Cindy Vallar's Blog - Posts Tagged "courage"

Pirate Glitterbeard by Oksanna Crawley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Freedom. This is an important word to pirates. But Pirate Gruffybeard of The Heart’s Desire isn’t free. He has a secret and if the crew finds out, they may not listen to him anymore.

He loves anything that’s pink and glittery, but only in his cabin when he’s alone can Pirate Gruffybeard be his true self. One day, he sprinkles pink glitter on his beard and puts on a pink skirt. Just then, the lookout cries out a warning: Pirate Squidlips and the Rotten Turnip are approaching. If she captures his ship, Pirate Gruffybeard knows he and his crew will be shark bait.

Without thinking, he runs out on deck. The crew is stunned. Rather than hide, he shares his secret. Instead of being horrified, his crew share theirs until the lookout once again shouts. Time is running out. They must act. Should they sail closer and fight the Rotten Turnip? Pirate Gruffybeard thinks not, but what can they do to turn the tables in their favor?

Written for young pirates, this story is about having the courage to be who you really are. The authors, a mother-daughter team, have created a unique story that demonstrates through narrative and colorful illustrations that it’s okay to be quirky and that just because you are does not mean you can’t be courageous too. This is a tale about acceptance and following a different path. While these pirates may not be what readers expect, they are true to pirate lore and come up with an ingenuous way to escape the danger they face.




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