Eloise's Pirate Adventure (Ready-to-Reads Series) »

Kay Thompson (1909-1998) was a singer, dancer, vocal arranger, and coach of many MGM musicals in the 1940s.

The Eloise character grew out of the voice of a precocious six-year-old that Miss Thompson put on to amuse her friends. Collaborating with Hilary Knight on what was an immediate bestseller, Kay Thompson became a literary sensation when Eloise was published in 1955. The book has sold more than two million copies to date. Kay Thompson and Hilary Knight created four more Eloise books, Eloise in Paris, Eloise at Christmas, Eloise in Moscow, and Eloise Takes a Bawth.

Hilary Knight, son of artist-writers Clayton Knight and Katharine Sturges, was educated at the Art Students League, where he studied with Reginald Marsh. Besides the Eloise books, Hilary Knight has illustrated more than fifty books for children, six of which he wrote himself.

He lives and works in New York City, not far from The Plaza Hotel.

Eloise loves, loves, loves dressing up as a pirate. Read along as she and Weenie search for pirate treasure!

Children's Literature

Eloise is a young girl who lives at a city hotel called the Plaza. Eloise likes to have adventures, and she often pretends to be other people. Sometimes she is a princess or a dinosaur; sometimes she dresses up like her Nanny. One day she dressed as a pirate, because Eloise loves pirates. She puts on a pirate s hat, boots and an eye patch. Her dog Weenie becomes her first mate. Together they are going to find treasure. But who has the treasure? Is it Nanny or room service or the chef in the kitchen? They all say no, no, no. Eloise decides to make a map from her room all the way down to the lobby so she can ask the Hotel Manager where she can find treasure. A surprise awaits her when the manager asks her, Will these chocolate coins do? Eloise takes them and shares them with Weenie. This is one reason why Eloise loves pirates. This easy reader, level one book, is based on author Kay Thompson s loveable character Eloise. Author McClatchy has written a delightful story about a delightful little girl who always finds adventure in the Hotel Plaza. Lyon s illustrations are bold and colorful and bring Eloise to life. Young readers will enjoy Eloise s quest to find a pirate s treasure. Reviewer: Della A. Yannuzzi