Cindy Vallar's Blog - Posts Tagged "dogs"

Best Pirate by Kari-Lynn Winters

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The Tuna Lubbers want the treasure hidden on Crossbones Island; so do Barnacle Garrick, who has the map, and his pirates. As his daughter moves the candle closer to examine the map better, she knocks it over. The flame burns through the map precisely where X marks the spot, which angers her father. He warns Augusta that she must “be nimble and fearless – not clumsy and afeard!”

Her teacher is the nimble, sneaky, and fearless Scully – the dog who will sneak onto the island and steal the treasure right from under the tuna-loving cats. Augusta practices everything that she learns and is well on her way to being the pirate her father wishes. Until she drops a cannonball on Scully’s good paw.

With only a peg leg left to stand on there’s no way he can retrieve the treasure as planned. No, that task falls to Augusta. It’s the only way to make amends. She takes the jolly boat ashore to find the treasure. Instead, she comes face-to-face with Scuppers, the son of the captain of the Tuna Lubbers.

Scuppers is terrified to confront a Frilly Dog, but he can’t go back without the treasure. Before the showdown between the two begins, the ground gives way beneath their paws and they fall into a deep hole. Finding the treasure proves simpler than either expects. Escaping from the hole, deciding who gets the treasure, and getting it back to the ship before anyone discovers them gone prove s to be a bigger problem to solve.

Best Pirate is a wonderful, amusing tale that shows sometimes it takes smarts, rather than fighting, to get out of a sticky situation. And sometimes an enemy may really be a friend . . . if you’re willing to work together. The story is beautifully illustrated with expressive characters that capture the imagination of those reading or listening to this pirate tale. To get readers and listeners into a proper frame of mind for the story, the inside front cover features examples of Pirate Talk and the inside back cover has Nautical Talk, as well as a diagram showing the parts of a ship. This is the third tale featuring Augusta Barnacle and it’s the best one yet!




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Swashbarklers of the Sea by Cynthia Kremsner

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Fearsome and bold Barkbeard has stolen a treasure belonging to swaggering dogs. With a mighty “Yo-ho!” they and their mates –a parrot, a monkey, rats, and you – sail after him to recover the loot. The journey takes them round Cape Horn where treacherous storms abound. Once Barkbeard’s vessel is sighted, it’s time to man the cannons and prepare to board. But what the swashbarklers find isn’t what they expect!

The lyrical poetry begs to be read aloud and young pirates will delight in adding their own rousing cheers and sound effects as the tale progresses. The artwork is colorful and large, perfect for young eyes that want to explore. The rats do steal the show once or twice, but in the end friendship melds them into a crew that works together on their high seas adventure. And don’t forget to read the glossary, too. The definitions aren’t quite what you expect and the piratey rhymes make it easy to remember what the words mean.




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