How I Became a Pirate [Audio Cassette]

Melinda Long (Author), David Shannon (Illustrator), Miles Purington (Narrator)

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Scholastic Inc. (2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0439697417
• ISBN-13: 978-0439697415
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (132 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,963,886 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

105 of 106 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Arr! Can I Be a Pirate, Too?, January 6, 2004

By 

Daniel L Edelen (Mt. Orab, OH USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: How I Became a Pirate (Hardcover)

If ever there were a children's book that played into every child's foibles, dreams, and tastes, it's Melinda Long's "How I Became a Pirate."
I've got to believe that just about everyone out there, young and old, will find something amusing and true to life in this fine children's offering.

A sand castle of unusual quality built by Jeremy Jacob attracts a misfit band of not-too-scary pirates in search of a master digger to help bury their ill-gotten booty. Jeremy soon finds that the pirate life is for him--staying up till all hours, saying "Arr," and foregoing vegetables. But after finding no one to tuck him in at night (in a hilarious pirate pile illustrated with great touches by David Shannon), Jeremy has second thoughts about a life on the seven seas. In the end, he gets the last laugh in a delicious little twist ending.

I will consistently go back to books like "How I Became a Pirate" for their gentle humor, wonderful illustrations, and pleasant reading that appeals to children. It's hard to go wrong with those qualities and you would go wrong if you passed up this delightful little book. I know my three year old son ate up every word and drawing in it. A surefire nominee for the 2004 Caldecott medal, in my opinion.

Enjoy!

44 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars And it is it is a glorious thing to be a pirate king., August 9, 2004

By 

E. R. Bird "Ramseelbird" (Manhattan, NY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: How I Became a Pirate (Hardcover)

While kids have always loved pirates and the piratical life (Peter Pan, anyone?), the current pirate craze sweeping the nation is somewhat amazing. Suddenly there are pirate Saturday morning tv shows, an official Talk Like a Pirate Day (September 19), pirate movies making a mil, and pirate picture books. The breathtaking success of Melinda Long's, "How I Became a Pirate" is a little odd, but it couldn't have happened to a nicer story. Full of all the classic words and actions pirates partake of (with the possible exception of walking the plank) the book's a good hearted take on one boy's dream to be a scurvy dog.

Jeremy Jacob is the only person on the beach that notices when a pirate ship docks near the ocean shore. Jeremy, up until this moment, has been building a sand castle, yet the sight of the ship doesn't seem to get anyone's attention but his own. When Captain Braid Beard and his crew of seven see Jeremy's sand castle skills they are instantly impressed. They've a treasure to bury after all and Jeremy's just the lad to help them. Off he goes to join the pirate's life! There's a lot of "Aargh!"s and "landlubbers" to learn. Lots of talking with your mouth full, on board soccer (Jeremy teaches them how to play), and pillow fights. Unfortunately, Jeremy also learns that sweet comforts like getting tucked in ("No tucking!", the crew cried) getting a bedtime story, and receiving a goodnight kiss are lacking on this ship. After deciding that maybe he doesn't want to be a pirate after all, Jeremy finds the perfect place for his friendly crew to hide the booty. In the end, the pirates sail away happy and Jeremy goes back to his soccer practice.

A caveat: I'd like to be honest with you and state for the record that any picture book containing the sentence, "We must have taken a wrong turn at Bora Bora", instantly has my love. The story is full of fabulous pirate-inspired sentences like that one (though I suspect that particular line has been foisted from a Bugs Bunny cartoon). The pirates for their own part are happy go lucky fellows, ready to welcome their newest crewmate on board, no questions asked. There's never a scary moment on this particular ship, though the pirates deal with a sudden storm with some relative panic. David Shannon is the illustrator of this particular outing and as such he's great. Jeremy Jacob is your typical soccer playing tyke. The pirates themselves are the real stars of this show, however. With their terribly rotted teeth and scarred cheeks they might be scary if they weren't so darn appealing. Kids will enjoy watching the pirate with the patches over both eyes as he lifts first one and then another to see his fellows. Shannon places infinite little details and touches throughout his work as well. The shipboard cat is forever attempting to devour the captain's parrot. The largest and meanest pirate is seen patiently buttoning up his pajamas as Jeremy and the captain engage in a pillow fight. All in all, the illustrations in this story fit Long's writing perfectly. You couldn't ask for a better pairing of author and illustrator together.

I think kids everywhere have already figured out what grown-ups are only now discovering. Pirates are eternally amusing. This book just taps into the already existing piratical love sweeping the nation. Had this book been lucky enough to win a Caldecott award, I wouldn't have batted an eye. It's a wonderfully rousing tale. A feel good pirate piece, if you will. And a perfect addition to any up and coming young pirate's library. Fun for the whole fam.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding!, May 22, 2007

By 

Piper (Urbana, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How I Became a Pirate (Hardcover)

We got this book for our son's fourth birthday. He is very much into pirates at the moment, and he LOVES this book. It has wonderful illustrations, good vocabulary, and a wonderful message about the fun of adventure and the comfort of returning home.