Long, M. (2007). Pirates don’t change diapers. Orlando, Florida: Hartcourt, Inc.

Genre: Fiction/(Male) Gender Appeal/Humor

Grades: Pre-School – Grade 3

When young pirate Jeremy Jacob is forced to babysit his little sister Anne for the day, he sure wasn’t expecting Captain Braid Beard and his wacky pirate crew to stop by. But they came in search of their buried treasure in Jeremy Jacob’s very backyard. What initially starts as a treasure hunt turns into a humorous day of babysitting and baby-searching. Baby Anne sets the stage for entertaining scenes with the crew-mates trying to change diapers, feed baby spinach, and unconditionally entertain the “wee mutineer.” The story concludes with a surprising twist as Baby Anne becomes the unlikely heroine of the day, the pirates find their lucky treasure, and Jeremy Jacob even manages to find his mom a birthday present. Overall, this book’s “artwork is a vibrant concoction of rowdy colors; Magoo-eyed, snaggle-toothed characters” and outstanding illustrations that exude humor and energy. The silly expressions of the characters and minute details of the background scenery will surely keep readers wanting more. The text is written in simple format with hilarious pirate vocabulary and unmistakable babysitting bloopers. Readers will love the adventurous elements to the story and will be hypnotized by the graphic, vivid pictures. Pirates Don’t Change Diapers will surely be a bookshelf favorite for young adults and parents alike!

Author: Melinda Long

Melinda Long developed her passion for pirates since her insistence on burying treasure in her backyard as a little girl. Since then, she has combined her love for pirates and children’s literature into a career as both an educator and children’s book author. She supports the development of imaginary adventures for young readers because they “help us to grow in so many ways. They stretch our brains, broaden our personalities, and give us the frame work we need to be problem-solving adults.”

Author’s Website!

Illustrator: David Shannon

David Shannon has had the honor of illustrating such notable books including Duck on a Bike, A Bad Case of Stripes, and his most famous – the No, David! series which has received him a Caldecott Honor Book, an ALA Notable Children’s Book, and a New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year. His drawings have also appeared in The New York Times and Rolling Stones. He is a huge fan of baseball and often enjoys playing softball aside from drawing/writing unparallel children’s books.

Sources:

• Book Cover
• Author Photo
• Author Information
• Illustrator Photo
• Illustrator Information