AHOY, ME HEARTIES! BATTEN DOWN THE HATCHES!
February 25th and 26th will be Arizona Renaissance Festival‘s Pirates & High Seas Adventures! Ye should be joinin’ Kids Need to Read in celebrating 29 years of sailing the seas with the Arizona Renaissance Festival by bringing your plunder of two (2) *NEW* children’s books to fill the hull of The Page Coach just outside of the festival’s entrance! In return for the donation of two (2) *NEW* children’s books, we’ll be givin’ you a free children’s admission ticket (for sea monkeys ages 5-12) with paid adult admission! And we be handin’ out Highlights magazines to the wee ones as well! It’ll be a barrel of giggles for all you swashbucklers out there!
Saturday, February 25th be the children’s costume contest at 2:00 pm in the royal pavilion. For you older swabbies (ages 13 and up), you can join the adult costume contest Sunday, February 26th in the royal pavilion! Show the judges your best costume, “ARRGH!” and swagger! The Arizona Renaissance Festival operates from February 11th through April 2nd, 10am to 6pm, be it rain or shine!
In the spirit of celebrating the world of pirates and children’s books, we compiled a list of seaworthy pirate books for ye swashbucklin’ sea monkeys that would make mighty additions to any pirate’s treasure! (Book descriptions plundered from Changing Hands Bookstore.)
How I Became a Pirate, written by Melinda Long, illustrated by David Shannon
“Pirates have green teeth when they have any teeth at all. I know about pirates, because one day, when I was at the beach building a sand castle and minding my own business, a pirate ship sailed into view.” So proclaims Jeremy Jacob, a boy who joins Captain Braid Beard and his crew in this witty look at the finer points of pirate life by the Caldecott Honor winning illustrator David Shannon and the storyteller Melinda Long. Jeremy learns how to say scurvy dog, sing sea chanteys, and throw food . . . but he also learns that there are no books or good night kisses on board: Pirates don t tuck. A swashbuckling adventure with fantastically silly, richly textured illustrations that suit the story to a T.
Pirate Mom, written by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Stephen Gilpin
Yo ho ho Pete loves pirates, but his mom thinks they are rude and messy. Then Pete and his mom go to see the Amazing Marco, and Marco hypnotizes Pete’s mom into thinking she’s a pirate. Now Pete’s mom won’t behave. She chases the neighbors. She steals underwear off other people’s clotheslines. She’s even flying the Jolly Roger over the house. Pete has to find the Amazing Marco. He wants his real mom back.
Pirate Princess, written by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen, illustrated by Jill McElmurry
Princess Bea isn’t like other princesses she prefers pirate ships above tea parties, the salty sea over silly dolls. But what’s a landlocked princess to do? Ahoy, Captain Jack to the rescue! When the captain offers Bea a place aboard his ship, its a dream come true until she’s put to work swabbing the decks and making dinner for the crew. Can a princess like Bea put her royal gifts to work and make the pirates see that she’s seaworthy after all, or will they make her walk the plank?
Roger, the Jolly Pirate, written and illustrated by Brett Helquist
Roger is too jolly to be a pirate. He does not scowl, growl, or strike fear into sailors’ hearts like his pirate friends, so poor Roger is sent away whenever there is any real pirating to be done. Then one day, in the middle of a great battle, Jolly Roger cooks up a wonderful idea . . . and pirate ships will never be the same again!
Everything I Know about Pirates, written and illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld
Pirates will often carry their knives in their mouths, although the practice is frowned upon by the American Dental Association.
Pirateology: The Pirate Hunter’s Companion, by William Captain Lubber
Pirateology Guidebook and Model Set, by William Captain Lubber
The Pirateology Handbook: A Course in Pirate Hunting, by William Captain Lubber
Aar Hoist the sails for a lavish new discovery filled with treasures — a magnificent resource for pirate lovers everywhere. The eagerly awaited new title in the best-selling ‘Ology series — more than 5 million sold worldwide
Step lively, pirate foes and fanciers Mysterious booty found inside a long-lost sea chest, hidden for hundreds of years off the coast of Newfoundland, has just been uncovered for your enjoyment. Within these covers is the fascinating eighteenth-century journal of Captain William Lubber, an earnest soul who sailed the seas in search of the vicious female pirate Arabella Drummond. Prepare for a mesmerizing tale of the golden age of piracy — from storm-tossed sailing ships to tantalizing treasure islands, from pirates’ flags and fashions to their wily weapons and wicked ways. An extraordinary find for pirateologists, here is a true and complete companion for the dedicated pirate hunter.
Pirateology’s special treasures include:
- a stunning cover bearing a working compass and glittering gems–treasure map with a missing piece — for the canny reader to find
- multiple flaps, maps, charts, and booklets harboring codes and clues
- intricate drawings of ships’ interiors
- a packet of gold dust — a pocket sundial
- a cache of pirate letters, pieces of eight– and a jewel as a final reward.
Pirates, by John Matthews
Pirates Most Wanted, by John Matthews
At last the ultimate book of pirates is here inside is the stuff of legend, where tales of adventure and intrigue are written in blood. Read about Blackbeard and Captain Kidd. Learn about walking the plank and buried treasure. Discover what was like aboard a pirate ship—from a pirate’s strict code of conduct to the punishments that awaited those that broke them. All the intrigue, adventure, and grizzly details are brought to life in this lavish hardcover package jam packed with fact and fiction, pirate lore, and amazing memorabilia, including:
- a booklet of pirate slang
- a genuine advertisement to recruit pirates
- a booklet of pirate biographies
- a letter from William the III to Captain Kidd
- a pullout featuring pirate weapons
- a treasure map
- a wanted poster for Blackbeard
- sample playing cards
- as well as flaps and fold outs galore.
