Do Pirates Take Baths?

Plot Summary

Bouncy verses combine with fun illustrations to make the perfect handbook for pirate wannabes.

Reviews

"Through Tucker's thirteen brief, bouncy verses, buccaneer wanna-bes can explore their career choice from job interview ('You show the captain,/ who picks the crew,/ that you're a special case—/ that you can run/ and kick and climb/ and make a fearsome face'), through workplace condiditons (refer to 'Do Pirates Have Pets?'), to remuneration (under "How Do Pirates Divide the Gold?'). Any little employment concerns left unanswered by tucker's text are addressed by the host of goofy, line-and-watercolor cartoon pirates who play pin-the-tale-on-the-whale and caper about in their skivvies when they're not diligently swabbing the deck, capturing a ship, or unearthing treasure. The question-and-answer format and a large map presume a non-fiction authority that won't fool the audience for a minute, but will add to their fun. A good scratch for any story hour crowd itching for some silliness." RECOMMEND, The Bulletin

"Rolling motion characterizes both words and pictures in this pleasant book. Bouncy, six-line verses provide colorful, innocent answers to 13 childlike questions. . . . Lighthearted illustrations add to the vision of jolly sea villains. Caricatures drawn with fluid lines and filled in with sunny acrylics show men in constant motion. . . Only when they are cozily swaying in their hammocks, dreaming of their mothers, are they still. Young children already fascinated with pirates will be pleased with the jovial picture this book paints." School Library Journal

"This sprightly picture book gives the lowdown on those low-down varmints, pirates. Each two-page spread offers a new glimpse of their sometimes nefarious, sometimes silly activities. . . . Whatever tricks the pirates may be up to, like capturing a rival ship, are lightly looked upon by Westcott's cheerful watercolors. They make pirating seem like lots of fun indeed." Booklists

Associated Keywords
pirate, verse, rhyme, baths