(3) 1-3 Pocket Pirates series. A crew of ship-in-a-bottle pirates lives in an old junk shop and comes out to explore when the shop is closed. In Cheese, the Pocket Pirates' cat is kidnapped and ransomed by a band of baseboard mice. In Drain, they plan an escape when their route to the kitchen is blocked. Swashbuckling adventure meets the miniaturized whimsy of The Borrowers in these British chapter books illustrated with pen-and-ink drawings. Review covers these Pocket Pirates titles: The Great Cheese Robbery and The Great Drain Escape.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) 1-3 Pocket Pirates series. A crew of ship-in-a-bottle pirates lives in an old junk shop and comes out to explore when the shop is closed. In Cheese, the Pocket Pirates' cat is kidnapped and ransomed by a band of baseboard mice. In Drain, they plan an escape when their route to the kitchen is blocked. Swashbuckling adventure meets the miniaturized whimsy of The Borrowers in these British chapter books illustrated with pen-and-ink drawings. Review covers these Pocket Pirates titles: The Great Cheese Robbery and The Great Drain Escape.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(4) K-3 Read Me!: Pirates! series. O'Donnell provides basic insights into the world of piracy. Code discusses how pirates lived by a code and also covers the rules and punishments--including the means of inflicting death--used when crewmembers disobeyed. Gear touches on types of ships, weapons, ropes, sails, and navigational instruments necessary for operation on the high seas. Colorful illustrations enhance the abbreviated texts. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Read Me! Pirates! titles: Crack the Pirate Code and Get Into Pirate Gear.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) K-3 Read Me!: Pirates! series. O'Donnell provides basic insights into the world of piracy. Code discusses how pirates lived by a code and also covers the rules and punishments--including the means of inflicting death--used when crewmembers disobeyed. Gear touches on types of ships, weapons, ropes, sails, and navigational instruments necessary for operation on the high seas. Colorful illustrations enhance the abbreviated texts. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Read Me! Pirates! titles: Crack the Pirate Code and Get Into Pirate Gear.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) 4-6 Jupiter Pirates series. In book three, Tycho and his space privateer family again find themselves embroiled in deadly political intrigue between Earth and the Jovian Union. Tycho's personal growth continues as he tries to navigate first love, shocking family revelations, and potential war in the solar system. Large- and small-scale conflicts, solar-system-wide and within Tycho's family dynamics, are laced into the nonstop action.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(3) 1-3 Puppy Pirates series. Illustrated by Russ Cox. REVIEW MISSING

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) 1-3 Puppy Pirates series. Illustrated by Russ Cox. Boy Henry and dog Wally and the other puppy pirates are called upon to organize a banquet while the captain is sick (Sea). Kitten pirates retaliate after the pups play an ill-advised catnip prank (Catnapped!). Illustrated with jolly black-and-white art, these chapter books are full of pirate puns and campy adventures. Wally's enthusiasm for the pirate life is infectious. Review covers these Puppy Pirates titles: Catnapped! and Sea Sick.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) 4-6 Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates series. Illustrated by Dave Phillips. Recently turned freelance pirate, Hilary Westfield challenges Captain Blacktooth for leadership of the League, a proposition that requires extensive support and draws in even the primmest-seeming characters. Like the previous installments, this trilogy-ender comes with high stakes but also plenty of humor and cheery spot art to keep things light; documents and letters add interest to the narrative.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(3) 1-3 Puppy Pirates series. Illustrated by Russ Cox. Dog Wally and boy Henry stowaway on a pirate ship, determined to prove they have what it takes to be great pirates (Stowaway). In X Marks, the pirates (including Wally and Henry) search for legendary pirate Growlin' Grace's treasure chest. Illustrated with jolly black-and-white art, these chapter books are full of pirate puns and campy adventures. Wally's enthusiasm for the pirate life is infectious. Review covers these Puppy Pirates titles: Stowaway! and X Marks the Spot.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) 1-3 Puppy Pirates series. Illustrated by Russ Cox. Dog Wally and boy Henry stowaway on a pirate ship, determined to prove they have what it takes to be great pirates (Stowaway). In X Marks, the pirates (including Wally and Henry) search for legendary pirate Growlin' Grace's treasure chest. Illustrated with jolly black-and-white art, these chapter books are full of pirate puns and campy adventures. Wally's enthusiasm for the pirate life is infectious. Review covers these Puppy Pirates titles: Stowaway! and X Marks the Spot.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(4) K-3 Pebble Plus: Pirates Ahoy! series. Beginning readers will learn vague, cursory pirate facts, such as "pirate ships looked scary" and "not all treasures have been found." Each double-page spread includes brief, readable chunks of text on the left side and an interesting photograph or illustration on the right. Large trim size and roomy page layouts make this series a good choice for groups. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Pebble Plus: Pirates Ahoy! titles: Pirate Ships and Pirate Treasure.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(4) K-3 Pebble Plus: Pirates Ahoy! series. Beginning readers will learn vague, cursory pirate facts, such as "pirate ships looked scary" and "not all treasures have been found." Each double-page spread includes brief, readable chunks of text on the left side and an interesting photograph or illustration on the right. Large trim size and roomy page layouts make this series a good choice for groups. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Pebble Plus: Pirates Ahoy! titles: Pirate Ships and Pirate Treasure.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) 4-6 Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates series. Illustrated by Dave Phillips. Amid accusations of insufficiently piratical conduct, pirate Hilary Westfield must decide if she should risk her reputation in the League by rescuing Enchantress of the Northlands, Miss Pimm. Fans of the first installment will find the same combination of silliness and well-plotted adventure, complete with cheerful chapter-opening spot art and letters whose formality belies their absurdity.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(3) 4-6 Jupiter Pirates series. Tycho and his family are privateers, plundering Earth cargo ships in Jovian space while uncovering a conspiracy that could jeopardize their livelihood. Tycho must confront enemy pirates, overcome sibling rivalries, and learn if he has what it takes to be a leader. Mystery, cloak and dagger operations, and action keep readers turning the pages as they follow Tycho's personal growth.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(3) 4-6 Jupiter Pirates series. In the second space adventure, Tycho Hashoone and his family of privateers search for hidden treasure while assailed by enemy pirates and government forces. Meanwhile, Tycho is competing with siblings to see who will be the next captain of the family spaceship. These outer struggles and Tycho's inner crises of conscience provide introspection and action, propelling the story forward. Glos.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(3) 4-6 Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates series. Illustrated by Dave Phillips. Piracy-obsessed Hilary clearly doesn't belong at her over-the-top finishing school, so she and her talking gargoyle run away the first chance they get and join a ragtag group of pirates. The ensuing quest rewards the careful reader with absurd humor and playful characters who are more than they first seem. Spot art and faux documents punctuate the madcap tale.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(4) 4-6 Pirates of the Caribbean series. This lengthy yarn (published in conjunction with the fourth Pirates of the Caribbean movie) provides backstory for Captain Jack Sparrow. Twenty-five-year-old Jack has given up his pirating ways, but a swashbuckling adventure tempts him back. Along the way Jack encounters major players from the first three films. If you really can't get enough of Jack, check out this origins story.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(4) 4-6 Pirates series. Unlike some other books that sensationalize pirates, this series is filled with actual history, geography, and politics. It shares interesting facts and details about individual pirates, the times in which they flourished, and bits and pieces about their daily lives. The cleanly designed pages include many paintings and sketches (though the few staged photos and movie stills are gratuitous). Glos., ind. Review covers these Pirates titles: A History of Pirates, A Pirate's Life, Bartholomew Roberts, Blackbeard, Captain Kidd, and Henry Morgan.

Reviewer: Becky Levine

(4) 4-6 Pirates series. Unlike some other books that sensationalize pirates, this series is filled with actual history, geography, and politics. It shares interesting facts and details about individual pirates, the times in which they flourished, and bits and pieces about their daily lives. The cleanly designed pages include many paintings and sketches (though the few staged photos and movie stills are gratuitous). Glos., ind. Review covers these Pirates titles: A History of Pirates, A Pirate's Life, Bartholomew Roberts, Blackbeard, Captain Kidd, and Henry Morgan.

Reviewer: Becky Levine

(4) 4-6 Pirates series. Unlike some other books that sensationalize pirates, this series is filled with actual history, geography, and politics. It shares interesting facts and details about individual pirates, the times in which they flourished, and bits and pieces about their daily lives. The cleanly designed pages include many paintings and sketches (though the few staged photos and movie stills are gratuitous). Glos., ind. Review covers these Pirates titles: A History of Pirates, A Pirate's Life, Bartholomew Roberts, Blackbeard, Captain Kidd, and Henry Morgan.

Reviewer: Becky Levine