Cindy Vallar's Blog - Posts Tagged "buried-treasure"

The Pirates of Scurvy Sands by Jonny Duddle

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Mad Jack McMuddle was a pirate who was always lost. A long time ago, he buried his treasure on the island of Scurvy Sands. The place is a resort now, specifically for pirates. There are oodles of arcades, swimming, pirate fun, and treasure hunting, but no one has ever located Mad Jack’s treasure.

Dull-on-Sea is a bleak place in winter, but when summer arrives, it’s quite lively. While fishing off a pier one day, Matilda hooks a bottle with a message from her friend, Jim Lad Jolley-Rogers. His family is off to Scurvy Sands for fun and relaxation. Would she like to come too?

Most parents would say no, since pirates are n’er-do-wells, but the Jolley-Rogers are good pirates, so off Matilda goes on a grand adventure. Capt’n Ollie Day welcomes them with open arms, but it isn’t long before the other vacationers begin questioning whether Matilda should be allowed to stay. After all, she’s not a pirate. She’ll never pass the Pirate Test. But Matilda and Jim Lad pay no heed to such whispers. They’re too busy studying Mad Jack’s portrait and map, because they are determined to find his lost treasure!

This sequel to The Pirates Next Door is grand fun. The illustrations are colorful and each pirate has his/her own personality and expressive face. The story is a wonderful take on “Never judge a book by its cover.” Whether read aloud or silently, by oneself or with someone else, the adventure immediately draws young pirates into the tale. It can easily be transformed into a play so everyone can participate, or words that are capitalized can be shouted to add a dramatic flair to the telling. There’s even a bit a treasure included, for the artist has included a four-page foldout spread. There are also two diagrams depicting the Scurvy Sands resort and they are not the same. Are you savvy enough to spot the difference?




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Buried Treasure: A Pirate Miscellany by Robert Blyth

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Have you ever wondered about when pirates first put to sea? Or what is appropriate pirate behavior? Or where pirates hang out, or what places they stay as far away from as possible? These are but a few of many questions that Buried Treasure answers as you explore “the murky and murderous world of pirates.” As you sail along, you also learn about piratical facts and those pesky myths that keep getting mixed up with the truth. Of equal importance, from a pirate perspective, is why the writers chose to name this book Buried Treasure when pirates are notorious for spending their loot as soon as they steal it.

Here's a list of the book’s main sections:
When Did Piracy Begin?
Rules Is Rules
Captain Johnson’s Pirate Phrases
What Did Pirates Look Like?
Piratical and Anti-Piratical Places
Pirate Ships
The Jolly Roger
Pirates in Fiction
Was Francis Drake a Pirate?
Christopher Myngs and the Art of Getting Away With It
Pirate Treasure (Not Buried)
Pirate Pardons
Risk Analysis: Would You Become a Pirate?

Joining you on this venture is Polly Roger. She’s a pirate parrot who’s familiar with all the proper lingo any self-respecting pirate uses. She provides mini-lessons to help increase your piratical vocabulary. There’s even information about a pirate’s favorite holiday, International Talk Like a Pirate Day.

There are illustrations, newspaper headlines – fictional but based on actual news clippings of the past – boxed historical facts and media morsels, and biographical highlights of notorious pirates. Among those highlighted within these pages are William Kidd, Bartholomew Roberts, Henry Every, Anne Bonny and Mary Read, Zheng Yi Sao, Henry Morgan, Edward Teach (Blackbeard), Stede Bonnet, Black Caesar, and Edward Low.

Buried Treasure is by no means a complete history. A fair amount is omitted, but that’s why other book titles are suggested. After all, this is a lighthearted introduction crammed with lots to pique a reader’s curiosity. Pirates young and old will enjoy this book, and even those who think they know a treasure chest full of piratical truths and falsehoods will find undiscovered gems. (I certainly did, and I’ve been reading and learning about pirates for a quarter of a century.)

For those who like challenges, I dare you to say Polly Roger’s piratical tongue twister three times fast. She also has one final thought to share. You are sure to enjoy this morsel of piratical humor as well.


(This review originally appeared at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/Blyth.html)



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