Pirates

This book is a 2010 Bluebonnet Book

Summary: This is not your typical book of poems about pirates. It is richly illustrated and the poems are about the harshness and dangers of being a pirate. The first poem describes the sad and lost man that would decide to be a pirate. From there it takes the reader through the signing of the pirates oath, the consequences of breaking rules, the boredom of being at sea, capturing and robbing ships, and eventually death by hanging. It is a realistic view, beautifully illustrated, that does not glamorize the life of a pirate.

Personal Reflection: This book is amazing. I can't believe how bold the illustrations are. They show the pirates with broken teeth and sinister expressions. You can just feel how difficult and scary it was to meet a pirate. The poems have a natural flow as it takes the reader through the life of a pirate. It has one pirate being beaten and another being left for dead on an island where he is to live out the rest of his life alone after breaking the rules. It's a great book to illustrate that Jack Sparrow is NOT a real pirate and pirates certainly aren't heroes. I love how the author included a "Here's How It Was" page at the end of the book. It has little gems about pirates that kids really should know like the harrows of scurvy and the filthy water, rotting wood, and manure that could be found on the pirate ships. This is a BIG book, easily measuring one foot by one foot. Kids will love it!

Harrison, D.L. (2008). Pirates. Honesdale, PA.: Wordsong.