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The Jolley-Rogers #1
The Pirates Next Door
When pirate family the Jolley-Rogers move to Dull-on-Sea, rumours of shocking behaviour start spreading round the town. Only little Matilda can't wait to meet the fascinating new family next door.
"A vital amusing, brilliant, educational book! Jonny Duddle is a writer/illustrator at the top of his game."
- Books for Keeps
"A vital amusing, brilliant, educational book! Jonny Duddle is a writer/illustrator at the top of his game."
- Books for Keeps
44 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2011
9 people are currently reading
378 people want to read
About the author
Jonny Duddle
120 books61 followersJonny Duddle has been a concept artist for Aardman Animations and created fantastic illustrations for fiction and novelty books, including ALIENOLOGY. He wrote and illustrated THE PIRATE CRUNCHER. Jonny Duddle lives in Buxton, England.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 162 reviews
May 25, 2020
Matilda's dull neighborhood will never be the same after a family of pirates moves next door.
Great illustrations by the author, though I think I would have preferred the tale to be told in an "un-rhyming" manner.
Great illustrations by the author, though I think I would have preferred the tale to be told in an "un-rhyming" manner.
February 16, 2013
Another winner to add to the "No Fail" read out loud list!
Meet the Jolley-Rogers — a pirate family who is moving to Dull-on-Sea, a quiet seaside town, while they fix up their ship. This unusual family soon has the whole neighborhood gossiping. Defying the grown-ups, Matilda becomes friends with young pirate Jim Lad. When the JolleyRogers return to sea, the town realizes that they were wrong to assume the worst when it is discovered that the pirates have buried treasure in everyone's yard. The neighbors are thrilled, but Matilda is sad to have lost her new friend, until she discovers her own treasure — a pen pal!
Meet the Jolley-Rogers — a pirate family who is moving to Dull-on-Sea, a quiet seaside town, while they fix up their ship. This unusual family soon has the whole neighborhood gossiping. Defying the grown-ups, Matilda becomes friends with young pirate Jim Lad. When the JolleyRogers return to sea, the town realizes that they were wrong to assume the worst when it is discovered that the pirates have buried treasure in everyone's yard. The neighbors are thrilled, but Matilda is sad to have lost her new friend, until she discovers her own treasure — a pen pal!
December 20, 2022
Libro muy entretenido con unas ilustraciones muy chulas y con el mensaje de que no hay que prejuzgar a la gente antes de conocerla. La verdad es que me ha gustado mucho.
A ritmo de verso vamos viendo el día a día de esta familia pirata que ha recalado en el pueblo para reparar el barco, con el consiguiente disgusto de casi todos los vecinos que allí vivían antes de su llegada.
Creo que hay mas libros de esta serie así que procuraré buscarlos y leerlos porque me encantan los piratas.
A ritmo de verso vamos viendo el día a día de esta familia pirata que ha recalado en el pueblo para reparar el barco, con el consiguiente disgusto de casi todos los vecinos que allí vivían antes de su llegada.
Creo que hay mas libros de esta serie así que procuraré buscarlos y leerlos porque me encantan los piratas.
March 11, 2025
Un album de pirates magnifique! Les dessins sont uniques en leur genre, un peu absurdes et qui me rappel l'univers déjanté de Dr.Zeus.
C'est une histoire d'amitié entre Mathilde, jeune fille de village, et Jim, fils de pirates. Et quand on dit pirate, c'est vraiment des pirates, bastingage, cache-oeil, perroquet et compagnie! Et les villageois ne voient pas cette exubérante famille d'un bon œil. On leur attribue pleins de problèmes potentiels, basés sur de simples jugements. Pourtant, la famille Babord-Tribord est fort sympathique malgré leur côté atypique. Si bien que lors de leur départ pour reprendre la mer, ils laissent des coffres chargés de trésors enterrés sur chaque terrain voisins de leur maison. Et là, bien sur, les voisins changent d'attitude!
Une réalité calquée sur la notre, avec les préjugés faciles et l'intolérance sur les différences. heureusement, il existe des gens comme Mathilde, qui ont l'esprit ouvert et qui réalise que les gens différents peuvent aussi amener de bonnes choses. Bref, un album porteur d'une belle morale.
Catégorisation: Album fiction humoristique britannique, littérature jeunesse préscolaire, maternelles, 4-5 ans+
Note: 8/10
C'est une histoire d'amitié entre Mathilde, jeune fille de village, et Jim, fils de pirates. Et quand on dit pirate, c'est vraiment des pirates, bastingage, cache-oeil, perroquet et compagnie! Et les villageois ne voient pas cette exubérante famille d'un bon œil. On leur attribue pleins de problèmes potentiels, basés sur de simples jugements. Pourtant, la famille Babord-Tribord est fort sympathique malgré leur côté atypique. Si bien que lors de leur départ pour reprendre la mer, ils laissent des coffres chargés de trésors enterrés sur chaque terrain voisins de leur maison. Et là, bien sur, les voisins changent d'attitude!
Une réalité calquée sur la notre, avec les préjugés faciles et l'intolérance sur les différences. heureusement, il existe des gens comme Mathilde, qui ont l'esprit ouvert et qui réalise que les gens différents peuvent aussi amener de bonnes choses. Bref, un album porteur d'une belle morale.
Catégorisation: Album fiction humoristique britannique, littérature jeunesse préscolaire, maternelles, 4-5 ans+
Note: 8/10
February 27, 2017
In The Pirates Next Door , there is a small community on in wich has very few children, or people under the age of 62. Except for Matilda's family. Matilda's neighboring house has been for sale since she was a baby, until the Jolly-Rodgers move in! The whole town gossips about the Jolly-Rodgers and even goes as far as trying to petition the Town Hall to evict them. All the while Matilda is having such a blast with Jim( the boy pirate who's Matilda's age)!
I really enjoyed this book! I though that it was a great book with a great story as well as a good theme (moral?). I love how it rhymed and that it helped me to start better understand comic reading. I also loved that it is really good at teaching children that other people will have different opinions about others, but you can form your own opinions still, without judgement.
I think that The Pirates Next Door is Person-against-society, because throughout the book pretty much the whole town is ganging up against the Jolly-Rodgers, gossiping to each others families about "they did this and they did that". I think that the style of the book is perfect for the story. I think it works perfectly because the different panels of comics can each tell the story at different places at one time. By this I mean it can show you many more conversations between the towns people talking about the pirates. It gives the story more perspectives.
During the story the character's facial expressions tell a lot... In the beginning of the book everyone was gawking at the pirates and looking at them in a concerned but disgusted way. At the same time you can see how Matilda changes throughout the book as she grows her friendship with Jim. The speech bubbles are pretty general throughout the story, they just have longer bubble tails to show whomever it is that is speaking.
I really enjoyed this book! I though that it was a great book with a great story as well as a good theme (moral?). I love how it rhymed and that it helped me to start better understand comic reading. I also loved that it is really good at teaching children that other people will have different opinions about others, but you can form your own opinions still, without judgement.
I think that The Pirates Next Door is Person-against-society, because throughout the book pretty much the whole town is ganging up against the Jolly-Rodgers, gossiping to each others families about "they did this and they did that". I think that the style of the book is perfect for the story. I think it works perfectly because the different panels of comics can each tell the story at different places at one time. By this I mean it can show you many more conversations between the towns people talking about the pirates. It gives the story more perspectives.
During the story the character's facial expressions tell a lot... In the beginning of the book everyone was gawking at the pirates and looking at them in a concerned but disgusted way. At the same time you can see how Matilda changes throughout the book as she grows her friendship with Jim. The speech bubbles are pretty general throughout the story, they just have longer bubble tails to show whomever it is that is speaking.
May 11, 2021
This book was such entertainment. Children’s picture books are often quite superficial stories, but this one is anything but. It is filled to the brim with excellent characterisation, gorgeous full colour page illustrations and a really fun story about pirates who become your neighbours!
Each glossy page had unique and intricately designed characters, most of which were fun and distinctly exaggerated which children just love.
I couldn’t recommend this book more. A firm favourite.
Each glossy page had unique and intricately designed characters, most of which were fun and distinctly exaggerated which children just love.
I couldn’t recommend this book more. A firm favourite.
February 7, 2020
Ilustrátor Jonny Duddle přemalovává postupně knihy Harryho Pottera a za své animace získal i Oskara. Kresby jsou dokonalé, příběh za nimi trošku pokulhává (pointu dle mého má), ale i tak, oko uspokojeno, takže můžu doporučit :-)
October 31, 2017
3,5! Älskade illustrationerna!
November 3, 2013
The Pirates Next Door Starring the Jolly Rogers is an utterly brilliant read. The story begins when a character named Matilda or Tilda as she is fondly known, is introduced. She lives with her parents in the quiet seaside resort of Dull-On-Sea. It is clear from the name that it’s not the most exciting place to live! However, when the Jolly Rogers appear the town becomes alive but perhaps not for the right reasons! A huge pirate ship appears in someone’s front garden and they introduce themselves and their short-term plans, “We’re the Jolly-Rogers! We’ll be anchored next door. We've sailed the seven seas but now we've had to come ashore.”
Tilda wastes no time and soon becomes great friends with the pirate’s eldest son, Jim Lad. Her parents aren't too happy about this along with many other residents in the local community. They often complain about the pirates dress sense, personal hygiene and behaviour and worry about the negative influence this may have on their daughter. Perhaps this is because the Jolly-Rogers family don’t fit the norm of the rest of the residents.
Tilda thrives off these differences and is drawn to Jim Lad and his wooden legged dog. Whilst their pirate ship is under repair, Jim Lad attends the local school and behaves in many mischievous ways. This behaviour continues outside of school and causes uproar with the neighbours. Mrs Bevan from number eighty-seven decides to begin a petition to ask the pirates to kindly vacate the town. However, the Jolly-Rodgers had no intentions of staying too long in the first place, they simply needed to stop off to repair their ship. Tilda is very sad to see them all depart, however they leave an exciting array of gifts behind. It’s only a matter of time before the residents of Dull-On-Sea discover that they weren’t so bad after all.
I think this is a great book and is suitable for years 1-3 in school. The illustrations are brilliant, exciting and add to the amusing nature of the story. It’s great to read aloud to a class of children and practicing pirate accents are a must! Rhyme is featured throughout the book which is an additional feature that makes it perfect to read aloud.
The book could be great inspiration for a literacy lesson as children could create their own pirate themed stories. It may further be used during a carpet time session to discuss the features of friendship and negative stereotyping. This could then be incorporated into a PSHE session about relationships, friendships and the wider community. Within the younger years this could be approached during a circle time session.
Additionally, I think it is a great bedtime read between a parent/carer and a child. Due to the theme of the book I think it’s a fun way to encourage engagement in role play at home. Even the adults can get involved. Everyone finds dressing up good fun, especially when children are involved!
I think it is such an enjoyable and amusing adventure to read to children and I would more than happily include it on my classroom bookshelf. For the earlier years it would most definitely be in the book corner.
Tilda wastes no time and soon becomes great friends with the pirate’s eldest son, Jim Lad. Her parents aren't too happy about this along with many other residents in the local community. They often complain about the pirates dress sense, personal hygiene and behaviour and worry about the negative influence this may have on their daughter. Perhaps this is because the Jolly-Rogers family don’t fit the norm of the rest of the residents.
Tilda thrives off these differences and is drawn to Jim Lad and his wooden legged dog. Whilst their pirate ship is under repair, Jim Lad attends the local school and behaves in many mischievous ways. This behaviour continues outside of school and causes uproar with the neighbours. Mrs Bevan from number eighty-seven decides to begin a petition to ask the pirates to kindly vacate the town. However, the Jolly-Rodgers had no intentions of staying too long in the first place, they simply needed to stop off to repair their ship. Tilda is very sad to see them all depart, however they leave an exciting array of gifts behind. It’s only a matter of time before the residents of Dull-On-Sea discover that they weren’t so bad after all.
I think this is a great book and is suitable for years 1-3 in school. The illustrations are brilliant, exciting and add to the amusing nature of the story. It’s great to read aloud to a class of children and practicing pirate accents are a must! Rhyme is featured throughout the book which is an additional feature that makes it perfect to read aloud.
The book could be great inspiration for a literacy lesson as children could create their own pirate themed stories. It may further be used during a carpet time session to discuss the features of friendship and negative stereotyping. This could then be incorporated into a PSHE session about relationships, friendships and the wider community. Within the younger years this could be approached during a circle time session.
Additionally, I think it is a great bedtime read between a parent/carer and a child. Due to the theme of the book I think it’s a fun way to encourage engagement in role play at home. Even the adults can get involved. Everyone finds dressing up good fun, especially when children are involved!
I think it is such an enjoyable and amusing adventure to read to children and I would more than happily include it on my classroom bookshelf. For the earlier years it would most definitely be in the book corner.
October 5, 2012
The Pirates Next Door - Starring the Jolly Rogers!
Matilda lives in Dull-on-Sea and life couldn't be more boring! One day the Jolly Rogers pirate family have to come ashore and they move into the house next door. Matilda is ecstatic as the family have a pirate boy her age. For Matilda life couldn't be more exciting! However, all of the residents of Dull-on-Sea couldn't think of anything worse. They spend the whole time gossiping about how badly dressed and smelly the Jolly Rogers are and think of ways to get rid of them. Once the Jolly Rogers have repaired their boat they go back out to sea, much to the delight of the snooty residents. However, the morning after everyone finds an 'X' in their back gardens and realise that the Jolly Rogers had in fact left everyone a lovely surprise. In a turn of events, the residents now have nothing but good words to say about the pirate family. Matilda also receives an invitation aboard the ship during the school holidays from her new pirate friend.
This book is fantastic! The language creates a lot of humour and encourages you to use your best pirate voice! It is a charming book about how people can overcome their differences. There is also a moral to the story of never to judge a book by it's cover.
I would recommend this book to a year 2 class in terms of being able to understand the language and concepts used. The book would still however provide adequate challenge for this age group.
This book could be used to inspire creative writing. The children could be encouraged to use their imaginations to write their own story about who might move in next door to them and the effect that this would have on their neighbours!
I highly recommend The Pirates Next Door. It's an incredibly funny book and is amazingly illustrated by the author himself!
Matilda lives in Dull-on-Sea and life couldn't be more boring! One day the Jolly Rogers pirate family have to come ashore and they move into the house next door. Matilda is ecstatic as the family have a pirate boy her age. For Matilda life couldn't be more exciting! However, all of the residents of Dull-on-Sea couldn't think of anything worse. They spend the whole time gossiping about how badly dressed and smelly the Jolly Rogers are and think of ways to get rid of them. Once the Jolly Rogers have repaired their boat they go back out to sea, much to the delight of the snooty residents. However, the morning after everyone finds an 'X' in their back gardens and realise that the Jolly Rogers had in fact left everyone a lovely surprise. In a turn of events, the residents now have nothing but good words to say about the pirate family. Matilda also receives an invitation aboard the ship during the school holidays from her new pirate friend.
This book is fantastic! The language creates a lot of humour and encourages you to use your best pirate voice! It is a charming book about how people can overcome their differences. There is also a moral to the story of never to judge a book by it's cover.
I would recommend this book to a year 2 class in terms of being able to understand the language and concepts used. The book would still however provide adequate challenge for this age group.
This book could be used to inspire creative writing. The children could be encouraged to use their imaginations to write their own story about who might move in next door to them and the effect that this would have on their neighbours!
I highly recommend The Pirates Next Door. It's an incredibly funny book and is amazingly illustrated by the author himself!
October 19, 2012
Matilda lives in Dull-On-Sea. There aren’t many children to play with and she wishes for a new neighbour to be her playmate. Tilda gets her wish in the form of Jim Lad- a Pirate boy! Jim and his family move their pirate ship next door and do all the things that pirates like to do. The folks on the street are not so happy about this and want them out! Jim comes in to troubles at school too when he learns that his ways are not looked upon too fondly.
Eventually Mrs Bevan from eighty-seven takes a petition and the pirates leave. The pirates are quite used to new neighbours attitudes and have a plan. They leave everyone something special buried under an X in their gardens. Everyone is so happy with the treasures that they forget all about the things they didn’t like about the pirates and want to be friends with them. Tilda still gets to go on the ship with Jim every now and then too, in school holidays mind!
This book is great for Key stage 1 and 2. It uses lots of lovely rhyme and makes the story feel extra exciting as we follow the pirates journey in their new home. It would be good to use in literacy when discussing rhymes. It also has a clear structure, and I feel it would be useful in work on beginning, middle and end in literature.
This book would also be good for use in PSHE. The children could consider questions such as ‘How might Jim and the pirates of felt when the neighbours wanted them to leave?’ and ‘Why did the neighbours not like the pirates?’. It could easily open a doorway to lovely dialogue around tolerance and appreciating differences in those around us.
Eventually Mrs Bevan from eighty-seven takes a petition and the pirates leave. The pirates are quite used to new neighbours attitudes and have a plan. They leave everyone something special buried under an X in their gardens. Everyone is so happy with the treasures that they forget all about the things they didn’t like about the pirates and want to be friends with them. Tilda still gets to go on the ship with Jim every now and then too, in school holidays mind!
This book is great for Key stage 1 and 2. It uses lots of lovely rhyme and makes the story feel extra exciting as we follow the pirates journey in their new home. It would be good to use in literacy when discussing rhymes. It also has a clear structure, and I feel it would be useful in work on beginning, middle and end in literature.
This book would also be good for use in PSHE. The children could consider questions such as ‘How might Jim and the pirates of felt when the neighbours wanted them to leave?’ and ‘Why did the neighbours not like the pirates?’. It could easily open a doorway to lovely dialogue around tolerance and appreciating differences in those around us.
February 20, 2014
The Pirates Next Door is a great book to read to children. The story line follows a family of pirates who move to Dull- on –Sea, (this should give you an idea of where the storyline is heading). All the families moan and groan about having pirates next door except for one girl called Matilda. She becomes great friends with them. The story is written using rhymes and show how the other residents do not like them because they moan and groan even though they have not meet them yet. Matilda is having a great time with the family because they are friendly, fun and tell great stories. Then one day Matilda wakes up to find the family has gone and she did not have time to say goodbye. But the Pirates next door left a treasure map and Matilda finds treasure. But the Pirates leave a treasure map for all the residents. What makes this story good is that the story line is easy to follow and the rhyming makes it easier. It also allows a teacher to practice their pirates’ voices (though mine still needs practice). It is a great book for story time because it covers a number of important topics. Be kind to everyone as you never know that might leave you something or could actually be a great friend. How to be a good friend and polite to neighbours. Do not judge someone till you get to know them. It was a great book to read to KS1 pupils because they loved the story and pictures but they could also explain what the story was about and the important lessons to learn.
April 1, 2012
A pirate family moves into the neighborhood. Matilda, who lives in the neighboring house, is fascinated and gets to befriend the Jim Lad, the pirate boy. The neighbors think this family is really strange and want them out of the neighborhood. At the end the pirates leave and leave some surprise gifts for every neighbor.
I liked this book, but mostly because of its illustrations that covered all pages from end to end. The colors were bright and there was a lot of movement in them. The end of the story made me sad. Why did the pirates leave gifts for everyone who treated them badly? And then, all the neighbors talked nicely about them, but the pirates were long gone. Maybe I am not quite getting the message the author intended. Giving gifts to endear yourself with others, or to feel accepted by others, is not a message you want kids to take from this book.
I liked this book, but mostly because of its illustrations that covered all pages from end to end. The colors were bright and there was a lot of movement in them. The end of the story made me sad. Why did the pirates leave gifts for everyone who treated them badly? And then, all the neighbors talked nicely about them, but the pirates were long gone. Maybe I am not quite getting the message the author intended. Giving gifts to endear yourself with others, or to feel accepted by others, is not a message you want kids to take from this book.
Read
October 20, 2012Ein lustiges Bilderbuch,in dem es um Piraten geht die in das "Nebenhaus" eines kleinen Mädchens ziehen.Leider sind sie etwas skeptisch was die Piraten betrifft.Tja,mal sind sie zu laut,klauen Sonne und so weiter.Das kleine Mädchen ist die einzige die die Piraten sogar mag.Doch irgendwann muss sie bemerken das ihr Freund wieder auf See stechen muss.Ich finde es echt toll weil es mit viel liebe zum Detail gezeichnet ist.Auch wenn es ein Buch für kleinere ist,man muss es lieben!♥
October 14, 2016
Adorable rhyming book with gorgeous illustrations.... met my Read Harder Challenge to read aloud, by reading this favorite story picked out my best friend's little boy who turns 4 tomorrow....
January 1, 2021
Wonderfully illustrated and the perfect afternoon coffee table companion to brighten up your late twenties. And if that is not endearing in a children’s book then I don’t know what is.
July 15, 2023
Pirates by the name of the Jolley-Rogers arrive to settle in the amusingly named quiet seaside town Dull-on-Sea, which is even more amusingly twinned with Ennui-sur-Mer, and the neighbours are upset.
Dull is too busy in the summer, in the winter it shuts down but when The JRs arrive the neighbours are nervous about their new residents as they did not think they could match the hedges being neatly trimmed, the cars always washed regularly and the lawns beautifully mowed. That is all except Matilda, whose house is directly next door to that of the incoming pirates, as she espies a pirate boy, named Jim lad who wears an eyepatch and has a wooden-legged dog.
The JRs bring with them a pirate ship with treasure chests and barrels full of grog, which causes consternation among the neighbours especially when the Dad continually shouts 'Oo-Arr!' Grandpa stays on the ship drinking while a three-year-old 'Urchin' called Nugget is very rascally.
Matilda, however, is unlike her elders because she thinks having the pirates next door are 'fantastic' because life is not boring. But her parents press her to make more normal friends but when Jim goes to Matilda's school she is happy to have him sit next to her and the two develop a friendship.
Meanwhile the neighbours bring up all sorts of complaints against the pirates but all to no avail. But after they have done plenty of damage they decide that it is time to sail away and look for more adventure. Matilda and Jim decide to keep in touch in rather a unique way while the grown-ups rather tongue in cheek, because they know the pirates are going, make pleasant remarks about their stay in Dull-on-Sea!
Jonny Duddle illustrates his amusing tale with some delightful illustrations, including a fantastic four-page fold out panorama.
Dull is too busy in the summer, in the winter it shuts down but when The JRs arrive the neighbours are nervous about their new residents as they did not think they could match the hedges being neatly trimmed, the cars always washed regularly and the lawns beautifully mowed. That is all except Matilda, whose house is directly next door to that of the incoming pirates, as she espies a pirate boy, named Jim lad who wears an eyepatch and has a wooden-legged dog.
The JRs bring with them a pirate ship with treasure chests and barrels full of grog, which causes consternation among the neighbours especially when the Dad continually shouts 'Oo-Arr!' Grandpa stays on the ship drinking while a three-year-old 'Urchin' called Nugget is very rascally.
Matilda, however, is unlike her elders because she thinks having the pirates next door are 'fantastic' because life is not boring. But her parents press her to make more normal friends but when Jim goes to Matilda's school she is happy to have him sit next to her and the two develop a friendship.
Meanwhile the neighbours bring up all sorts of complaints against the pirates but all to no avail. But after they have done plenty of damage they decide that it is time to sail away and look for more adventure. Matilda and Jim decide to keep in touch in rather a unique way while the grown-ups rather tongue in cheek, because they know the pirates are going, make pleasant remarks about their stay in Dull-on-Sea!
Jonny Duddle illustrates his amusing tale with some delightful illustrations, including a fantastic four-page fold out panorama.
August 27, 2017
"The Pirates Next Door" is a very cute tale about a lonely girl who lived in a small town where nothing ever happened, that is until a family of pirates moved in next door. This little town was filled with your typical small town neighbors: the old gentleman next door, the women gossips that live down the road, and the typical overbearing mother's who don't let anyone 'new' come near their children.
This new family fit in about as well as anyone would think they would under the circumstances; needless to say, they stuck out like a sore thumb, and they knew they were not welcome with every step they took. The only one who took a liking to this family was the little girl that lived next door. Will this town come around to this new family? Will they change and make them feel welcome?
I recommend this book to be read to small children, the audience that it was intended for, for it will show them the truth behind 'don't judge a book by it's cover.' There is a greater moral here in this story.
This new family fit in about as well as anyone would think they would under the circumstances; needless to say, they stuck out like a sore thumb, and they knew they were not welcome with every step they took. The only one who took a liking to this family was the little girl that lived next door. Will this town come around to this new family? Will they change and make them feel welcome?
I recommend this book to be read to small children, the audience that it was intended for, for it will show them the truth behind 'don't judge a book by it's cover.' There is a greater moral here in this story.
November 24, 2021
When pirates move into Dull-on-Sea all the residents are concerned except Matilda who is thrilled. Matilda has waited for years for a friend to move next door, and she thinks the boy in the family is fun to be with. But as more and more neighbors complain, the Jolley-Rogers prepare to leave. But are these pirates really as bad as everyone says?
The ending to this is fabulous. I love how the Jolley-Rogers turn the other cheek and repay the unkindness of the town with extraordinary kindness. They may be pirates and unconventional characters, but they are fantastic people. I also love Matilda, who is able to see through the exterior and value a friendship while they are there. I read this series out of order. This definitely goes before The Pirates of Scurvy Sands as the end of this sets things up for that book. An imaginative story about kindness to people who aren't like you and not judging a book by its cover (which is also the theme of the next book in the series).
The ending to this is fabulous. I love how the Jolley-Rogers turn the other cheek and repay the unkindness of the town with extraordinary kindness. They may be pirates and unconventional characters, but they are fantastic people. I also love Matilda, who is able to see through the exterior and value a friendship while they are there. I read this series out of order. This definitely goes before The Pirates of Scurvy Sands as the end of this sets things up for that book. An imaginative story about kindness to people who aren't like you and not judging a book by its cover (which is also the theme of the next book in the series).
July 25, 2023
Piratenfanaten opgelet!! Hier een superleuk prentenboek over een piratengezin dat aanmeert in het dorpje Suf aan Zee. Ze gaan in een rustige woonwijk wonen, naast Sanne. Het duurt niet lang of het hele dorp praat over hun piratenacties en ziet het gezin het liefst weer vertrekken. In tegenstelling tot Sanne, zij sluit vriendschap met Sammie en samen gaan ze graag op pad. Uiteindelijk blijkt het gezin slechts tijdelijk voor het vasteland te hebben gekozen en laten op geheel eigen wijze een verrassing voor de dorpsbewoners achter...
Een geweldig boek, prachtig geïllustreerd en geschreven op rijm. Het leest lekker voor en biedt ontzettend veel mogelijkheden om met een groep kleuters aan de slag te gaan. Toevallig zag ik net op de site van de Kleuteruniversiteit dat er al een project bij is gemaakt. Heb deze zelf nog niet gebruikt of bekeken, maar zeker de moeite waard om even naar te kijken. Geweldig om het schooljaar mee te starten, maar ook een leuke tip voor de Kinderboekenweek!
Een geweldig boek, prachtig geïllustreerd en geschreven op rijm. Het leest lekker voor en biedt ontzettend veel mogelijkheden om met een groep kleuters aan de slag te gaan. Toevallig zag ik net op de site van de Kleuteruniversiteit dat er al een project bij is gemaakt. Heb deze zelf nog niet gebruikt of bekeken, maar zeker de moeite waard om even naar te kijken. Geweldig om het schooljaar mee te starten, maar ook een leuke tip voor de Kinderboekenweek!
January 30, 2018
Książka z pogranicza komiksu, z rysunkami autora w konwencji Cartoon Network. Historia opowiada o przedziwnych nowych sąsiadach, którzy sprowadzili się prawdziwym statkiem pirackim prosto na trawnik w spokojnej dzielnicy Nudy Morskiej. Mała Matylda ani myśli postępować tak, jak wszyscy nieufni dorośli w jej otoczeniu i na przekór wszystkiemu zaprzyjaźnia się ze swoim rówieśnikiem - piratem Jimem.
Nieufność mieszkańców miasteczka wobec dziwnych obcych jest klasycznym przykładem strachu przed tym, co nieznane. Autor w przewrotny sposób pokazuje „cudowną” przemianę dorosłych, kiedy zaczynają czerpać z wizyty piratów korzyści majątkowe oraz czystość intencji dzieci, które potrafią zaprzyjaźnić się ze sobą ponad wszelkimi podziałami.
Nieufność mieszkańców miasteczka wobec dziwnych obcych jest klasycznym przykładem strachu przed tym, co nieznane. Autor w przewrotny sposób pokazuje „cudowną” przemianę dorosłych, kiedy zaczynają czerpać z wizyty piratów korzyści majątkowe oraz czystość intencji dzieci, które potrafią zaprzyjaźnić się ze sobą ponad wszelkimi podziałami.
September 30, 2020
This is the story of the Jolley-Rogers - a pirate family, who move to Dull-on-Sea, a quiet seaside town. This unusual family get the whole neighbourhood spreading rumours. The family are not welcomed into the community. Despite what the mean grown-ups say, Matilda, becomes friends with the youngest pirate. When the Jolley-Rogers leave, the town discovers they were very wrong about the family. Matilda feels sad until she discovers her own treasure - an exciting new pen friend. This is a great story to read with young children. It is exciting but also teaches you about friendship and not to judge people too quickly!
October 1, 2025
This book has creative and humorous rhyming verses and engaging illustrations. I really enjoyed the clever witty rhymes. The storyline begins with pirates moving into the neighborhood and no one likes them because they're so different. While a friendship develops between a pirate and a neighbor, the adults in the book never accept the pirates and continue to complain. The book ends with the pirates leaving a treasure for each neighbor, (to show that not all pirates are bad) and then the neighbors claim they liked the pirates all along. This book would have been a 5 star book if the message had been different. I was disappointed that there was no personal growth for the adult neighbors.
February 9, 2019
A brilliantly written book with superb illustrations that bring the characters to life.
The Jolly Rogers are not welcomed by their new neighbours and are immediately judged by everybody in the community. However, they soon change their tune once the Jolly Rogers leave.
A great book to read aloud - I used this wonderful text as the theme for a whole school book day and all years from Nursery to year 6 thoroughly enjoyed it due to its many levels and themes. A great book for storytelling, PSHE lessons, artwork and interpretation. A must read/buy for all teachers.
The Jolly Rogers are not welcomed by their new neighbours and are immediately judged by everybody in the community. However, they soon change their tune once the Jolly Rogers leave.
A great book to read aloud - I used this wonderful text as the theme for a whole school book day and all years from Nursery to year 6 thoroughly enjoyed it due to its many levels and themes. A great book for storytelling, PSHE lessons, artwork and interpretation. A must read/buy for all teachers.
December 2, 2021
Pirates have moved in next door to Matilda and the whole subdivision is in an uproar over their appearances, hygiene, habits, and lifestyle. They all want the pirates out and gone, making presumptions of the kind of people they are. Matilda, however, doesn't do any of this and befriends the young pirate boy. As the pirates leave, are they really as bad as everyone thinks they are?
This was a good book on friendship and kindness as demonstrated not only by Matilda, but also by the pirates in a surprise twist in the end. This is book 1 with a book 2 to follow.
This was a good book on friendship and kindness as demonstrated not only by Matilda, but also by the pirates in a surprise twist in the end. This is book 1 with a book 2 to follow.
December 8, 2023
Matilda lives in a boring seaside town, and is thrilled when a family of pirates moves in next door. The rest of the neighborhood? Not so much. It was a fun read aloud, with rhymes that flowed well, and the illustrations of Matilda having fun with her new pirate BFF contrasted well with all the neighbors’ complaints. I was a little less than thrilled that the rest of the neighborhood only overcame their prejudice when the pirates left gold plated gifts buried in everyone’s backyards, but otherwise, a good message about treating people who look and act differently with kindness and respect.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 17, 2017
It's the old kill them with kindness narrative, tackling the concept of xenophobia in the modern era in the metaphorical form of them, in this case pirates, and us (landlubbers). Not a new moral message for kids by any means but the rhyming makes it an easy and fast read and the illustration work is frankly amazing and really brings the characters to life. Picture books don't normally float my boat but this was some child-friendly eye candy that even us adults could enjoy.
August 27, 2018
We picked this one out after playing with a cool pirate ship at a new (to us) library. The artwork is fantastic- so much detail. The story is fun because it rhymes and uses lots of pirate-speak. I saw there was another pirate book by this author on the shelf so we will probably check that one out next time.
*on Goodreads, it says this book comes with a CD - we didn't get that with our library book.
*on Goodreads, it says this book comes with a CD - we didn't get that with our library book.
May 8, 2024
The Pirates Next Door
by Jonny Duddle
A book about accepting different people and ideals, letting a small towns prejudice to show their quick assessment misses the remarkable new family that moved in. The book also shows the nature of seeing the world in a different point of view. The first grade students used this book to write about what they liked about the book. They were exposed to the book multiple times and give their evaluation as a written response.
August 5, 2018
We loved the positive message of The Pirates Next Door. The illustrations are fantastic and so much fun. A great picture book for young kids and parents will appreciate the humour too! Read my full review here.
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