Pirate Boy

by Eve Bunting, Julie Fortenberry (Illustrator)

After reading his favorite book about a pirate boy, Danny wonders what would happen if he sailed away on a pirate ship. Luckily, his mother reassures him that she would find him, even if she had to ride on a dolphin, battle sea monsters, and wield a bottle of magical pirateshrinking  spray to do it! Young readers will love this adventurous and ultimately reassuring tale of a mother's love.

Genres: Picture Books, Pirates, Childrens, Storytime, Family, Fiction, Fantasy

32 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2011

About the author

Also known as Evelyn Bolton and A.E. Bunting.

Anne Evelyn Bunting, better known as Eve Bunting, is an author with more than 250 books. Her books are diverse in age groups, from picture books to chapter books, and topic, ranging from Thanksgiving to riots in Los Angeles. Eve Bunting has won several awards for her works.

Bunting went to school in Ireland and grew up with storytelling. In Ireland, “There used to be Shanachies… the shanachie was a storyteller who went from house to house telling his tales of ghosts and fairies, of old Irish heroes and battles still to be won. Maybe I’m a bit of a Shanchie myself, telling stories to anyone who will listen.” This storytelling began as an inspiration for Bunting and continues with her work.

In 1958, Bunting moved to the United States with her husband and three children. A few years later, Bunting enrolled in a community college writing course. She felt the desire to write about her heritage. Bunting has taught writing classes at UCLA. She now lives in Pasadena, California.

Reviews

[Darinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading about pirates, a little boy wonders what would happen if he left home and became a pirate. His mother answers his questions and reassures him that she would find him. A sweet story about a loving mother and her son. Fun artwork illustrates the different scenarios the boy imagines.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like this fondly captures the essence of parenting and the relationship between mother and child. A whole lot of questions, but a sweet, memorable adventure together with your most adoring fan.

Ages: 4 - 8

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[Nancy Kotkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very reminiscent of The Runaway Bunny except with humans as characters. Nice textures in the illustrations.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the question-and-answer format of this pirate story. It reminds me of the famous--or infamous depending on who you're talking to--GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU or LOVE YOU FOREVER (blech), except that the mom is awesome and not completely lame. She vanquishes enemies with a magic spray bottle and stops at nothing to get to her son in a lighthearted adventure that takes place only in dialogue.

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moms are magic and will always come through for you.

<3
<3
<3

[Sunah Chung · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading a book called Pirate Boy, Danny asks his mom what she would do if he wants to be a pirate and journey on a pirate ship. Ongoing questions by Danny and answers by his mom creates the story.
Throughout the book, I could feel the love of mother and affection of Danny who keeps asking if his mom would come and save him. She would not give up saving her son from the pirate if he wants to go back home. All the obstacles of sea monsters and big pirates do not matter to her. The solution of her was a magic spray which could make things smaller and smaller. I laughed at this unexpected solution and appreciated mom’s creativity and imagination. I wish all the parents or grandparents would have this kind of affection interactions with their children and grandchildren. Illustrations were also well matched to this imaginative story. Mainly, I loved the expression of the ocean that was illustrated with lots of lines. It reminds me of wood engraving that creates unique artistic styles with rough lines.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantasy
Awards: n/a
Audience: 7-12 years old
A little boy named Danny is imagining himself as a pirate and in multiple situations of danger. His mother assures him she'll always be there if he needs her.
1. Quests and Imagined Worlds- This book is all about adventure stories that occur and Danny's imagined alternative world.
2. The author had the reader suspend disbelief with the characters. When the nice dolphin, hungry sea monster and secret spray were all introduced early on in the story, the readers then knew this was him imagining.
3. The setting is the backbone of the genre. The setting is constantly changing between a new thing Danny is imagining. It is adventures and quests.
4. The author wanted the readers to see how a mother is always there. Also the readers see that is is okay to imagine and to have creative thought, but not to worry.

[Lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably 2.5 rounded up.

I liked it, but it's rather a formula that's been done before. Think The Runaway Bunny, but with a human boy with a love of pirates talking to his mom. Cute, but left me with the feeling that I've been there before.

I might pull it out for a storytime on pirates or for Mother's Day storytime, but it's one of those books that probably works best being read by an actual family member.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Review: This was a cute book but it seems more meant for a mom's sentimentality that a young boys sense of adventure. It is a great story to help reassure young kids who are starting to branch out on their own, that mom will always be there when they need. This illustrations were beautiful and appeared to be paintings. Munchkin wasn't a huge fan of this book but it would make a good soothing bedtime story for younger children (maybe 3-4 years old).

[Mrs Mommy Booknerd http://mrsmommybooknerd.blogspot.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

Danny imagines what would happen if he were to hop on a pirate ship and take off! When his mother explains that she would do anytime to find him including riding a dolphin, battling a sea monsters, and wielding a bottle of spray to do it! Kids will be caught up in the wonderful story and the stunning illustrations. This is a perfect book for kids to snuggle up with their mothers and go on a wild adventure!

[Adriana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
Danny and his mom just read a book about pirates and he wants to know what his mom would do if he became one himself. A great example of the importance of answering every question a child asks.

Highlights: Inspires magic moments with your little one. Danny is polite and has empathy for the hypothetical pirates his mom shrunk.

Lowlights: Existing knowledge of pirates required as there is no explanation to who they are or what they do.

[Charlotte S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Danny wonders what would happen if he wanted to be a pirate on a pirate ship. What adventures will Danny and his mom go on with the pirates? This is such an amazing book that my mom and I have enjoyed pretty much forever! The illustrations are amazing! I hope you like it as much as we do! Thank you for reading! Follow @bronteandwilder on Instagram for more fun book recommendations!

[OzereVader · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's about a boy being a pirate. I loved it because it made me feel like I was a pirate.

[Jeffery · Rating 5 out of 5]

plz how do i read it

[Dareen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great mentor text for imaginative writing!

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

All the adventure of a child’s pirate tale, plus the reinforcement of family connection.

[Jane Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet story- simple make and make believe kids engage in day in day out makes this a good read for pirate lovers.

[Pinky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Danny wants to know what his mom would do if pirates wouldn't let him leave and her answer was she would shrink, shrink, shrink them down.

[Meghan Edwards · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was hailed as Runaway Bunny for pirates. Not at all. The mom is clever but the story is lacking.

[skcocnaH · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reminded me of Margaret Wise Brown’s book, The Runaway Bunny.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute loving bedtime story. It’s reminiscent of The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown. The child is quietly assured that no matter what happens his parent will love and protect him ALWAYS.

[Trần Quốc Tuấn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice and funny book for kids

[SiSi A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable storyline about daydreaming between mom and child. Fun adventure, perfect for bedtime.

[Addie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute. 2 year old really enjoyed this one

[Joni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kids love it; the relationship between mom and son is wonderfully playful.

[Cynthia June Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thematically similar to the Runaway Bunny except piratical.
You could use it in a storytime but it wouldn't be my first choice.
Picture book.

[Madison Walden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pirate Boy by Eve Bunting is about a little boy named Danny. After Danny reads a book about a pirate, he ponders the thought of what would happen if he became a pirate. His mother assures him that she would go through any obstacle to find him and bring him home safely. The book can be used as a tool to show the love of parents and teach the concept of friends, family or even strangers being there for each other. I really liked the question and answer format. I think this format makes it easier for younger readers to read and helps them make sense of the story and the themes throughout. Another activity you could do in the classroom is having students write a story in this same format to introduce them to different writing styles. The illustrations in the book are very bright and eye catching with a lot of detail. It was overall a really cute book.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading a book on pirates with his mother, Danny asks his mother what she would do if he wanted to be a pirate. After she explains what she would do, Danny continues to ask her a series of questions, obviously seeking reassurance that she will be there to help just in case while also stretching his own personal boundaries. Danny's mother never lets him down, and she plays along enough to tell him about her magic spray in its spray bottle that shrinks dragons and pirates. In the end Mom gets her just desserts. The digital Adobe Photoshop illustrations show a determined and ever-patient mother and her adventurous son enjoying their time together. I love the illustration of the diminished pirates being sprayed again in order to grow. This mother thinks of everything.

[Selamawit Ayalkebet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this book. I think the author wants to give the message that mothers will do anything for their children in life. The pirate boy and his mother are reading a book and the pirate boy had a lot of what if scenarios. He asked his mother questions like "What if I want to be a pirate and sail away on a pirate ship?"(Bunting, p.1) and the mother would reply that she will be sad and then he wants to know how she will get him back home. He kept giving her the worst scenarios and obstacles for her to bring her boy home but at the end he realizes that his mom will not give up from bringing her boy home.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

While a boy and his mom were reading a book called Pirate Boy, the boy asked his mom, “What if I want to be a pirate and sail away on a pirate ship?” His mom reassures him that she will follow him wherever he goes and that she will be there with him to protect him from all danger.

A gentle story that reminds children that moms will always be there for them.

“’Okay. But, Mom, what if there are sea monsters, and they want to eat you up?’

‘Then I will spray them with my magic spray. SSSSSSS. And they will get smaller and smaller and smaller. They will be as small as your goldfish.’”