Skip to main content

Archie and the Pirates


by Marc Rosenthal
New York: HarperCollins, 2009. Unpaged. Picture Book.

Archie somehow falls off an ocean liner into the drink but since he is still asleep he doesn't notice until he wakes up, still in bed, on an island beach. A tiger scares him up a tree, but he is soon back down eating coconuts and drinking their milk. Soon he sets to work building a house and then welcomes a visitor, Clarice the Ibis, who plays checkers with him and teaches him to fish. Suddenly the tiger appears and Archie prepares for the end, but Beatrice the tiger likes him because he is wearing a sweater that reminds her of her cubs and the three animals soon become fast friends. All is peaceful until pirates arrive, capture Beatrice, and generally make a nuisance of themselves until Archie and his friends come up with a scheme to drive Captain Pequod (ha ha) and his mates from the island. Fabulous brightly colored, old-timey pictures should make this story a big hit with the little dudes (and their grownups).

Comments

Anonymous said…
Hey, thanks for the kind words. I have been reading this book to kids at bookstores and libraries, and have been pleasantly surprised by the enthusiasm the kids have shown.
I hope parents and kids will give it a look.

Marc
lw said…
I loved Archie and the Pirates! I have already bought a copy for my grand-nephew, Nico the Mad, for Christmas.

Popular posts from this blog

An ABC of Flowers

An ABC of Flowers   by Jutta Hilpuesch New York, NY : Philomel Books, [2019] It turns out there really is a flower for every letter. This sweet book has a photograph of every flower and  a sweet cartoon illustration to go along with it. All your favorite flowers are here (forget-me-nots, mums, and sunflowers), along with some you probably haven't heard of before (billy ball, kalanchoe, xeranthemum?).  This is a perfect book for reading together, and readers of any age will enjoy every page. Don't miss this great springtime alphabet book. 

Review: The House with Nobody in It

  The House with Nobody in It By Jon Klassen Somerville, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press, 2026. Board Book.  The House with Nobody in It may very well be your child's first ghost story. The simple story begins with the narrator explaining to readers that this house used to have someone in it, but there is now nobody there. Toddlers and preschoolers will love contradicting this statement as they peek through the house that the board book forms, as the ghost is clearly visible throughout the story.  This unique and imaginative board book is the perfect thing to read during Halloween season! The book itself plays into the experience, with cutouts and clever turns that make it especially interactive. The illustrations are superb, simple but well crafted, adding to the story's theme as a whole. This will likely be a book that gets many repeat reads!

Display: Teddy's Top Picks

  Bear in the Air Written by Susan Meyers Illustrated by Amy Bates New York : Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2010. Picture book. When a teddy bear is lost by the child who loves him, the bear begins an adventurous journey to get back home again. -- Editor Blanket and Bear, A Remarkable Pair Written by L.J.R. Kelly Illustrated by Yoko Tanaka New York : G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2013. Picture book. When a boy loses his beloved blanket and bear, they travel a great distance to make their way back to him. -- Editor A Bear to Share Written by Jessica Alba, Nora Weinstein, and Kelly Patricof  Illustrated by Alicia Mas New York, NY : Baby2Baby/Harper, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2021. Picture book. Tiana loves her teddy bear, Bach. She doesn't mind that he's a little worn and somewhat torn. So when her mother suggests she make room for a new bear, Tiana can't believe her ears! Will Tiana have to lose the one bear she really loves? Or will she find room in her heart for t...