Pirates Don't Change Diapers

January 1, 2007
Plucky young Jeremy Jacob is reunited with Captain Braid Beard and his crew of daft, dentally challenged buccaneers in a follow-up to the bestselling How I Became a Pirate
. This time, Jeremy clearly has the upper hand: he won't let the pirates dig up the treasure they buried in his backyard at the end of the previous book until they help him placate his cranky baby sister, Bonney Anne (pirate aficionados will note that her name is a nod to real-life female pirate Anne Bonny). The story unfolds rather predictably—but just as entertainingly as the original: the pirates turn out to be washouts as nannies, jokes fly about dirty diapers and strained spinach, and, of course, "the wee lass" Bonney Anne ends up being the key to recovering the treasure. But Long's piratical dialogue still delivers a juicy read-aloud: what reader of any age won't relish the opportunity to say "Aargh!" or declare "Rock on!" as the crew does in unison when Braid Beard orders them to rock Bonney Anne to sleep? And Shannon's voluptuously colorful and comic paintings runneth over with comic mayhem, sly details (somehow, the pirates manage to find a pirate show on Jeremy's TV) and no end of goofy expressions. Ages 3-7.

April 1, 2007
PreS-Gr 3-Another flight of piratical fancy with young Jeremy Jacob and the motley crew from "How I Became a Pirate" (Harcourt, 2003). Jeremy Jacob, supposed-to-be babysitter, is distracted from keeping an eye on his snoozing sister by the boisterous, baby-wakening arrival of Captain Braid Beard and his men, who have come in search of the treasure formerly entrusted to our suburban buccaneer. They need his help to find their loot, and he needs their help to mind Bonney Anne. Unfortunately, pirates are unfamiliar with nappies, and num-nums, and naptimes, so there are a lot of funny faux pas and hysterical, histrionic looksparticularly when it's discovered that the baby's made a snack of the all-important X-marks-the-spot map. All's well that ends well, though: the brigands' booty is recovered, and their reward to Jeremy Jacob will become the birthday gift he wraps up for his mom. Long's dialogue makes for a rollicking read-aloud, and Shannon's signature artwork is a vibrant concoction of rowdy colors; Magoo-eyed, snaggle-toothed characters; and a baby who bears an unsettling resemblance to Alfred E. Newman. Yo-ho-ho!"Kathy Krasniewicz, Perrot Library, Old Greenwich, CT"

Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2007
Jeremy Jacob reunites with his pirate pals in this humorous companion to " How I Became a Pirate" (2003). All is quiet at Jeremy's house: Mom is out, Dad is napping, and baby Bonney Anne is asleep. Then Captain Braid Beard and his noisy crew come for their buried treasure, and--Aaargh--they wake the baby. Digging treasure must wait until Baby is calmed, and hullabaloo ensues as buccaneers turn babysitters, who find themselves changing diapers, spoon-feeding strained spinach, and playing "pirate peekaboo." Just when things seem quiet enough for the digging to begin, the map goes missing and so does Bonney Anne. Drolly related by Jeremy, the witty narrative, with bountiful pirate jargon, boisterous interjections, and plenty of repetitions, makes for a peppy read-aloud, and colorful artwork captures chaos with playful perspectives and hilarious details. Nonstop action, good-natured rascals, and a comical, affectionate view of sibling relationships and baby care will attract pirate aficionados and big brothers alike.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)