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Pirates (Y) Paperback – March 1, 2011

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 106 ratings

Blackbeard, Captain Kidd, Black Sam Bellamy…the very names conjure up hair-raising images of razor-sharp cutlasses, buried treasure, the skull and crossbones, and walking the plank. Containing biographies of legendary buccaneers plus details on their weapons, codes of conduct, and punishments, this lavishly illustrated book beautifully captures the swashbuckling world of pirates and paints a compelling portrait of life at sea in a bygone era.
Discover teachers' picks. Discover%20teachers%27%20picks.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Carlton Books; Illustrated edition (March 1, 2011)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 32 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1847323200
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1847323200
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 5 - 10 years, from customers
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 3 and up
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.01 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.7 x 0.2 x 10.1 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 106 ratings

About the author

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John Matthews
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Hi. I'm John Matthews. I've written nearly 200 books over the last 50 years or so. Books about many things. Pirates, King Arthur and the Grail Quest, Faeries, Robin Hood,Spring-Heeled Jack, and many more. I love folklore, history and film and I recently began writing for movies and TV, creating documentaries, TV scripts and motion pictures. I have also created 13 divinatory systems, tarots etc and have worked with some of the finest artists in the world, including Brian Froud, Charles Vess, Will Worthington, Andre Aste, Charles Newington, Yvonne Gilbert and Wil Kinghan. I have also written many books with my partner Caitlin Matthews, with whom I sometimes think I share a brain, and who knows what I'm thinking before I think it. I was going to put a picture of my cat Willow here, but i guess you might rather see me. I recently began to write books for younger readers, including graphic novels and the fabulous StoryWorld series. This year (2018) set the publication of the first in a series of long planned novels about the young King Arthur and his education by Merlin. Its called The Sword of Ice and Fire, the first of a quartet with the overall title Red Dragon Rising. Even after so many books I still felt a real thrill when the author's copies arrived on my desk. Writing so many books has always been hard work and it continues to be so, but I love the act of creation and cannot imagine ever doing anything else. I'm greatful to all the countless people who have read my books, especially those who made my book on Pirates a New York Times best seller in 2006. There are many more books to come, so I hope you'll keep reading, and keep pestering your booksellers to stock them!

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
106 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book great for kids with an adventurous spirit. They appreciate the engaging illustrations and authentic paper that looks very authentic. The book provides valuable information about pirates and is a good companion to Pirateology. Readers enjoy the extras like wanted posters, maps, and treasure maps. However, opinions differ on readability - some find the text rich in detail and interactive, while others find it difficult to read or too advanced for their children.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

11 customers mention "Book for kids"11 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and fun for kids. It introduces new vocabulary and covers a wide range of topics. The illustrations are excellent and the text is rich in detail. Readers also mention that the information is interesting and they learn things they didn't know.

"...This book is very well laid out - even I find the information very interesting and learned things I did not know...." Read more

"...This is a great book for any child who enjoys pirates. It is well done and has a beautiful cover with a sparkly jewel." Read more

"...This book helps introduces kids to a large amount of new vocabulary but, more importantly, covers so much ground that it acts as a fantastic..." Read more

"...I love this book because of all it's great pictures, information, and fun inserts...." Read more

10 customers mention "Visual quality"10 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's visual quality. They find the illustrations fascinating and authentic, with a cool cover and maps. The text is detailed and engaging for them.

"...It is well done and has a beautiful cover with a sparkly jewel." Read more

"...I love this book because of all it's great pictures, information, and fun inserts...." Read more

"...He thinks it is the best with the jeweled eye on the skeleton and the pages full of maps and wanted posters...." Read more

"...it has maps to pull out in this dried, old, looking paper, which looks very authentic. he really enjoys this book!..." Read more

7 customers mention "Pirate knowledge"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book a good resource for pirate lovers. It provides useful information about the subject. Readers mention it's a companion to Pirateology and an ultimate resource for those interested in pirates.

"I bought this for my 3 year old son who loves playing pirates. He loves it! The books holds up to my son's rough play...." Read more

"Very clever book. Had lots of info about pirates I always wanted to know...." Read more

"Great Visual Guide and Informative for Pirate Lovers. It has pop up literature, treasure maps, secret codes. Divine." Read more

"The book is so neat. Any pirate fan will love this book." Read more

3 customers mention "Extras"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the extras. They mention a wanted poster and envelopes with maps and other items.

"...read the words, but loves all the envelopes with maps and different things in them...." Read more

"...It's full of historical information as well as a few extras such as a wanted poster for Blackbeard. He takes it with him everywhere." Read more

"...All the extras fascinated my son as I hoped they would." Read more

3 customers mention "Map content"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the map content in the book. They mention pages full of maps, wanted posters, pop-up literature, treasure maps, and secret codes. They also love the envelopes with maps and different items inside.

"...He can't read the words, but loves all the envelopes with maps and different things in them...." Read more

"...the best with the jeweled eye on the skeleton and the pages full of maps and wanted posters...." Read more

"...It has pop up literature, treasure maps, secret codes. Divine." Read more

5 customers mention "Readability"3 positive2 negative

Customers have different views on the book's readability. Some find the illustrations fascinating and the text rich in detail, with interactive sections and many things to read and find hidden among the pages. Others mention that the text is difficult to read and too advanced for them, making it not a learn-to-read book.

"...Fascinating illustrations, text rich in detail, and interactive sections that are engaging...." Read more

"...The book is beautifully done, but this is definitely not a learn to read book - in some places and most of the interactive pieces the font is a..." Read more

"Granddaughter LOVED this book! So many things to read and find hidden amongst the pages. Also loved Pirateology just as much...." Read more

"...Although he enjoyed looking at the pictures, the text was way too advanced for him. I should have studied more before purchasing...." Read more

Map not there I can tell u really care thanks for nothing
1 out of 5 stars
Map not there I can tell u really care thanks for nothing
It was missing map in book how we no we had same book and had some lost stuff so wanted all new and it was not there my son was very upset
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2006
    I bought this for my 4 year old son who LOVES pirates right now after viewing the first "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie and seeing the "Tall Ships" on the Great Lakes. I was afraid he would be scared by the pirates turning into skeletons, etc. but he was not - in fact he wanted to watch it again and again. So when I saw this book I knew he'd love it, and he does. Every night before bed he takes out all the separate letters and cards, has me read them, then puts them back in their envelopes. He also has me read all the different types of ships over and over again - he can now name some ship types by memory. This book is very well laid out - even I find the information very interesting and learned things I did not know.

    I did want to point out that although the age range given for the book is 4-8, I know some 4 year olds that may be frightened by some of the images and material. There is an illustration of a pirate holding the head of an apparently slain enemy (a few heads actually), a picture of Captain Kid hanging from a noose, and there is a section about punishments that can be unsettling for a squeamish child. The book is beautifully done, but this is definitely not a learn to read book - in some places and most of the interactive pieces the font is a very small and ornate and can be difficult to read.

    Again we love this book and it will be in our collection for a long time. For most it should be fine but wanted those with younger ones to know what to expect.
    8 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2012
    My grandson is 5. He absolutely loves this book. We checked it out from the library at first. He had a meltdown when we tried to return it. So, we bought this book for him from Amazon. He can't read the words, but loves all the envelopes with maps and different things in them. He carries that book around and shows it to anybody who is willing to sit with him and look at it. He tries to draw the pictures he sees in the book as well. This is a great book for any child who enjoys pirates. It is well done and has a beautiful cover with a sparkly jewel.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2024
    Has to be one of my top ten favorite books from my childhood!
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2008
    We bought this for our young children (5-year old and 4-year old) as they were excited by the Pirates of the Caribbean movies.

    We bought this book along with Pirateology: The Pirate Hunter's Companion last year. We take the books off the shelf every couple months and read through them for bedtime. The books will stay in our collection for years to come.

    This book helps introduces kids to a large amount of new vocabulary but, more importantly, covers so much ground that it acts as a fantastic springboard to further study history or science.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2015
    Book is in excellent condition. It arrived with lots of packaging around it and was perfect. I love this book because of all it's great pictures, information, and fun inserts. I would recommend this book, and I would also order again from this dealer.
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2014
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2012
    I bought this for my 3 year old son who loves playing pirates. He loves it! The books holds up to my son's rough play. He thinks it is the best with the jeweled eye on the skeleton and the pages full of maps and wanted posters. He loves removing the items from the many envelopes throughout the book. It was the perfect books to spark his imagination.
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2014
    son loves loves loves this book. it has maps to pull out in this dried, old, looking paper, which looks very authentic. he really enjoys this book! it also has a "ruby" eye for the cover and he thinks it's super cool.

Top reviews from other countries

  • fisher25
    5.0 out of 5 stars A good book to give as a gift
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 1, 2015
    very colourful book with great illustrations.
  • BATMAN
    2.0 out of 5 stars Was missing a letter from William the III to Captain Kidd
    Reviewed in Canada on July 28, 2021
    Was missing
    a letter from William the III to Captain Kidd
    Witch was one the main reasons of purchase
  • Christian. Ridley
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 5, 2015
    Happy
  • Names don't matter ;-)
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great for older kids
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 24, 2015
    Very interesting