My voice is starting to go hoarse from the stack of pirate books I have spent the afternoon reading. My twins are suddenly map reading, treasure hunting, surly pirates and I’m honestly not sure where it started.
Is it the gleaming treasure? The adventure? The big ships blowing in the wind? The eye patches? Truthfully I’m not sure, but kids seem to be fascinated by pirates.
Aside from thoroughly enjoying the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie when it came out so many years ago, I have never really been a pirate fan so I admit I am a bit lost. This isn’t the first time one of their interests has left me wandering where I never thought I would go.
There was the time my son became fascinated with thunderstorms and tornadoes.
Or when my daughter spent 6 months singing songs from the Sound of Music.
Or the summer we spent learning about Sea Turtles.
I can’t say I could have predicted any of those interests any more than this one and each time I learned a lot. Through adventures, activities, conversations, videos, and lots and lots of books we learn.
So when my kids started telling bad pirate jokes and digging for treasure at the playground, I started making a list of books to find. We have read over 20 so far, but these are our favorites. The ones we return to over and over again and the ones that were making me hoarse today. I hope you enjoy them as much as we do.
10 Best Picture Books about Pirates
1. How I Became a Pirate by Melinda Long & David Shannon
Imagine you’re building a sand castle on the beach and in the distance you spy a pirate ship. That’s what happens to the little boy in this story. He tries his best to tell his parents, but they are too busy wrestling beach umbrellas and baby diapers to notice. Soon he has been recruited for his masterful digging ship and gets a first hand look at the good (no veggies or manners) and bad (no bedtime stories) of being a pirate. Completely silly in typical David Shannon fashion, this read aloud is a blast. Find on Amazon PS. The sequel to this Pirates Don’t Change Diapers is also a hoot!
2. The Night Pirates by Peter Harris
Tom hears noises outside and discovers a crew of girl pirates stealing the front of his house to disguise their ship. A bit of a ridiculous premise, but if you go with it a night of adventure is ahead of you. Tom joins the girl pirates to surprise a crew of adult pirates and steal their treasure. I like that the rough and tough pirates in this tale are girls. My kids like that this story is pure silliness from the moment they steal the front of a house to the surprise attack on the pirates to the end when they return the house front upside down. Soft, sweet illustrations and a night time pirate romp. This is a fun bedtime story. Find on Amazon
3. Pirate Boy by Eve Bunting
This delightful story is about a little boy and his mom. Together they read his favorite pirate book and he is left full of questions, as kids often are after a good story. The little boy is curious about being a pirate, but what would happen if he didn’t like it and wanted to come home. His mom is ready with all the comforting answers and magical spray that every good mom has in her back pocket. This book is less silly than a lot of the fiction books on this list, but it is full of heart and surrounds you like a warm hug. Find on Amazon
4. Shiver Me Letters: A Pirate ABC by June Sobel
Everyone knows that pirates like the letter R, but this captain has decided that he needs more letters. In fact, he wants his crew to round up the whole alphabet. Part alphabet book, part look and find book, and part goofy story, my preschoolers are a huge fan of this pirate tale. Find on Amazon
5. Pirates by Catriona Clarke
This Usborne non-fiction book offers basic information about pirates that is perfect for the preschool and early elementary school kids. Readers will learn about pirate ships, booty, and the famous pirates of history. In the back there is a glossary of pirate words and an Usborne website to further your education. Find on Amazon
6. Archie and the Pirates by Marc Rosenthal
When a clever monkey named Archie gets shipwrecked an adventure begins. This is a tale of ingenuity, a host of island animals, and a band of pirates. Archie is a creative problem solver and my preschoolers loved his charts and ideas. The excitement and twists of this island adventure keep a young audience listening, especially when read with gusto. Find on Amazon
7. Trick Arrr Treat by Leslie Kimmelman
This Halloween themed pirate story is a blast. A group of friends go trick or treating as pirates and their Halloween becomes an adventure when imagination takes over. Suddenly candy is treasure, their neighborhood an island to plunder, and a slobbery dog is a frightening sea serpent. My favorite parts are the hilarious pirate names. My kids get wrapped up in the suspenseful adventure. This tale is full of rhythm, rhyme and plenty of humor that will make it an annual favorite. Find on Amazon
8. When You’re a Pirate Dog and Other Pirate Poems by Eric Ode
This collection is a rollicking good time. From smelly pirate dogs and silly pirate jokes to disgusting pirate stew and plenty of silly pirates these poems poke fun at everything pirate related. The use of repetition and alliteration propel you through the poems and the jokes land their punch perfectly every time. Find on Amazon
9. Pirate Attack! by Deborah Lock
My kids are just starting to read so we have been spending a lot of time hanging out in the Easy Reader section of the library and this one caught my son’s eye. As much as I hate the violence of pirates it is fascinating to him and I want to respect that. This book briefly describes a typical day, including a pirate attack on Captain Blackbeard’s crew, through the eyes of the cabin boy. Full of lots of great pirate vocabulary and an interesting story to carry you through. My son truly loves this one. Find on Amazon
10. Tough Boris by Mem Fox
This is such a fun book to read about the more imaginative side of sea faring by the beloved Mem Fox. Boris von der Borch is a tough, scruffy, greedy pirate – like all pirates. However, when his parrot dies, even this tough pirate cries. Great discussion about the emotions that we all share and the events that cause them, for the youngest audience. Beautiful watery illustrations embrace the setting of a pirate ship and carefully chosen words. Mem Fox has done it again.
Also Read: Ultimate Halloween Story Time Idea Round Up
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