Edward and the Pirates

Starred review from March 31, 1997
Readers young and old will love the swashbuckling verve and intrepid adventure of this loving tribute to the power of books to fuel the imagination. A sequel to Santa's Book of Names, the book is filled with large, shadowy acrylics awash with heroic figures in poses reminiscent of N.C. Wyeth's grand illustrations. The story itself, however, begins on a domestic note, with a child's utter satisfaction in knowing how to read: "Once Edward learned to read, there was no stopping him. Cereal boxes at the breakfast table... seed catalogues... and books-all kinds of books." Sometimes, however, what Edward reads seems "to become real." One night he imagines himself at the helm of a pirate ship and suddenly finds his room filled with menacing pirates in search of his pirate book. Like a storybook hero himself, he bravely protects the coveted volume ("It's checked out on my library card-you'll have to wait till I return it"). Edward's rescue by his parents-dressed very much like Joan of Arc and Robin Hood, whose tales he has been reading-ends with owlish Edward taking pity on the pirates. The illustrations burst with drama: the pirates in full regalia loom over Edward in his bed; Edward's teddy bear mimes the boy's reactions, especially when they are told to walk the plank. McPhail maintains throughout a misty, twilight glow, creating a sort of subterranean mystery appropriate to events of the subconscious. Both spirited and merry, this cleverly plotted homage to the pure joy of reading will be proof of the dictum that one book opens another. Ages 4-8.

May 1, 1997
PreS-Gr 3-Edward is an endearing, studious-looking little boy who reads everything he can get his hands on-"Cereal boxes at the breakfast table...seed catalogs that arrived on the coldest day of winter, the inscription on the monument in the town square, and books-all kinds of books." Edward becomes so involved that whatever he reads seems to be real. One day at the local library he finds a volume entitled Lost Pirate Treasure and takes it home; that night pirates invade his bedroom, demanding that he hand over the book. In the ruckus that ensues, the child bravely refuses (it's checked out on HIS card, after all), but generously ends up reading it aloud to the pirates, who never learned how themselves. McPhail's tale colorfully shows the magical worlds a good book can create. The acrylic on canvas illustrations have a fantastical appearance, especially when Edward leaps into action with Admiral Peary, Robin Hood, and Joan of Arc. Edward and the Pirates will make a great read-aloud as it encourages children to read and discover the fun and adventure in books.-Christina Linz, Macon Technical Institute Library, GA

April 15, 1997
Ages 4^-8. In this sequel to "Santa's Book of Names" (1993), Edward has become a voracious reader. Often the adventures portrayed on the printed page become very real to him, as they do when he begins a story about some lost pirate treasure. The pirates kidnap Edward, and he must count on the heroes from earlier stories (Mother dressed as Joan of Arc and Father as Robin Hood) to rescue him from their clutches. As it turns out, the pirates only want to be read to, and Edward happily obliges. McPhail's rich acrylic paintings exude a dark and mysterious aura and feature many sinister-looking characters from Edward's books lurking around every corner. A welcome promotion for the power of reading, this will make a great choice for Book Week story hours and should be popular with adventure fans everywhere. ((Reviewed April 15, 1997))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1997, American Library Association.)