Pirates Go to School

K-Gr 2—What would pirates do at school? The question is answered in rhyming verse and lighthearted cartoon images. With swords neatly hung in the coatroom and parrots echoing a greeting to the teacher, the pirates attack their lessons: "X (marks the spot), Y, Z." A little art, a storytime about ships at sea, math with "skull" counting manipulatives, treasure maps for show-and-tell, and "walk the plank" on the playground fill the day. The eager-to-learn pirates learn to clean up after their parrots and not to swear (lest they suffer a time-out). Boldly colored scenes in watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil are paired with a nonthreatening ensemble, introducing imaginative readers to a typical school day. Details on each page encourage searching for images associated with these seafaring scoundrels—down to the school bus marked with a skull and crossbones. A humorous read and a general purchase for most libraries.—Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano ISD, TX