A Pirate's Guide to First Grade

Pirate's Guides

by James Preller, Greg Ruth (Illustrator)

Arr! It's the first day of first grade, and it's all hands on deck for a young pirate and his crew. How much trouble can they get into? What will they do at recess? And, most important, what treasure awaits them at school?

Genres: Picture Books, Pirates, School, Childrens, Fantasy, Back To School, Humor

48 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

James Preller (born 1961) is the children's book author of the Jigsaw Jones Mysteries, which are published by Scholastic Corporation. He grew up in Wantagh, New York and went to college in Oneonta, New York. After graduating from college in 1983, James Preller was employed as a waiter for one year before being hired as a copywriter by Scholastic Corporation, where he was introduced (through their books) to many noatable children's authors. This inspired James Preller to try writing his own books. James Preller published his first book, entitled MAXX TRAX: Avalanche Rescue, in 1986. Since that time, James Preller has written a variety of books, and has written under a number of pen names, including Mitzy Kafka, James Patrick, and Izzy Bonkers. James Preller lives in Delmar, New York with his wife Lisa and their three children.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/jamesp...

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

I admit that I don't care for pirates, but I just couldn't figure out the audience for this one. Even if it weren't written in pirate-speak, it still seems like an odd introduction to school. The narrator claims it's his first day of school and describes how grueling and exhausting and difficult it is, but then we see him reading Treasure Island, which is an unlikely choice for a child just starting school, especially as its Lexile score is over 1000 and has an AR score of 8.3 worth 12 points. I'm not a huge fan of lexile points or AR points, but I still think it was a poor choice to not only depict a child struggling with a heavy workload on the first day of school, thus painting the first day of school in a negative light, but to then show him reading such a difficult book just seems sloppy.

[Julie Darling · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very entertaining read for adults, written in pirate dialect. Would be great for someone who can do a good pirate accent (not me) and/or for Talk-Like-A-Pirate-Day. Aimed at first grade, but a little too sophisticated for 1st graders, I think. Since it is entirely in dialect, even though the pictures emphasize what is actually going on, the whole book is written with vocabulary that would likely have to be explained.

However, excellent illustrations and a good book for pirate enthusiasts who might already be familiar with pirate dialect.

[The Library Lady · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute idea. But the artwork shows a kid that does not look like a first grader. He seems to be about 9 or 10. And either way, there are better pirate books for a child of either age than "Treasure Island"

[Tricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is so fun to read outloud! I switched between talking like a pirate and a Scot. Oh, well! Love it.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ever wonder how the imagination runs rampant in young minds. This book looks into the mind of a first grade boy on his first day of school. He imagines that he is a pirate. The pirate theme is carried out throughout the entire story and pirate talk fills the pages of this book. This is a book perfect for a read aloud in a first grade classroom as it is geared directly at first graders. This book will help teachers explain that imagination has a place in the classroom, but it has to take a back seat at some point to learning. I think that this book was very cute. It uses words the way a pirate would say them and while this may be difficult for students to read and understand by themselves, it is the perfect book to help create a great lesson plan as a teacher. The few things that really stood out to me from this book were the writing style, the pictures, and the plot overall. The writing style was different and would definitely keep the interest of young readers. The pictures were very colorful and made the children in the story look life-like. The author also included pictures of pirates in the background to help show what the boy was imagining. I felt that this was a great way of illustrating the story. The plot overall was good. It kept myself, as an adult reader, interested to see what happened at the end of the story. Overall a great book for the first day of school, and definitely age appropriate for first graders. As a teacher, this book allows you to role play for your students and make the lesson fun for them by giving you the ability to dress as a pirate and explore the open seas (the students' imaginations) with them.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Review: Munchkin and I found this at the library and it was absolutely perfect, I am hosting Arrg-ust on my blog and Munchkin is starting 1st Grade this month. It was not exactly what I was expecting but it was entertaining. The little boy had some imaginary pirate friends that helped him through his first day of school with reminders and helpful tips all in the typical pirate way. Munchkin really liked the pirate talk and how none of the adults seemed to mind. It is a fun book to ease a new 1st grader into school if they are a fan of pirates!

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although I did not particularly care for this book, I think it would be very popular with children who love pirates! Ruth's illustrations are beautifully rendered using pencil, Sumi ink, watercolor oilstick, and pastels. I look forward to seeing more of his work.

[Jennifer Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun one that stands out from other pirate books with its lively retro-style illustrations. A young boy is accompanied to school with a horde of imaginary pirates. The pirates have a lot of fantastic, animated detail, a huge hit with my kindergartner.

[Valencia · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a cute book! Even the font of the writing fits in with the story. This was a great read aloud for little ones just starting school or kids who have active imaginations and love pirates!

[Jess El-Zeftawy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book would be good for national talk like a pirate day.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

My children love these little books. They thoroughly enjoy each and every story, as if they are all unique and individual without any cause for similarity among them. Even though sometimes, they might seem tedious and repetitive to me as a parent, I do enjoy being able to read short-stories to my children that are clean and respective.

[Children's Literature Centre at FSU · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book about a young pirates first day of school and his endeavors to get the map to his treasure. This book is an interesting take on a child’s imagination but the pirate dialect would be hard for young kids to understand. Without the pictures I would not have been able to understand what the words meant.

[Heather Back · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun way to explore imagination! The language was from that of a pirate, no rhyming. Few words on the page, and fun pictures. I'll keep this in my box for storytime if the kids are about to go into first grade, but not use it for the older kids.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciate the imagination of having pirates along with the main character. Fun art.

[Jessica Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty fun read, and well illustrated!

[Cynthia June Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute. books are the real treasure.
not for storytime unless using with a Grade 1 class.
good mother-child interaction.
good art.

[Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a boy’s first day of school, so he dons his skull and crossbones t-shirt and completes the morning routine, with an imaginary crew of pirates swaggering right along with him. As the boy climbs aboard the “grand jolly boat” (school bus), he observes: “Fore and aft bustled a salty crew of swabbies, sailing for adventure across the briny deep!” The story is told entirely in pirate lingo, so the “Pirate’s Vocabulary” at the book’s end is essential for the ordinary land lubber. The events in the students’ actual school day are portrayed realistically with bright watercolors, but the imaginary pirates and their antics are comically rendered in muted pencil on the outskirts of each scene. The pirates can be seen ambling along with their peg legs, swords in hand, and parrots by their side, running to the playground for recess time and sitting as still as can be during a story about the sea. Pirate enthusiasts and their “hearties,” (aka “friends”) will be amused by such scenes as the students making a classmate walk the plank (down the length of the seesaw), with the pirates egging them on in the background. The target audience of kindergarten/early elementary may be slightly discouraged by the image of a first grader tackling Treasure Island on his own, and perhaps the illustration would have made more of a connection if it portrayed the boy reading it with an adult. Otherwise, a whale of a tale that will be most enjoyed when read aloud with a gruff and energetic pirate’s voice.

[Tacie Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is incredible! I read it to my boys the day before my oldest started kindergarten. Immediately the language of the book sucks you in and begs to be voiced by a thick accented buccaneer. We got to the end and went straight back to the beginning to read it again! This time we spent more time looking at the pictures. The illustrations in this book are pure genius! They bring a young boy's imagination to life -- a clear and perfect companion to the text.
Of course my favorite part was last night when I tossed the book to my husband, who is usually reluctant to read to the boys (because I'm so good at it?). He consented before knowing he was being asked to perform, but to my amazement took out his best deep, gravely pirate voice and put on a show for a captivated audience. He outdid my pirate rendition considerably! It was amazing! What a wonderful book and a wonderful memory! This one is definitely going on my list for the book shelf!

[Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Synopsis: Arr! It’s the first day of first grade, and it’s all hands on deck for a young pirate and his crew. How much trouble can they get into? What will they do at recess? And, most important, what treasure awaits them at school?
Though the illustrations are beautifully done and children are sure to enjoy the contrast between what the pirates are doing and what the boy and his classmates are doing, I’m not convinced this book is a success for its targeted audience. The text is rather challenging for K-2nd and may require some interpretation from adults so that the young reader can successfully follow the story. However, it would be a great read aloud for Talk like a Pirate Day.

Though the targeted audience is K-2nd (specifically 1st grade), my recommendation would be for 4th grade and up.

[Sarah W · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover sets the tone for this back to school adventure of the pirate persuasion. A red-headed first grader is sitting on top of the school bus with a pirate flag. A bulldog is standing on the bus as well. There are also five pirates and a macaw in shades of sepia with them on the bus. The boy's words speak of piratey things with hints of them shown in sketches while the true events are in full color.

The pirate dialogue in this book begs to be read aloud. "I remembered 'twas the first day of school. I leaped out of bed, shined me snappers and got dressed double quick. Me mother was soggy with fare-thee-wells, fussing over this, that, and the other thing." Older readers may have great fun with the pirate's vocabulary at the back of the book.

The boy's teacher is pronounced his captain. Captain Silver gives the boy a treasure map, and I love where in school it takes him.

[Mary Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Take a rollicking spin on the first day of school with James Preller's newest book. Follow a young boy who sees pirates everywhere narrating the story entirely in pirate lingo. As he wakes up for the day, he says “Me great scurvy dog slurped me kisser when I was tryin' t' get me winks!” This makes for a great read aloud, hamming it up along the way. The illustrations show kids looking like real kids in bright, bold colors, and then faint ghosts of pirates that the narrator sees throughout his day. I absolutely loved the humor and the way it celebrates boys' imaginations. Preller is the author of many books, including the Jigsaw Jones series and several novels for older children. He certainly understands the inner workings of kids and how they see the world.

[Eva-Marie Nevarez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Julia's not into pirates as much as she ones was but she's game for a good pirate story if she finds one.
The text here is pure pirate talk so it's safe to say you'll be reading this in a manner that you probably haven't before. And it's also safe to say your kid might pee their pants laughing at you so hard. Or, uh, at least mine almost did.
The illustrations are unique here, with the sketch type drawing on most of the pages, showing the pirates interacting with the main character, a young boy.
If your girl or boy loves pirates it's almost a forgone conclusion that they'll love this. I'd rate it higher for us if we were a little more partial to the subject.

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first day of school is an exciting day no matter what age you are. For this young pirate it was like his first day setting sail in the open sea, when he was on his way to his first day of school in first grade. This was a very creative book that allowed the younger audience to dive into their imagination, by following this young boy and his imagination. While reading this story I, as a reader, liked how this boy's crew was visible to us but in the story it was just his imagination. Using this book as a teacher will be beneficial because children like adventure and this book allows them to be advernturous and shows them to be themselves and to do what makes them happy.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who reads this book aloud without a pirate voice should be arrested.

This book is told from the perspective of a first grader who sees the world through the lens of a pirate. The illustrations are ingenious - with life in first grade being in full color, and the pirate daydreams faded into the background. I'm thinking I need to purchase a copy of this book to read to my students on International Talk Like a Pirate Day. Even if you're not in first grade, you'd be hard pressed to find a student who won't be entertained by this charming book.

[Newmoon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great library find. A little boy describes his first day at school, speaking completely in "pirate talk". The things going on in his imagination are drawn in brown whereas everything in reality is in full color. I loved this book because there are times I can tell that the world of imagination is exactly what is going on in my little boy's mind to the point of almost being real. Definitely worth checking out of your library. My 7 yo and my 3 yo both enjoyed it and immediately read it again after I had read it to them once.

[Priscilla Schelling · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book displayed a wonderful example of the ever-running imagination of a child in the classroom and in everyday life. The author is speaking just as much to the teacher as to the students. The unlying message is for teachers to bring out the imagination of the students in the classroom and for the students to see that learning is a fun adventure. Learning and having fun go hand in hand in the classroom! I want to be that kind of a teacher in my classroom (one who brings out the fun in learning).

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Arrr! Shiver me timbers, what a slobberin' moist mornin'!"

And so a young boy, envisioning himself a pirate, wakes and gets ready for his first day of 1st grade. He shines his "snappers," heads to the "galley" for some "grub" and heads for his "ship" which just happens to be the school bus.

Well done and child-friendly illustrations show possibly imaginary pirates following the child around.

Children into pirates will love this rollicking fun tale. Not a great read aloud with younger audiences as the entire story is told in "pirate speak."

[W.H. Beck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arr! It’s the fi rst day of fi rst grade, and it’s all hands on deck for a young pirate and his crew. How much trouble can they get into? What wil ...more Arr! It’s the fi rst day of fi rst grade, and it’s all hands on deck for a young pirate and his crew. How much trouble can they get into? What will they do at recess? And, most important, what treasure awaits them at school?

(from goodreads.com)

(40 pp.)

[Jessy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book adds a lot of colorful words that will have the students laughing and enjoying the flavor of the book. I know their minds will be tingling with these new phrases and will be asking to hear what was said more again. The book has a good ending with a focus of books be like a treasure that students can enjoy and unravel. I think this would be a great way to show students that there are a lot of "hidden treasures" inside of every book.

[Kristin Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has good humor in it. I like how the illustrations show the pirates as an imagination of the little boy. The author shows the excitement that the little boy, like most school children, experience on the first day of school. The other really interesting fact about this book is the pirate terminology that is used throughout the story. In the back of the book, there is a section that defines what each of the pirate terms mean. A very good book in my opinion.