Captain Jack and the Pirates

Illustrated by Helen Oxenbury
The boys from King Jack and the Dragon are back in this swashbuckling pirate adventure with pictures by the New York Times bestselling illustrator of Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes
 
Jack, Zack, and Caspar are building a ship—on the beach, out of sand. When they set sail on their imaginary adventure, Jack spies an enemy pirate ship nearby. They chase after the pirates, but a storm wrecks their ship and sweeps them up on a desert island. The island isn't totally deserted, though—their pirate enemies are there too. Just as the boys discover the pirates' treasure (an array of delicious desserts), the pirates (their parents) capture them. But these pirates are friendly—they're willing to share the treasure, and they throw in some ice cream just for good measure!
 
Perfect for storytime read-alouds, this picture book is just right for fans of Three Bears in a Boat, How I Became a Pirate, and We’re Going on a Bear Hunt.
© Peter Bently
Peter Bently is the award-winning author of many children's books. These include Cats Ahoy! (winner of the Roald Dahl Funny Prize), King Jack and the Dragon (an American Library Association Notable Book of the Year) and Octopus Shocktopus (winner of the 2020 Teach Early Years Picture Book Prize). He lives in London.

Steph is a California-based artist & RISD alumna, specializing in children's illustration and character design for animation. Her childhood spent in the woods of New England sparked her love for animals and the natural world, a favourite subject of her artwork. When she's not drawing, Steph volunteers her local wildlife hospital or spends quality time with her beloved cats, rats and mice. View titles by Peter Bently
Helen Oxenbury has charmed generations of children with her award-winning illustrations. She has won the Kate Greenaway Medal, the Kurt Maschler Award, and the Eric Carle Honor. Her numerous books include We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, and Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox. She lives in London with her husband, the author and artist John Burningham. View titles by Helen Oxenbury
Praise for Captain Jack and the Pirates
Shortlisted for the Kate Greeenaway Medal

"Bently's rhyming narrative could be sung as a sea chantey . . . Gently and agreeably thrilling."—Kirkus

"A grand adventure."—School Library Journal

"A riveting read-aloud adventure that mirrors children's imaginative play and has the power to inspire it."—Booklist

Praise for King Jack and the Dragon
ALA Notable Book

* "Soft colors and the fanciful expressions on the various creatures offset any scare youngsters might find in the story, and the children's beguiling faces are warm and friendly. A balance of brown-toned crosshatched drawings and full-color artwork adds to the easy flow of the action. A tale of make-believe that children will delight in hearing again and again."—School Library Journal, starred review

* "Bently's verse never misses a beat, and Oxenbury shifts between monochromatic, engraving-like drawings and pale watercolors; the images feel as if they were drawn from a classic fairy tale book and contemporary life simultaneously. It's an enchanting tribute to both full-throttle pretend play and the reassurance of a parent's embrace."—Publishers Weekly, starred review

About

The boys from King Jack and the Dragon are back in this swashbuckling pirate adventure with pictures by the New York Times bestselling illustrator of Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes
 
Jack, Zack, and Caspar are building a ship—on the beach, out of sand. When they set sail on their imaginary adventure, Jack spies an enemy pirate ship nearby. They chase after the pirates, but a storm wrecks their ship and sweeps them up on a desert island. The island isn't totally deserted, though—their pirate enemies are there too. Just as the boys discover the pirates' treasure (an array of delicious desserts), the pirates (their parents) capture them. But these pirates are friendly—they're willing to share the treasure, and they throw in some ice cream just for good measure!
 
Perfect for storytime read-alouds, this picture book is just right for fans of Three Bears in a Boat, How I Became a Pirate, and We’re Going on a Bear Hunt.

Author

© Peter Bently
Peter Bently is the award-winning author of many children's books. These include Cats Ahoy! (winner of the Roald Dahl Funny Prize), King Jack and the Dragon (an American Library Association Notable Book of the Year) and Octopus Shocktopus (winner of the 2020 Teach Early Years Picture Book Prize). He lives in London.

Steph is a California-based artist & RISD alumna, specializing in children's illustration and character design for animation. Her childhood spent in the woods of New England sparked her love for animals and the natural world, a favourite subject of her artwork. When she's not drawing, Steph volunteers her local wildlife hospital or spends quality time with her beloved cats, rats and mice. View titles by Peter Bently
Helen Oxenbury has charmed generations of children with her award-winning illustrations. She has won the Kate Greenaway Medal, the Kurt Maschler Award, and the Eric Carle Honor. Her numerous books include We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, and Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox. She lives in London with her husband, the author and artist John Burningham. View titles by Helen Oxenbury

Praise

Praise for Captain Jack and the Pirates
Shortlisted for the Kate Greeenaway Medal

"Bently's rhyming narrative could be sung as a sea chantey . . . Gently and agreeably thrilling."—Kirkus

"A grand adventure."—School Library Journal

"A riveting read-aloud adventure that mirrors children's imaginative play and has the power to inspire it."—Booklist

Praise for King Jack and the Dragon
ALA Notable Book

* "Soft colors and the fanciful expressions on the various creatures offset any scare youngsters might find in the story, and the children's beguiling faces are warm and friendly. A balance of brown-toned crosshatched drawings and full-color artwork adds to the easy flow of the action. A tale of make-believe that children will delight in hearing again and again."—School Library Journal, starred review

* "Bently's verse never misses a beat, and Oxenbury shifts between monochromatic, engraving-like drawings and pale watercolors; the images feel as if they were drawn from a classic fairy tale book and contemporary life simultaneously. It's an enchanting tribute to both full-throttle pretend play and the reassurance of a parent's embrace."—Publishers Weekly, starred review

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