From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3–Pirate Bob and his shipmates live to loot. If the scar on Bob's nose itches, then gold is near. His friendship with Yellow Jack, a scurvy-ridden old salt, is genuine yet complicated. After all, pirates are outlaws and they do not really trust one another. Pirate Bob dreams of the day when he has put aside enough wealth to leave his dangerous life behind, and maybe make some true friends, too. This uneven book is one part history lesson, one part philosophical debate. The details of the pirates' lives are minute and impressive. From the description of a well-orchestrated (bloodless) attack, in which each man performs his task like a cog in a large machine, to the casual mentioning that Pirate Bob eats turtle, Lasky puts readers squarely in the scene. Clark's google-eyed buccaneers appear to be a fun-loving bunch, if slightly deranged. But the quieter, introspective moments in the book, where Pirate Bob contemplates his relationship with Yellow Jack and the nature of happiness, do not always gel with the organized mayhem of the action scenes. Children expecting a ripping yarn from start to finish might be derailed by the antihero's soul-searching. For a smoother blend of pirate guile and pirate heart, revisit Mem Fox's excellent Tough Boris (Harcourt, 1994).–Kara Schaff Dean, Needham Public Library, MA
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K-Gr. 3. "Having a best friend on a pirate ship can be complicated." In this lively tale, Lasky shows not only the physical work and thrills of buccaneering but also the complex feelings that come with the job. Pirate Bob's best pal is scurvy-afflicted Yellow Jack. One evening, under a "rogue's moon," the two pirates and their crew attack a galleon and seize its cargo. As the pirates divide the sizable spoils, Bob feels pulled between his longing for Yellow Jack's share and his desire to be a good friend. Although the story is filled with appealingly silly details, it lacks focus, and some children may need help with specialized vocabulary such as grappling hooks and specie.Some children may also be startled by Bob's frank musings: "He wonders how much yellower Yellow Jack will get before he dies. And if he does die, it would be a shame for all that loot to lie buried forever." Clark's hilarious, captivating watercolor-and-ink illustrations greatly amplify the action and meaning in the words, though, and exaggerated close-ups of the pirates further humanize the motley crew. Children will enjoy the view of the sea bandits who are greedy and ruthless, vulnerable and goofy, and who yearn for true friendship almost as much as a chest filled with jewels. For more picture-book pirates, suggest titles featured in the adjacent Read-alikes feature. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
About the Author
Kathryn Lasky is the acclaimed author of dozens of books for young readers, including TUMBLE BUNNIES (Candlewick), HATCHLING (Scholastic), and SUGARING TIME (Macmillan), a Newbery Honor Book. She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
For more information, visit www.kathrynlasky.com.
