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Pirate Reads for Young Buccaneers



Ahoy, me Hearties!


Pirates are due for a moment again, aren't they? Historically, they are all villains. But they're the best type of villain, the type that inspires those yearnings for independence and adventure (as long as you overlook all the murdering and plundering). Maybe that's why they strike so much interest from young readers, who also crave independence and adventure.


So, for the young (and young-at-heart) landlubbers out there I present some excellent pirate books to set sail with. Starting with the wee tots and traveling on through to the young adult years, here are four books perfect for aspiring young marauders, corsairs, and buccaneers:


Picture Book:

Pete the Cat and the Treasure Map by James Dean


The Pete the Cat series contains some of my favorite read-aloud books. I always perform Pete’s very laid-back tones like he’s voiced by Matthew McConaughey, coolly floating through his many adventures. If you are unaware of who Pete the Cat is, trust me that the very young readers in your life can’t get enough of his books. And, since this week’s post is pirate-themed, Pete the Cat and the Treasure Map was an obvious inclusion.


Meet Captain Pete and his crew, sailing through the waters of Cat Cove, in search of treasure and adventures. Their ship is the chilliest vessel on any sea, solving most conflicts with a cool beat and a jam-band vibe. Do they find treasure and make new friends along the way? Of course. Do they break a sweat doing it? Nah, bro.


And that’s why kids love Pete. He’s the funny cool kid who makes friends with everyone he meets. Who wouldn’t want to hang with a cat like Pete? So join Pete and his crew as they Rock on, readers. Rock on.



Elementary and Middle Schoolers:

Pirates by John Matthews


This is one of those image-heavy non-fiction books brimming with 3-D elements to create an exciting immersive experience. In other words, if you have a young reader who wants to be a pirate, this book will make them feel like a pirate.


Welcome to the golden age of pirates! Find hidden messages, letters, and even Blackbeard’s wanted poster hidden within the pages of this book. View the diagram of the Queen Anne’s Revenge while acquiring some pirate slang. Search for lost treasure while accepting your own privateer license from the crown. And, most important, have fun while you set sail in this perfect adventure for young and curious minds.



Young Adult:

Pirate’s Life for She: Swashbuckling Women through the Ages by Laura Sook Duncombe


Pirate’s Life for She is a biographical collection of the most ambitious, adventurous, cutthroat women to ever sail the seven seas. Duncombe carries readers through thousands of years of history to find the women who dared to chart their own course in life (and run-through anyone who got in their way).


A few names might stand out from classic pirate lore (most notably Mary Read and Anne Bonney), but many of the women in these pages will be fresh discoveries for readers. In Pirate’s Life for She, we meet forgotten rogues such as Sayyida al-Hurra who sailed against the Spanish monarchy with her fleet of Barbary Pirates. There’s also Sadie Farrell, who in the 19th century repeatedly plundered ships in the rivers around New York City after being inspired by Treasure Island. Then there’s the infamous Grace O’Malley, who used the sea to gain power in Ireland by defending her home and family from English incursions. And, of course, the Pirate Queen herself, Cheng I Seo (Zheng Yi Sao), is here to remind readers that she is indisputably the most successful pirate in history.


These women and so many more share their stories and legends in the pages of Duncombe's exciting collection. Readers, prepare yee-selves, it's going to be an epic read!


Are you searching for more hidden reading treasure this summer? Then click here for more Summer Reading fun!


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