What If You Met a Pirate?

Module 7, SLIS 5420

Summary

Author/Illustrator Jan Adkins begins this book by comparing the image one is likely to have gained of the average pirate through movies or novels with that of the average pirate as seen through historical fact. He uses humorous language and imagery to help convey these differences. He then goes on to provide information about pirate ships, weaponry, and tactics in fighting (or avoiding!) battles in their quest for booty. He also provides information about the kinds of loot pirates were likely to find, how they might sell it, and how they spent their money. The life of a pirate was not like the glamorous image that Hollywood tries to sell to us in movies, and this comes across in the book. The reader will learn a great deal about actual pirates and the history of piracy, from the days of the Greeks until present times.

Bibliographic Information

Adkins, Jan. What If You Met a Pirate? Roaring Book Press, 2004. ISBN: 1-59643-007-9

My Thoughts

The subject of pirates is a very interesting one, especially to young boys. Who hasn't dreamed of finding pirate treasure? The author does a very good job of getting a great deal of factual information and history into a small package with this book. The illustrations are quirky and do not pull any punches. In talking about the horrific wounds and their causes, Adkins accompanies the text with illustrations that include scars, lost limbs, and ill-healed wounds. He also depicts the ships and weapons used by pirates and discusses their preferred tactics. He is also careful to point out historical inaccuracies that have crept into pirate lore over the years, such as the idea of "walking the plank." He also points out that pirates were a democratic existence, voting for captains or voting them out if they failed to please a crew. This is a good overview of what led men to turn to a life of piracy, and what life would be like for them.

Reviews

Starred Review. PreS-Gr 4Adkins begins with a stereotypical picture and description of a pirate, then proceeds to debunk the myths that surround these mysterious figures. Contrary to popular belief, pirates did not command large ships with guns and cannons, but preferred smaller, more nimble vessels so they could take victims by surprise and make a quick escape. Real pirates were as skillful with a needle as they were with a cutlass; most sewed their own clothes and mended sails. Packed with interesting but little-known facts, the text illuminates life on the high seas and answers many questions children may have: Did pirates force captives to walk the plank (no) or bury treasure (rarely)? Do pirates still operate today? Each of these questions and more are answered in spreads that include full-color spot illustrations, diagrams, and cross-sections. Adkins's detailed renderings will be as familiar to fans of his other nonfiction books as his tongue-in-cheek humor, both of which appeal to a broad range of ages. A fun and informative read.
Edwards, Laurie. School Library Journal. Date not given.

Gr. 3-5. Can it be that walking the plank was a fictional punishment invented by illustrator Howard Pyle? In this appealing book, Adkins gives readers the lowdown on what life under the pirate flag was really like. After setting up the conventional portrait of swaggering, singing sailors in colorful duds, he replaces it with a more realistic picture of hard-working sailors who might swashbuckle just a few hours each month and bathed considerably less. Yet this realistic portrayal of pirates and their activities is even more intriguing than the romanticized version he debunks. Adkins strikes just the right note in the text, always informative and frequently entertaining as well. Bright with color washes, the excellent, energetic drawings show pirates engaged in a variety of activities, from pumping out the bilge to braiding each other's hair to using the open-air bathroom at the front of the ship. In a send-up of current book marketing, the back cover carries appreciative comments by the likes of Queen Elizabeth I and Leonardo da Vinci. Where pirate fever runs high this spirited presentation will find an enthusiastic audience. For more titles, see the Read-alikes, Ship Ahoy!
Phelan, Carolyn. Booklist. October 15, 2004.

Awards

Utah Children's Informational Book Award

Suggestions for Use in Library

Children could be asked what they know or think they know about pirates. Then the teacher or librarian could work through the book to try to confirm or deny the gathered impressions.