It all started with, “How I Became A Pirate.”
We read the book almost every night to the kids when we first bought it. The story is wonderful and the illustrations are marvelous. Young Jeremy Jacob is at the beach with his parents and baby sister. He is whisked away for a little fun with a pirate crew.
What do pirates do on boats?
“Aarrggh, soccer!”
That is, at least until a shark makes a meal out of the ball. But young Jeremy decides that the pirate life, even though there are perks (no veggies), is not for him because, well, pirates don’t tuck or read bedtime stories.
They all land back on shore after a terrible storm and Jeremy (“He’s a digger, he is.”) takes on the task of keeping the secret of the pirates’ prized chest of gold and jewels buried near his house. If any trouble arises, all he need do is run the Jolly Roger up yonder pole.
Now comes the sequel: “Pirates Don’t Change Diapers.”
Susan read it for the first time to the kids this weekend. Twice. Because they asked for it. Then she followed up with a double reading tonight in an encore performance.
In the sequel, Jeremy Jacob wants to buy his mom a birthday present but finds himself a little short on cash. The answer to his problem knocks on the door while he’s trying to keep his baby sister quiet — Braid Beard and his motley crew!
It seems Braid Beard’s ship has some issues and in order to make repairs and set sail again, the crew needs to pick up the loot they stashed at Jeremy’s place in the first book. But in order to get the booty, the pirates have got to help change the booty of Jeremy’s little sister, Bonney Anne. And they also have to sit on the baby. I mean babysit.
There’s a game of dodge the flying strained spinach (“A bilge rat wouldn’t eat this stuff!”), a little pirate air guitar playing (“Rock on, me hearties!”) and a game of cat and mouse with the treasure map, but in the end everybody gets what they want.
No one in our house could stop laughing during the story.
If you’ve got young kids in your life, both these books are true treasures for you and for them.
One Comment
Sounds wonderful!!