The Old Pirate of Central Park [Hardcover]

Robert Priest (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 26, 1999 | Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

In this wonderfully quirky story, two stubborn souls - a retired pirate and a retired queen - do battle in the sailboat pond in Central Park. Inspired by memories of his past, the Old Pirate has built a marvelous replica of his sailing ship, the Laughing Dog. But when he takes it to the park to launch it in the pond, he finds the waters are not so friendly - the S.S. Uppity Duchess is unwilling to share the seas and takes aim at the Laughing Dog. Who will rule the waves in this offbeat tale of high-seas adventure and friendship found in New York City?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Like a series of post-modern woodcuts, the fluid lines of Priest's (The Town That Got Out of Town) sleek airbrushed enamel-on-clayboard illustrations unfold in a sequence of color-saturated vignettes that give form and substance to this diverting tale of a retired buccaneer. An ex-pirate, now residing in a New York City apartment and nostalgic for his days as a swashbuckler, builds a model of his old ship, The Laughing Dog, and launches it on the Central Park Sailboat Pond. Soon a retired Queen shows up with her S.S. Uppity Duchess, "which commenced with utter, reckless, and heedless abandon to race pell-mell around the pond." A battle for naval supremacy ensues, complete with miniature cannons and tiny cannonballs whose thunder "reached a crescendo that could be heard all the way to Harlem." A peace treaty is finally brokered as naptime for the elderly rivals approaches, and the two "Old Retirates" agree to share the seas. It's a droll concept that Priest handily executes. He woos readers with a combination of perfectly balanced composition, elegant design and amusing touches, from the pensioned pirate's dapper attire (eyepatch, hook and rakish red cardigan festooned with a nautical design) to a gleeful herd of dogs that break free during the battle and run wild "after years of being cooped up in tiny apartments." Timber-shivering fun from start to finish. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3A retired pirate launches a model of his old vessel, The Laughing Dog, on the Central Park Sailboat Pond only to be nearly swamped by the S.S. Uppity Duchess, a retired queens model yacht. The well-mannered Old Pirate takes the arrogant monarch to task, she reprimands him for giving her an order, things escalate, and Thus began the infamous Battle of Central Park. In measured and stately tones befitting the dignity (albeit somewhat tarnished) of this pair, this quirky tale celebrates friendship, character, and, well, maturity, while extolling the glories of Central Park and enhancing the literary mystique of New York City. Priest sets the stage like a journalist, observing both the battle and the (typically New York) behavior of bystanders to the fray: People hid under tables and wondered if someone was making a movie. Dogs broke free and ran wild after years of being cooped up in tiny apartments. Even the bravest cabbies dared not continue down Fifth Avenue. Children ran this way and that, collecting the little cannonballs. The artists handsome cityscapes have a measured, stately tone of their own. Executed in airbrushed enamel on clayboard, they are arresting compositionsflat forms and muted colors, accented in black, outlined and textured in white. An offbeat, sophisticated story, outstanding in concept and design.Marcia Hupp, Mamaroneck Public Library, NY
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children (March 26, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395905052
• ISBN-13: 978-0395905050
• Product Dimensions: 12.3 x 8.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,957,454 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great story with a good message., October 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Old Pirate of Central Park (Hardcover)

Living in NYC, it was a unique experience to be able to read a book, and then take my son to the place where the action occurs. We pretended to also be pirates, and this made the book a wonderful facillitator for imaginative play. But the book is for more than Manhattanites - I bought it for friends living in the Midwest, and am purchasing it again to send to a friend in Philly. I highly recommend it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Quick book, good message, July 9, 2008

By 

Ulyyf "Connie" (NYC) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Old Pirate of Central Park (Hardcover)

In this book, a "retired pirate" and a "retired queen" engage in a toy boat battle in Central Park, because the Queen refuses to share the pond with the other users (mostly children, of course).

Eventually the battle is called for naptime, and the queen shares the waters again.

The book is charmingly illustrated, and the city-specific details are well-written. Please note that this edition is oversized, and may be difficult to shelve.