Ahoy, Matey! Pirate Books Dead Ahead!

Arrr! Avast, me hearties! Before ye knows it, International Talk Like a Pirate Day will arrive with a yo-ho-ho on September 19th! Pirates are fascinating characters we associate with bravery, cunning, adventure, and, of course, treasure, and many books have been written about them and their daring deeds, including the ones in our list below. For those young scallywags wanting to know how they can celebrate, the creators of this holiday have curated some resources such as a pirate song and party kit specifically for Junior Pirates. There are even translation services online such as https://speakpirate.com/ to help you not feel like such a landlubber for the occasion. And if ye be brave enough, now’s yer chance to check out some tales of pirate glory that will have you shivering yer timbers and singing boisterous sea shanties!

To find more books about pirates and swashbuckling adventures, try searching the catalog using a combination of search terms like “juvenile fiction” for fiction books or “juvenile literature” for nonfiction books along with “pirates” or a specific pirate’s name like “Blackbeard.”

Butterfield, Moira.
Dirty Rotten Pirates: A Truly Revolting Guide to Pirates and Their World. 2014 (Nonfiction Picture Book)
Describing the types of pirates, the history of piracy, daily life, the pirate code, and more, this is a book pirate enthusiasts won’t want to miss. The exploratory format showcases full-page illustrations with sections to pick and choose from that satisfy every curiosity. This guide places pirates into the context of history and doesn’t hold back from the gross or scary!
[S-Collection Q. S.910.45 B9821d]

Carlson, Caroline.
Magic Marks the Spot (The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates #1). 2013 (Middle Grades Novel)
When Hilary Westfield is accepted to the Piracy Apprenticeship Program, she is overjoyed to be able to finally pursue what she sees as her true calling. However, when her application is suddenly denied upon the realization that she is a girl, she is enrolled instead at Miss Pimm’s Finishing School for Delicate Ladies, which is exactly as dreadful as it sounds. With her best friend the gargoyle by her side, Hilary answers an unusual advertisement for a pirate crew and is soon on the adventure of a lifetime as she tries to find a magical treasure alongside a crew of misfits before it falls into the wrong hands.
[S-Collection S. C19712m]
Be sure to check out the sequels – The Terror of the Southlands (S. C1972t) and The Buccaneers’ Code (S. C19712b) – also found in the S-Collection!

Fayers, Claire.
The Voyage to Magical North (The Accidental Pirates #1). 2016 (Middle Grades Novel)
Brine Seaborne was found with a piece of the rare starshell that is needed for spell casting with no memory of her past. She’s lucky that the magician Magus took her in as a housekeeper all those years ago, but when he makes a decision that would uproot the only life she has ever known, she and his annoying apprentice Peter must band together. Brine and Peter soon stumble upon the infamous pirate ship the Onion and find themselves sucked into a quest to find the mysterious Magical North. With a believable cast of characters, humor, and adventure, this is sure to be a hit with young readers!
[S-Collection S. F292v]
Check out the sequel, The Journey to Dragon Island, also found in the S-Collection (S. F292j)!

Ferry, Beth.
Pirate’s Perfect Pet. 2016 (Picture Book)
One day, Captain Crave gets a message in a bottle from his mom that includes a checklist she found for the Perfect Pirate Captain. When he discovers that the only thing he’s missing is a pet, he sets out on a search to find one with his faithful crew! He looks on the beach and at a farm, visits the zoo, and finally goes to a pet store, but none of the animals seem quite right. Will he ever find his perfect pet so he can finally be a Perfect Pirate Captain? Told with humor and beautifully textured illustrations, readers of all ages will enjoy this treasure hunt to find the perfect companion.
[S-Collection SE. F4181p]

Isern, Susanna.
Daniela the Pirate / Daniela Pirata. 2018 (Picture Book)
What Daniela wants most in the world is to be a pirate, but Captain Choppylobe of the Black Croc doesn’t believe that a little girl has what it takes. So he presents her with a series of tests to prove her worth, and readers watch as Daniela takes on each challenge with bravery and intelligence. This fun picture book explores the idea of girl power and how you can do whatever you set your mind to. The Spanish language version is also available.
[S-Collection Q. SE. Is22egda2018:E (English version) and Q. SE. Is22egda2018 (Spanish version)]

LaReau, Kara.
The Jolly Regina (The Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters #1). 2017 (Middle Grades Illustrated Chapter Book)
Jaundice and Kale Bland of the town of Dullsville like to avoid excitement of any kind. They darn socks for a living, eat the same meals every day, read the dictionary to each other every night, and create rules to live by to prevent anything unexpected from happening. However, their world is turned upside down when they are kidnapped by a band of female pirates and unwillingly become a part of an exciting adventure on the high seas. The dry sense of humor reminiscent of A Series of Unfortunate Events, dictionary definitions at the beginning of each chapter, and whimsical illustrations will charm readers of all ages.
[S-Collection S. L323unjo]
Be sure to check out the sequels – The Jolly Regina (S. L323unun) and Flight of the Bluebird (S. L323unfl) – also found in the S-Collection!

Lewis, J. Patrick.
Blackbeard, the Pirate King: Several Yarns Detailing the Legends, Myths, and Real-Life Adventures of History’s Most Notorious Seaman: Told in Verse. 2006 (Nonfiction)
Short biographical poems tell the tale of the infamous Blackbeard with powerful language that characterizes him in all his pirate glory. Each two-page spread of the book showcases a poem masterfully paired with an artist’s interpretation of Blackbeard, ranging in date from the 1700s to today. To further add to the story, explanatory tidbits about the history and context of the poems are included. A map of some of his most famous voyages and a timeline of his life at the end round out this book to make it an entertaining and informative account of Blackbeard’s life for young readers.
[S-Collection Q. SB. B628l]

Matthews, John.
Pirates Most Wanted. 2007 (Nonfiction)
This book promises to deliver the tales of 13 of the most bloodthirsty pirates, and it doesn’t disappoint! With collage-esque illustrations that are full of historical objects, pictures, maps, newspaper clippings, and more that are fascinating to explore, readers will learn about some of the most famous pirates in history through both facts and legends. As added bonuses, there is a foldout page depicting a captain’s cabin and a “Little Book of Pirate Records” at the end, and the fun trivia facts sprinkled throughout will definitely hook readers from the beginning.
[S-Collection S.910.45 M424p]

Murray, Diana.
Ned the Knitting Pirate. 2016 (Picture Book, Told in Verse)
A fierce band of pirates aboard the Rusty Heap can’t accept that Ned likes to knit – it’s just not what pirates do. So they go about their pirate-y business, finding treasure and singing sea shanties, trying their best to ignore Ned and his fuzzy knitted hat. But when a scary sea monster shows up to feast on their ship, can Ned’s knitting save the day? Readers will love this unique pirate tale and be singing along to the pirate’s song by the end.
[S-Collection Q. SE. M9612ne]

Peet, Mal & Graham, Elspeth.
The Treasure of Pirate Frank. 2018 (Picture Book)
In a repetitive style reminiscent of the memory game “I’m going on a picnic and I’m bringing…,” readers follow a young boy and his dog, who has an eye patch of course, as they follow a map to the treasure of Pirate Frank. Colorful full-page illustrations with details that are fun to explore enhance the adventure as the suspense builds with each page turn. You’ll never guess what he finds at X marks the spot!
[S-Collection Q. SE. P3472t]