What do you think?
Rate this book
Frankie's Magic Football #1
Frankie Vs The Pirate Pillagers
Frankie's Magic Football: Frankie vs the Pirate Pillagers Frankie and his team love playing football. There's always time for a game. But when they win an old football at a carnival, they're going to be transported to a magical world of football they never knew existed! Can Frankie and his team beat the Pirate Pillagers and make their way home? Full description
96 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
24 people are currently reading
104 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 31, 2014
When Frankie wins a game at a carnival, he has no idea that the soccer ball he receives as a prize will turn out to be magic. But an impromptu match with the ball afterward transports Frankie, his friends, and his dog to a fantastical ship, where they go head-to-head against a group of pirates. Frankie and his friends have no choice but to play, and play hard, because the winners get to go home while the losers will be marooned on a deserted island.
This action-packed story entertains while demonstrating the benefits of tenacity, creative thinking, and good sportsmanship. The soccer terminology may confuse students who are not familiar with the game, but soccer fans will likely be drawn into the action, and others may discover a new interest in the sport. The paranormal aspect adds some uniqueness without making the book too scary, and the cartoony illustrations are a fun pairing with the text.
This action-packed story entertains while demonstrating the benefits of tenacity, creative thinking, and good sportsmanship. The soccer terminology may confuse students who are not familiar with the game, but soccer fans will likely be drawn into the action, and others may discover a new interest in the sport. The paranormal aspect adds some uniqueness without making the book too scary, and the cartoony illustrations are a fun pairing with the text.
August 29, 2019
Frankie vs the Pirate Pillagers
This book is really good because I really love football and if you like football I recommend this book for you. It all about Frankie and his 2 best friends going on different football adventures because of the magic football. Frankie and his friends don't know where they will go until the magic football takes them there. On this exciting adventure Frankie and his friends will be going against the Pirate Pillagers.
I recommend this book for people who like sports, Short stories and interested in Pirates, monsters and other things like that.
The Author Frank Lampard is a very famous english football player. In his years of being a footballer he also had a passion for writing books, so when he retired he became a author. Frank lampard has won 12 titles for football including:
- 4 Premier league titles
- 1 UEFA Champions League title
- 4 FA Cups
- 1 UEFA Europa League title
- 2 Football League Cups
He has now taken on a knew lead role as Chelsea FC Football manager.
Please Red this book!
This book is really good because I really love football and if you like football I recommend this book for you. It all about Frankie and his 2 best friends going on different football adventures because of the magic football. Frankie and his friends don't know where they will go until the magic football takes them there. On this exciting adventure Frankie and his friends will be going against the Pirate Pillagers.
I recommend this book for people who like sports, Short stories and interested in Pirates, monsters and other things like that.
The Author Frank Lampard is a very famous english football player. In his years of being a footballer he also had a passion for writing books, so when he retired he became a author. Frank lampard has won 12 titles for football including:
- 4 Premier league titles
- 1 UEFA Champions League title
- 4 FA Cups
- 1 UEFA Europa League title
- 2 Football League Cups
He has now taken on a knew lead role as Chelsea FC Football manager.
Please Red this book!
October 16, 2018
A good story for children in upper KS1 and lower KS2 who love football!
February 27, 2020
G one by coach
April 23, 2020
It was amazing I thought Frankie's FC would lose but in the end they won 3 - 2
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 19, 2016
Written by an English soccer player, Frankie vs. the Pirate Pillagers is the first title in the fantasy chapter book series, Frankie’s Magic Soccer Ball. When Frankie wins a ball from a strange man at a carnival, he and his friends use it to play a regular game of soccer. The next thing they know, the ball itself transports them to a pirate ship, where they are challenged to play a game against a pirate soccer team, using the pirates’ unusual rules. As the series continues, Frankie and his friends will find themselves playing games against many other strange opponents, including ancient Romans, mummies, and cowboys.
The strength of this book is in its premise. Combining fantasy elements with sports is a great idea that will fulfill the desires of many chapter book readers, especially boys. Unfortunately, the writing is very flat and the characters sound so similar it is difficult to tell them apart. It is easy to gloss over much of the story without absorbing it because there is so much action that is difficult to follow and so many characters who don’t really come to life. The illustrations are contemporary-looking and cartoonish, which makes sense given that illustrator Mike Jackson has done a lot of work in animation (including the movie Shrek). Kids will be drawn to the visual aspects of the book whether the subject matter readily interests them or not.
Frankie vs. the Pirate Pillagers will find an eager audience among readers of the Magic Tree House series. Though the writing leaves much to be desired, there is no doubt that both fantasy and sports stories are in high demand and this book fulfills a serious need for more books combining both.
The strength of this book is in its premise. Combining fantasy elements with sports is a great idea that will fulfill the desires of many chapter book readers, especially boys. Unfortunately, the writing is very flat and the characters sound so similar it is difficult to tell them apart. It is easy to gloss over much of the story without absorbing it because there is so much action that is difficult to follow and so many characters who don’t really come to life. The illustrations are contemporary-looking and cartoonish, which makes sense given that illustrator Mike Jackson has done a lot of work in animation (including the movie Shrek). Kids will be drawn to the visual aspects of the book whether the subject matter readily interests them or not.
Frankie vs. the Pirate Pillagers will find an eager audience among readers of the Magic Tree House series. Though the writing leaves much to be desired, there is no doubt that both fantasy and sports stories are in high demand and this book fulfills a serious need for more books combining both.
September 30, 2015
{my thoughts} – Three friends Frankie, Charlie and Louise got to a carnival together. When they are ready to leave they see a soccer booth. Frankie decides to play the game and wins an old battered soccer ball as his prize. Once they start walking home and near the park they decide to play a game. What happens next is magical. They end up opening a portal which the ball flies through. They then go into the portal to get their ball and end up finding out that they are now the newest team of a Fantasy Soccer League. The thing about this league is that they must have four players and will have no idea who they will play against next. The fourth player on their time happens to be Frankie’s dog Max. The name of their team is Frankie’s Football Club. Once the game is over they go back to their own time and resume their lives.
This book is entertaining, fun and imaginative. I like how the illustrations within the book match what is going on within the storyline. I also enjoyed how Max the dog even talks in phrases that you would expect a dog to say if they knew how to talk. I also liked how it showed the importance of teamwork! The description in this book is easy to imagine and the wording is simple enough that I can see my soon to be second grade soon devouring it as soon as I give it to him.
This book is entertaining, fun and imaginative. I like how the illustrations within the book match what is going on within the storyline. I also enjoyed how Max the dog even talks in phrases that you would expect a dog to say if they knew how to talk. I also liked how it showed the importance of teamwork! The description in this book is easy to imagine and the wording is simple enough that I can see my soon to be second grade soon devouring it as soon as I give it to him.
May 10, 2014
Frankie and friends are transported to a pirate ship by a magical soccer ball. Reminiscent of Magic Treehouse and Time Warp Trio, although this will be better appreciated by a slightly younger audience. Recommended for grades 1-3.
June 4, 2016
We enjoyed this book. My son is very difficult to please when it comes to books at bedtime. Combining adventure with football is just fab! He couldn't wait for the next chapter. The characters are appealing and charming and the dog is pretty cool too.
December 23, 2019
Joshua's choice of bedtime story, from a Christmas set. Perfect for football-mad early readers, we meet Frankie and his friends who get caught up in a magical adventure. A simple, quick read with likeable characters.
November 27, 2015
Fantastic reading with my 6 year old
In the words of my eldest son "This is a really good book, good action and I really, really want you to buy the next one."
In the words of my eldest son "This is a really good book, good action and I really, really want you to buy the next one."
January 23, 2016
Magic Tree House style book for those kids who HAVE to have a sports book!
January 15, 2022
This book was very good because I love football in this book. My favourite part in this book is Frankie vs the pirates. This book was so good and I like reading this book.
December 10, 2016
So cute. Who knew Frank Lampard could write about time travel for kids?!
Read
July 3, 2018Good
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews