Jack Plank Tells Tales
by Natalie Babbitt
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 81)
Read in October, 2008
Oh poor ole Jack Plank...he wanted so much to stay aboard The Avarice with his plundering,salty pirate buddies. But, alas, he did not have what it takes, and so, with a heavy heart he left the sea to live his life on land. He stumbled onto the town of Saltwash on the coast of the Caribbean Sea. There he meets boardinghouse proprietor, Mrs. DelFresno and her daughter, Nina. Jack rents a room from them and, bless her heart, Nina sets out to help ole Jack find employment in this lovely town....more
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Read in September, 2007
Jack Plank is an unemployed pirate who needs a new job. He’s just been downsized – to use an anachronism for a tale set in 1720. It seems Jack was never too good at plundering; he was better at staying aboard and making soup. So, when the buccaneering business took a downturn, he was let go, and set ashore near the little port of Saltwash, Jamaica.
There he takes a room at the widow DelFresco’s rooming house. For the next eight days he looks for work, but comes back every evening with ...more
There he takes a room at the widow DelFresco’s rooming house. For the next eight days he looks for work, but comes back every evening with ...more
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Read in October, 2007
recommends it for:
pirate short stories
I didn't really enjoy this book very much. It's really a collection of short stories/tall tales about an out of work pirate trying to find a job.
From School Library Journal
Grade 2-6–When a pirate ship falls on hard times, Jack Plank is let go because he is not very good at plundering. Left in the Caribbean town of Saltwash, he has a bit of good luck to temper the bad. Eleven-year-old Nina, the daughter of the widow he boards with, offers to show him around the port town to find work. ...more
From School Library Journal
Grade 2-6–When a pirate ship falls on hard times, Jack Plank is let go because he is not very good at plundering. Left in the Caribbean town of Saltwash, he has a bit of good luck to temper the bad. Eleven-year-old Nina, the daughter of the widow he boards with, offers to show him around the port town to find work. ...more
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"So you think there's a troll under our bridge," said old Miss Withers. "Will wonders never cease." "I hope they never cease, said her uncle. "I like a good wonder now and then."
Basically a linked series of stories, some funny, some mysterious, some adventuresome, told by a pirate who’s been kicked off the ship because he didn’t care for plundering. ("Just say no to pillaging," anyone?) Seems like it would make a good read-aloud, an...more
Basically a linked series of stories, some funny, some mysterious, some adventuresome, told by a pirate who’s been kicked off the ship because he didn’t care for plundering. ("Just say no to pillaging," anyone?) Seems like it would make a good read-aloud, an...more
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Read in June, 2007
recommends it for:
Families and elementary teachers
Jack Plank has given up the pirate’s life; he was never very good at it, anyway. Now he’s looking for work in the town of Saltwash, but there’s a problem with every job he comes across – and Jack’s got a story from his pirate days to explain why. Jack’s tales are good-natured, seafaring fun, complete with mermaids, ghosts, crocodiles, and treasure. As usual, Tuck Everlasting author Babbitt’s writing is smooth as silk. This book would make a wonderful read-aloud for families and cla...more
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Read in March, 2008
recommends it for:
younger readers
Jack Plank is not a very good pirate. Even though the other pirates like him, they can't afford to feed him when he doesn't do his share of plundering. They take him ashore to a small town where he takes a room in a boarding house and searches for a job.
Each evening he returns to the boarding house, discouraged, because there is a reason why each job he considers is not the job for him.
Jack finally does find his calling in a sweet and funny ending that will not surprise readers who h...more
Each evening he returns to the boarding house, discouraged, because there is a reason why each job he considers is not the job for him.
Jack finally does find his calling in a sweet and funny ending that will not surprise readers who h...more
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Read in May, 2007
recommends it for:
People who need a family read aloud or for kids in grades 3rd-5th grade
Jack Plank is a pirate but he isn’t good at plundering so he has to find a job on land. With the help of people that he meets at his boarding house, he starts to look for a new job. Every job though has something wrong with it and Jack tells a pirate story each evening to explain why. His stories involve trolls and crabs that are stuck in a pirate’s beard, and a music-loving crocodile. Will Jack ever find a job that he will like? 3rd -6th grade
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Read in August, 2007
For the past 10 years at least, Natalie Babbitt has only been writing picture books, and not particularly good ones at that (in my opinion). This novel, however, was a surprise. A cook on a pirate ship decides to retire to a seaside village and find a job. Every evening when he returns to his boarding house for supper he tells the boarders a tale of his adventures at sea. They're tall tales, of course. Great stuff!
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Read in August, 2008
recommended to Liz by:
BYU bookstorerecommends it for: Anyone!
I want this book on my shelves for future grandchildren to read! It is a classic that can be read quickly or enjoyed one chapter at a time. It kept the attention of a 9 yr old girl and a 12 yr old boy.
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Read in September, 2007
Jack is an out-of-work pirate, looking for a new line of work in Jamaica about 1720. He takes a room with a local family and tells stories about his past adventures. Each new career he considers reminds him of someone he knew who had a bad experience in that field. This would be a good read-aloud.
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Read in July, 2008
Jack is an all-around lovable pirate looking for a new profession. Natalie Babbie gives us a series of rollicking tales from a bygone time that ring true and feel authentic. This is one of those books that is new but feels classic. A good read, and an especially good listen.
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Read in February, 2008
Jack Plank is a displaced pirate. He has a knack for telling tales that include a man that turns into an octopus, mermaids, molasses cake, a girl raised by seagulls, gold treasure, a crab in a beard, a mummy hand, trolls, and a crocodile with a soft spot for the flute.
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Read in October, 2007
My 10-year-old and I both thoroughly enjoyed this entertaining read. Jack Plank, a "retired" pirate, tries to find a new career, but tells his fellow boarding house renters tales about why no career is a good fit for him.
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As individual storie, I think the chapters would work really well as read alouds. As a whole book, I thought it got a little long. I can see some good uses for it in the classroom when studying explorers and pirates.
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Read in July, 2007
recommends it for:
second grade and up
"Stories aren't much, of course, but on the other hand, they're not so little, either." (p. 127)
I adored this little book and look forward to reading it to my son. It is a beautifully written book.
I adored this little book and look forward to reading it to my son. It is a beautifully written book.
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Read in July, 2007
Great book for boy reluctant readers. Each chapter is a short story so it is easy to pick up and put down.
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