive. He also has a very loyal streak and as the story progresses his bravery and cleverness become more apparent. Rosie, the captain’s niece is more suited to the life of a pirate, that’s what she wants to be, but her uncle won’t have it, so the bond between her and Tom is forged on helping each other survive and stay on as part of the crew. The pirates around them are a colourful assortment, some friendly if dirty, others just plain mean. They all add depth and vitality to the story and when it ends you really want to know what happens next, and that’s not a bad thing really. Well worth a look if you need something with adventure and pirates, booty and treasure.

Publisher: Omnibus Books (Scholastic Australia)

Published: 01 May 2013

Format: Paperback 288 pages

Categories: Adventure, Pirates

ISBN 13: 9781742990026

Purchase: here or use Booktopia link on the side of the page

 

Category:

Fiction 8-12

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Horrendo’s Curse

I received my copy from the publisher

9781743315262

By: Anna Feinberg and Remy Simard

Horrendo is a nice, polite boy, not at all the sort of boy who would be expected to do well when the pirates raid and capture all the 12 year old boys from his town. Horrendo can’t curse or hurt someone, in fact he can’t be mean in any way. None of this stops him being taken by the pirates. When on board Horrendo does what he does best, is polite and good at things such as cooking. Using his skills he does his best to survive. What happens though when the captain takes offence at Horrendo’s niceness and makes him walk the plank?

This is a fun and thoroughly enjoyable graphic novel. It’s bold illustrations perfectly fit the story of pirates and how to outsmart them. Horrendo is cursed but he makes the most of it, it is after all the only way he knows. If you have a reluctant reader who might be more inclined to read if there are plenty of pictures or someone who likes pirate stories with a twist then definitely give this a go. The underlying theme of politeness is not very subtle but in it’s blatancy it works and makes for a good story with a good heart.

Publisher: Allen & Unwin Children’s Books

Published: 01 August 2013

Format: Paperback 112 pages

Categories: Graphic Novels, Pirates

ISBN 13: 9781743315262

Purchase: here or use Booktopia link on the side of the page

Category:

Fiction 8-12

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Pirates Love Underpants

9780857072658By: Claire Freedman & Ben Cort

This time underpants are favoured by pirates. There is a treasure involving gold underpants and like any good pirate story the treasure is found by following map, heading out on a quest. The thing is not just one group of pirates are after this treasure.

Another addition to the very popular ‘Underpants’ series. If your kids loved the others they will love this one. It has all the strengths of the previous books: fun, rhyming text; bold and appealing illustrations, in addition to this are various pirate cliches.

Great fun.

Recommended.

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Books

Published: 28 February 2013

Format: Paperback 32 pages

Categories: Pirates, Sharks

ISBN 13: 9780857072658

Purchase: here or use Booktopia link on side of the page

 

Category:

Picture Books

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Deadweather & Sunrise

By: Geoff Rodkey

The Chronicles of Egg series book 1

Egbert is the youngest, poorly treated and terribly picked upon child. His father runs an orchard on Deadweather Island, a place that houses their family and many pirates. Egbert (or Egg as he becomes known) learns what he can from his horrid teachers, which may not be much but at least he can now read. One day his father finds something and they set off to Sunrise Island – something totally unexpected. Before long Egg’s life has totally changed.

At first he thinks this may be a good thing. Until he discovers his benefactor, Mr Pembroke, is more than what he seems. If Egg is to survive he has to run, to stay one step ahead of Pembroke and figure out exactly what it is the man is after.

This is a swashbuckling sort of adventure and Egg is a total underdog. Picked on by his family, always getting the worst of everything. You want better for him and you go along totally with the story in the hope he has some victory. For much of the story he is very much alone so the addition of Gus (a cabin boy) is welcome. Gus brings a little wildness to the story, while Egg brings grit and determination. There is something very appealing about Egg, there is slot he doesn’t know but he tries to learn. The story starts off a bit slow but overall it is an entertaining adventure set amongst grotty, nasty characters, some of whom are pirates. If you are looking for something to fill the post Percy Jackson void then this might appeal.

Publisher: Puffin Books

Published: 07 June 2012

Format: Paperback 304 pages

Categories: Adventure

ISBN 13: 9780141342504

Purchase: here or use Booktopia link on side of page

Category:

Fiction 8-12

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Yo Ho Ho! A Pirating We’ll Go

By: Kaye Umansky

Illustrated By: Nick Sharratt

Five little pirates go off a-pirating to find treasure. This is an entertaining book filled with rhymes about all aspects of piracy, wonderfully paired with Sharratt’s bold and recognisable illustrations. Any wanna be pirate will love this. (For younger pirates)

Publisher: Puffin Books

Published: 07 August 2008

Format: Paperback 32 pages

Categories: Pirates

ISBN 13: 9780140569377

Purchase: here or use Booktopia link on side of page

Category:

Picture Books

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The Pirates Next Door

By: Jonny Duddle

Matilda lives in Dull-on-Sea and she really would like to have a friend her age. Then the pirate family, the Jolley-Rogers move in next door. Matlida thinks they are fascinating and befriends Jim Lad. The rest of the town aren’t so welcoming of the pirates and their strange ways. The townsfolk complain and grumble until the time has come for the pirates to move on. What have the pirates done that leaves the whole town singing a different tune? Matilda though misses her friend and is glad they can at least write letters to each other.

A totally fun tale about pirates and a very boring little down. The rhyming text tells it’s story at a brisk pace. The tone is fun and the illustrations capture the tone wonderfully. There is plenty of text to keep the 4-5 year old interested.

Publisher: Koala Book Company

Published: 01 April 2012

Format: Paperback 32 pages

Categories: Pirates, Friendship

ISBN 13: 9781742760483

Purchase: here or use Booktopia link on the side of page

Category:

Picture Books

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Mungo and the Picture Book Pirates

By: Timothy Knapman and Adam Stower

Every night Mungo gets his mum to read his favourite book two or even five times. It’s called ‘The Seafaring Adventures of Captain Horatio Fleet’. It’s a swashbuckling tale of bad shanty singing pirates, adventure and a fearless hero. One night though an exhausted Captain Fleet cannot be found and it is up to Mungo to rescue Admiral Mainbrace and plucky cabin girl Nora.

This is a ripping yarn with just what you look for in pirate books – bad pirates, daring rescues and plenty of treasure. The text is fun in both context and display and the illustrations wonderfully capture the feel of a little boys bedtime adventure. A funny and delightful read.

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Published: 07 September 2006

Format: Paperback 32 pages

Categories: Storybooks

ISBN 13: 9780140569742

Purchase: here or use logo on side of the page to link to Booktopia

Category:

Picture Books

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Vampirates: Demons of the Ocean

By: Justin Somper

It is 2512 and twins Connor and Grace Tempest are burying their father. Alone, having been told their father has left them nothing and with no appealing options (go and live with the banker and his wife or go to the orphanage) the twins take matters into their own hands. Taking their father’s repossessed boat they set sail – right into a vicious storm. The boat is destroyed and the twins are left fighting for survival in the harsh, cold ocean.

Connor is rescued by a pirate and soon finds himself doing what he can to survive on board a pirate vessel, though he never forgets his sister and is sure he saw a very odd ship when they were wrecked. Grace comes too in far weirder circumstances, locked away and told she will be fine as long as she follows the captain’s rules. As things get weirder she can’t help but remember the old sea shanty her father used to sing.

I’ll tell you a tale of Vampirates

A tale as old as true.

Yea, I’ll sing you a song of an ancient ship,

And it’s mighty fearsome crew.

Yea, I’ll sing you a song of an ancient ship,

That sails the oceans blue…

That haunts the oceans blue.

This is a futuristic pirate adventure with the twist of vampires. The twins are very interesting and very different characters and they serve well to keep the two streams of the story moving along. This is mystery, action, adventure and betrayal all things that make for a good story. I really liked the idea but somehow the execution didn’t quite do it for me. It was a fairly engaging read and it’s difficult to say what I didn’t like. I think perhaps it was that the two story lines read like totally different stories. Even the connection between the twins, which is what tied them together didn’t seem to mesh that well. Maybe later books in the series will tie it together for me.

This book fits into that weird place that is the more advanced end of 8-12 and the lower end of YA.

Published: 01 April 2007

Format: Paperback 330 pages

Categories: Adventure Horror & Ghost Family Siblings

ISBN 13: 9780316014441

Purchase: here

Category:

Fiction 8-12, Young Adult Fiction

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