Pirate Adventures! (Crabtree Connections). Paul Mason. St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2012. 24 pp., pbk. & hc., $7.95 (pbk.), $18.36 (RLB.). ISBN 978-0-7787-7878-3 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-7856-1 (RLB.). Subject Heading: Pirates-Juvenile literature. Kindergarten-grade 2 / Ages 5-7. Review by Sherry Faller. ** /4
	Treasure Hunt! (Crabtree Connections). Sean Callery. St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2012. 24 pp., pbk. & hc., $7.95 (pbk.), $18.36 (RLB.). ISBN 978-0-7787-7874-5 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-7852-3 (RLB.). Subject Headings: Pirates-Juvenile literature. Treasure troves-Juvenile literature. Kindergarten-grade 2 / Ages 5-7. Review by Sherry Faller. ** /4
	Treasure Hunter's Handbook. (Crabtree Connections). Anna Claybourne. St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2012. 24 pp., pbk. & hc., $7.95 (pbk.), $18.36 (RLB.). ISBN 978-0-7787-7866-0 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-7844-8 (RLB.). Subject Heading: Pirates-Juvenile literature. Kindergarten-grade 2 / Ages 5-7. Review by Sherry Faller. ** /4

excerpts:

I'm on Fire! - Blackbeard used to put burning fuses into his hair and beard to make himself look like a devil. (From Pirate Adventures!)

Cut-up Coins - Silver coins could be cut up to share and were called "Pieces of eight." (From Treasure Hunt!)

Bury Your Treasure – To keep your treasure safe you should:

Bury it on a desert island.
Make a map showing where you buried it. (From Treasure Hunter's Handbook.)

These three books are intended to entertain a very young audience and offer easy to read information about the lives of pirates. They are presented in bright double-page spreads with coloured photographs, drawings and mean-looking pirate faces. Page numbers are highlighted with flags, coins and cannons. The scattering of information in coloured bubbles or patches entices the less focused reader to hop around the page while regularly-written text will satisfy a linear reader. Additional huge font phrases, such as "Save me! Sail Away! Are you scared?" are slapped across pages offering little information.

      Each book has a contents page and index. The glossary page features the bolded words found throughout the text. Further reading is offered in the form of more books to read and websites. The websites are not at the same simple reading level as the contents of these three books and are splashed with many ads. Unfortunately, of the six websites listed, only four are still working.

      Pirate Adventures! is a quick overview of some of the most famous pirates. Treasure Hunt! is more of a story about a pirate crew finding treasure and hiding it. The third book, Treasure Hunter's Handbook, offers good advice on how to live like a real pirate. This book offers some of the best information.

      This trio of books would be fun to include in a classroom collection, but they offer limited value to a school library collection. Younger would-be pirates will find them easy to read and enjoyable.

Recommended.

Sherry Faller is a teacher-librarian in Winnipeg, MB.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.

Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

Hosted by the University of Manitoba.

 

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