How I Became a Pirate
by Melinda Long
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Book Reviews of How I Became a Pirate
Book Review: There's Something About Pirates
Summary: 5 Stars
What is it about pirates that intrigues children so much? We've got pirate movies, play figures, books, "The Pirates of Penzance," even the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Perhaps young Jeremy Jacob, borrowed by some wayward pirates for his digging skills (to hide the treasure, of course!), offers the best clue:
"But nobody tells pirates to go bed, to take a bath, or to brush their teeth... In addition, they don't change into pajamas-unless they want to. Pirates don't do anything they don't want to-except for maybe swabbing the decks.
Whether it be independence, riches, the potential to swear, or the boys' club ambiance, pirate stories are very popular, and "How I Became a Pirate" is one of the best comical turns at the genre. A motley crew notices Jacob's sandcastle building and digging talents (no rock music pun intended, pirate crews are just always motley) of colorful and friendly lost pirates:
"Ahoy thar, matey! Be this the Spanish Main?" "No," I said, "this is North Beach." The pirates decide to take him with them because they need a good digger. Now, frankly, this is kidnapping (see Kidnap, the great pirate story by R.L. Stevenson, by the way). Author Melinda Long handles this deftly: "I didn't think Mom and Dad would mind, as long as I got back in time for soccer practice the next day."
Jeremy Jacob has great fun with the personable pirates. He learns pirate manners (there aren't any) plays soccer on deck, and sits on a gigantic treasure chest, with a jeweled crown on his head and doubloons at his feet. Jeremy thinks he has found his calling.
However, there's a downside to piracy. Melinda Long starts slowly, as Jeremy notes that pirates' teeth are green since they don't have to brush them. There are other signs of civilization and family life that he begins to wish for, things he probably took for granted before. There's no one to read him a story or tuck him into bed. And, when a fierce storm comes, with "everyone yelling and lowering and battening" he decides that maybe pirate life isn't as cushy and romantic as he thought. Besides, he has his family, his home, a dog, and soccer back on land.
The pirate story parody is so easy to contrive that it risks formulaic retelling. However, author Long's humorous dialogue and sense of comic timing are great read-out-loud material. The pirate crew, for example repeatedly acts as a chorus to the Captain's commands: And if you ever need us, "Braid Beard added, "just run the Jolly Roger up yonder pile" "Up yonder pole!" the others shouted. This device gets a little old after awhile, but it's the kind of interplay elicits laughter when read aloud. David Shannon's acrylic illustrations are big, boldly colorful, and dynamic: He crowds the pirates together and slightly distorts size to convey the bustling deck and interior. Shannon draws one pirate with a patch on the left eye and one on the right, the dubiously blind pirate removes them one at a time to look at the surrounding activity. In a now famous picture among book fans, Shannon replicates "Washington Crossing the Delaware" in a spread showing the pirates and Jeremy rowing towards the ship. It's a comical picture and Long knows when to lay back: She writes only "That's how I became a pirate" at the top of the page. Great illustrations and a narrative that honors both the adventurous and the tender make this pirate story a standout.
Book Review: A pirate's life for Jeremy?
Summary: 5 Stars
David Shannon is one of my favorite illustrators of children's books. His A Bad Case of Stripes has been a long time favorite.
In "How I Became a Pirate" he lends his delightful, witty illustration style to a fun story of pirates and a little boy named Jeremy Jacob. The sequel to "How I Became a Pirate" is Pirates Don't Change Diapers. I picked these books up when I ordered The Bugville Critters Go to School (Buster Bee's Adventures Series #2, The Bugville Critters), which is the sequel to the just released The Bugville Critters Visit Dad and Mom at Work (Buster Bee's Adventures Series #1, The Bugville Critters).
"How I Became a Pirate" and "Pirates Don't Change Diapoers" are a fun idea for toldlers. Older boys (and perhaps some older girls as well) ages 6 to 7 are sure to understand the plucky pirate references. Younger children, however, may not truly understand the antics unless they've seen a few Disney pirate movies.
In this story, young Jeremy is at the beach building a sandcastle when a pirate ship docks near the ocean shore. No one else but Jeremy seems to notice the ship. When Captain Braid Beard and his crew see Jeremy's sandcastle building skills they are impressed with his digging skills. They have a treasure to bury after all and Jeremy's the right one to help them so off he goes to join the pirate's life.
There's a lot of pirate terms "Aargh!" and "landlubbers" and the like. Lots of mischevious behavior like talking with your mouth full and pillow fights. Jeremy finds that he doesn't particularly like the pirate life. There no getting tucked in, no bedtime story, and no goodnight kiss. After deciding that maybe he doesn't want to be a pirate after all, Jeremy finds the perfect place for the pirates to bury their treasure.
The kids thought this book was fun, and this is one of those books that adults can appreciate too - a good thing as you'll be reading this one over and over again. A great book, especially for anyone who has a toddler in the family.
Book Review: Educators Recommend
Summary: 5 Stars
You'll never again read another pirate book without comparing it to this treasure of a tale-it's that good. There's Jeremy Jacob, sitting on the beach, building sandcastles, minding his own business when what should appear but a pirate ship! When the captain, Braid Beard, sees what a fine digger Jeremy is, he convinces him to join his crew. "We've been needin' a digger like yourself," says Beard, "We've a chest of treasure to bury."
And so Jeremy is off. He quickly picks up piratical ways. Soon he is seen swaggering around the poop deck, singing sea chanteys (loudly), and slinging pirate lingo here and there ("landlubber," "scurvy dog") along with his food.
Ah yes, the life of a pirate. Nobody telling you when to go to bed, when to take a bath, or even brush your teeth! What could be more perfect?
But avast! There are some downsides to pirate-hood Jeremy soon discovers. Pirates are not very good soccer players. And when night falls and Jeremy asks Braid Beard to tuck him in and read him a story, Beard bellows, "Tuck you in?...Pirates don't tuck." (They also don't read-`ceptin' treasure maps of course.)
Suddenly a storm whips up. After lightning hits the ship's mast and breaks it in two, the plans for burying the treasure are sunk. Jeremy, quick-thinking pirate that he is, knows "the perfect digging spot."
And so the story ends as the pirates row back to shore and bury the treasure in a most safe place-Jeremy Jacob's backyard.
The story is wonderfully wacky and full of good humor. Shannon's bright, acrylic illustrations are truly inspired. (Think Vermeer gone a little crazy.) Each double-page spread if filled to overflowing with action and vitality. The characters' piratical expressions are laugh-out-loud funny.
A must-have for your classroom. Children's books don't get much better than this.
Reviewed by the Education Oasis Staff
Book Review: Shiver Me Timbers...This is a Fun Read!
Summary: 5 Stars
A feel good romping adventure for young readers! I found myself unable to contain a smile while reading How I Became a Pirate and neither could my children. They liked it so well that Girl (the older of the two) read it to her brother several more times which always indicate that a book is a BIG hit. The text and illustrations are hilariously complimentary and simply a joy to be able to read. This is the story of one Jeremy Jacob who happens to find himself the chief digger for dread pirate Braid Beard and his scurvy crew. As the story starts we learn that pirates have bad teeth (and they are illustrated perfectly) and sing off key. Having taken a wrong turn at Bora Bora (a la bugs bunny...a very nice "in" joke for the parents), they find themselves no where near the Spanish Main and desperately need a place to bury their treasure. Jeremy is whisked away from this outing at the beach and learns the ins and outs of pirate life. The pro's (disgusting table manners encouraged and enjoyed by all, on board soccer, pillow fights every night, getting to talk like a pirate) and con's (no tucking in bed, no bedtimes story and definitely no good night kiss) lead Jeremy to conclude that perhaps pirate life is NOT for him. Young readers will, no doubt, enjoying reading about how Jeremy makes it back home for his soccer practice and where the pirates ultimately wind up burying their treasure. I give this story five stars...it's just too fun a read not to!! I think that How I Became a Pirate is best suited for 3-7 year olds, but I think it would make a fun read aloud for younger children. The text is certainly simple enough for emerging readers to be able to tackle without too much trouble.Book Review: Courtesy of Kids @ Teens Read Too
Summary: 5 Stars
Gold Star Award Winner!
While at the beach, a young boy named Jeremy Jacob looks up from his sand castle to find a pirate ship approaching the beach. He tries to tell his family, but they are all too busy, and no one notices when the pirates pull up in their rowboat and ask Jeremy if they have reached the Spanish Main. When he says no, they are at North Beach, the pirate captain notices Jeremy's sandcastle. They need a good digger, so they invite Jeremy along with them to bury their treasure.
Life as a pirate starts out very exciting. Jeremy finds that pirate table manners don't include saying "please" or chewing with mouths closed. He doesn't have to eat vegetables (since there aren't any on board), and he even teaches the pirate crew how to play soccer before the ball ends up overboard in a shark's mouth.
After a hardy pillow fight, Jeremy heads to bed without brushing his teeth...but he can't sleep. Pirates don't tuck in, or read bedtime stories. And when a terrible storm hits the ship, Jeremy is forgotten in the chaos, and being a pirate isn't much fun anymore. He'll have to do some quick thinking to escape the ship and get back home in time for soccer practice the next day.
A hilarious read with goofy, guffaw-inducing illustrations, this whacky tale of a modern boy pirate teaches the important lesson that getting what you wish for is not always best. Even the bravest little pirates may realize after reading that a safe life at home, watching pirates in books and movies, may be more appealing than an actual life out at sea.
Reviewed by: Allison Fraclose