Pirate Pete [Hardcover]

Kim Kennedy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2002 | Grade Level: P and up

Pirate Pete and his parrot love gold. When they hear the Queen has a treasure map, they must have it. For where there is treasure, there is gold. And as Pete says (over and over again): "Where there's gold, I'm a-goin'!" Pete and his parrot steal the map and hit the high seas. As they journey to Mermaid Island, where the treasure lies, they come upon other islands that tempt Pete in his search for gold. On Candy Island, they are sure to find gold cavity fillings; on Sleepy Island, magic gold dust from the Sandman; on Clover Island, a pot of leprechaun gold! But their search is futile: the children on Candy Island brush their teeth! Sleepy Island residents read books to help them sleep! And the leprechaun's pot holds Irish stew! And these aren't their only problems. Whose ship is that on the horizon, giving chase? This funny and whimsical book will have both children and adults giggling as Pete and crew make their way toward Mermaid Island. This book is pure gold!

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Ages 5-8. Gold puts the twinkle in Pirate Pete's eye, and where there's gold, he's a-goin'. After stealing a treasure map from the queen, Pete and his parrot set sail for Mermaid Island. Unfortunately, they are sidetracked by the possibilities of gold elsewhere. Nothing pans out until a baby dragon, hatched from the golden egg Pete steals from Dragon Island, sets the ship afire, causing it to sink conveniently near Mermaid Island. It's there Pete finally finds a treasure--only to be caught by the angry queen, who seizes the booty and leaves Pete and his parrot marooned. Lucky for Pete and Parrot, she forgets to take the rowboat, which Pete points toward the sunset, "where the ocean glistened like a thousand coins of gold." The appealing, richly colored, cartoonlike paintings have a robust, sculpted look, derived from Kennedy's use of clay models that allowed him to visualize the characters and their movements. Particularly inventive is the first view of each stop along the journey, which is presented in a circular illustration set against a black background, as if seen through a telescope. Julie Cummins
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams (May 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810943565
• ISBN-13: 978-0810943568
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 10.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #32,560 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Perfect Read for Swashbucklers Young and Old!, August 15, 2002

By 

E. Rothstein "erothstein" (STUDIO CITY, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Pirate Pete (Hardcover)

Shiver me timbers! This be as fine a book as I've seen in many a year. My three year old daughter loves this book almost as much as I do. The story is witty, arch enough for a grown-up, but simple enough for children from 3-30 to love. And the gorgeous illustrations - taking Pirate Pete and his harried parrot from Candy Island to Dragon Island, to the treasure bearing Mermaid Island are an utter delight. This is a rarity in children's books - a tale that is as fun for adults as it is for kids, and one which stands the test of multiple (often nightly) readings. Arrr! Be quick with your pen Kim and Doug - there be gold in them thar pages!

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Its all about the treasure, August 9, 2005

By 

microjoe - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Pirate Pete (Hardcover)

I enjoy this pirate tale as much as my son enjoys having me read it to him every night. The story is humerous and full of suprises with more text in it's 40 pages than your average picturebook. The illustrations are wonderful, colorful, and inspiring. Pirate Pete and his poor parrot travel from Candy Island, to Dragon Island, to Mermaid Island looking for treasure to plunder. The way the art is presented is witty and different. The suprise ending is a big hit with kids. Buy this one if you like pirate tales for kids, you won't regret it.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars YAR! This is a blast of a book, matey!, October 17, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Pirate Pete (Hardcover)

My sons love pirates, so I've started a pirate book collection. PIRATE PETE is their favorite book; it's easy for them to follow along, and its refrain is a blast. The story has a great twist to the ending, which made it all the more fun. The illustrations are packed with all sorts of hidden things,which young readers will get a kick out of. I highly recommend this book to any parent who wants a treasure of a book for their little mateys!