Class Three at Sea »

In this sequel to Class Two at the Zoo, students in Class Three are going to sea! The see dolphins, sea lions, flying fish, and an octopus that's all knotted up. What they don't see is the pirate ship sneaking up behind... Before the students can say "Arrr!" they're captured! That is, until their friends from the sea come to their aid. Can these creatures save Class Three before the pirates reach Treasure Island?

Children's Literature

When Class Three took a fieldtrip to the ocean, they saw plenty of sights—sea lions playing, seagulls plopping, and dolphins doing math. They even untied a knotty octopus. But they were completely unaware of the scheming pirates plotting to take over their ship. While they take in the sights, the pirates—with names like Pirate Fish Breath Frank and Pirate Booger Nose (yes, that's a descriptive title)—take kids hostage and even force one to walk the plank. Fortunately, a grateful octopus comes to the rescue, helping the class to overcome the pirates and dig up a treasure besides. Jarman's yarn is full of silliness and fun, though the rhyming text stumbles a bit. In fact, it is Chapman's illustrations that carry the tale. The frenetic activity of an elementary school class is captured with vibrant colors and plenty of motion. Readers will get a kick out of the behind-the-scenes goings on, from a pirate-teacher romance to gross-out features like pirate nose-picking and seagull plopping. This book will make a popular addition to pirate-themed storytimes. Reviewer: Heather Christensen