Dr. Toughlove recommends that you get ready to read “How I Became a Pirate” by Melinda Long and illustrated by David Shannon.
Shiver me timbers! Dr. Toughlove recommends that you get your pirate voice ready to read “How I Became a Pirate” aloud. This book is an absolute treasure and is written by New York Times best-selling author Melinda Long and illustrated by David Shannon. Melinda Long is a self-described pirate lover and David Shannon, who is an internationally acclaimed children’s book author as well as an illustrator, have teamed up to create a hilarious tale.
The protagonist, Jeremy Jacob, is sitting on the beach minding his own business when he spots a pirate ship off in the distance. His preoccupied parents and sister are oblivious to this amazing sighting. Before you know it, the head pirate, Braid Beard (yes, his beard is a braid), comes onshore and inquires about where he is. “Ahoy thar matey! Be this the Spanish Main?” Jeremy replies, “No. This is North Beach” (p. 6).
At this point, it is decided that Jeremy, who is an expert digger, will go with the pirates to help them bury their treasure. Without giving the story away, once the initial excitement of seeing treasure, saying words like “landlubber” and “scurvy dog” and never having to say words like “please” and “thank you” wears off, pirate life isn’t all it is cracked up to be. Tucking kids in at night (“No tucking”, p. 22) and reading a bedtime story are strictly forbidden on a pirate ship.
Melinda Long and David Shannon do a superb job of using different fonts, bold text and colorful, expressive illustrations to enhance what is a witty, comical story. Dr. Toughlove has read this book aloud (using her best pirate voice) and has to stifle laughter the entire time. Kids seem to love to talk like pirates and enjoy the colorful illustrations and entertaining language. “How I Became a Pirate” is a book that children tend to love and ask to hear again and again.
While “How I Became a Pirate” is recommended for children aged 3-6, Dr. Toughlove believes that adults enjoy reading it as much if not more than kids do.
Copies of “How I Became a Pirate” are available at Queen Anne’s County Library.