Pirate's Perfect Pet

When Captain Crave's mother sends him a checklist from a pirate magazine, he realizes that he's missing something important. "Eye patch?" the checklist reads. "Check," Captain Crave says. "Hook?" "Check it out!" he says, showing it off. "Peg leg?" "On me to-do list." "Pet?" "Pet?" Captain and crew leave their ship and swarm ashore, startling a beach full of sunbathers: "They caused quite a commotion, as good pirates should." A master of bubbly, sunshiny, high-spirited spreads, Myers (Cock-a-Doodle-Doo-Bop!) paints the pirates leaping the fence into a farm, storming the zoo (where an encounter with a lion lets Captain Crave cross "peg leg" off his to-do list), and, at last, the pet store. "Shiver me Shih Tzus," cries the captain. "Thar be piles of pets!" One with colorful feathers draws attention by pooping on his hat. Ferry (Land Shark) fills her yarn with loads of pirate lingo and affectionate pokes at pirate tradition, while Myers's luscious, thickly painted illustrations look as if they've been frosted. Readalouds don't come much rowdier. Ages 4-8. Author's agent: Elena Giovinazzo, Pippin Properties. Illustrator's agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (Aug.)

Copyright 2016 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

PreS-Gr 2—"Well, shuck me an oyster and set sail for land. We needs to find me a pet." And so begins the journey of Captain Crave and his shipmates to find an animal companion. The captain and his crew dock their ship and search farm, zoo, and beyond to find a pet suitable for a pirate captain, but they don't strike gold (pun absolutely intended) until they wander into the Pet Emporium, where they become acquainted with—what else? A parrot! This entertaining ride following the shenanigans of a group of landlocked pirates meeting a plethora of animals will be a hit with all ages. Kids will chuckle at the elephant, who is too big; the goat, who is too nibbly; and the lion, whose ferocious antics result in Captain obtaining that peg leg he's been meaning to get. Ferry's story and Myers's acrylic and oil paint illustrations are a perfect match—the details in the writing and the accompanying pictures are hilarious and smart, and the dialect will encourage children to try out their best pirate accents. Animated readers may find a new favorite read-aloud in this book. The illustrations will delight kids, who will find something new every time they pick it up. VERDICT Great writing and vivid illustrations make this a sure bet for most collections.—Lindsay Jensen, Nashville Public Library

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Myers's vigorous art and Ferry's ("Stick and Stone") revved-up story still offer plenty of moments to stop and laugh.
—The New York Times Book Review

A master of bubbly, sunshiny, high-spirited spreads, Myers (Cock-a-Doodle-Doo-Bop!) paints the pirates leaping the fence into a farm, storming the zoo (where an encounter with a lion lets Captain Crave cross "peg leg" off his to-do list), and, at last, the pet store. "Shiver me Shih Tzus," cries the captain. "Thar be piles of pets!" One with colorful feathers draws attention by pooping on his hat. Ferry (Land Shark) fills her yarn with loads of pirate lingo and affectionate pokes at pirate tradition, while Myers's luscious, thickly painted illustrations look as if they've been frosted. Readalouds don't come much rowdier.
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Rife with buccaneer-speak and salty seadog sentences, Ferry's text uses repetition to its greatest advantage. Meanwhile, Myers' thick acrylic and oil paints render both buccaneers and beasts in an attractive angular style while also hiding a multitude of tiny details (keep an eye at all times on the expressive skull on the captain's hat). As Capt. Crave says, "Shiver me Shih Tzus!" There's some fun here.
—Kirkus Reviews

Ferry's story and Myers's acrylic and oil paint illustrations are a perfect match—the details in the writing and the accompanying pictures are hilarious and smart, and the dialect will encourage children to try out their best pirate accents. Animated readers may find a new favorite read-aloud in this book. The illustrations will delight kids, who will find something new every time they pick it up. Great writing and vivid illustrations make this a sure bet for most collections.
—School Library Journal