Pirate, Viking & Scientist

by Jared Chapman

In this funny story that's perfect for fans of Ada Twist, Scientist , a determined little boy won't rest until he proves his theory that you really can have more than one best friend!

Pirate is friends with Scientist.

Scientist is friends with Viking.

Pirate and Viking are NOT friends.

What can Scientist do?

Use his brain, of course--and the scientific method! He forms a hypothesis, conducts an experiment, observes his results, and tests his subjects again and again until he discovers the perfect formula for friendship.

Includes a bonus list of scientific terms and definitions, just right for young readers.

Genres: Picture Books, Pirates, Friendship, Science, Childrens, Humor, Stem

40 pages, Hardcover

First published November 11, 2014

Reviews

[Pink STREAM · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a fun and interesting way to teach some scientific terms to young people. It explains what a scientist, scientific instinct, hypothesis, calculation, experiment, observe, and the result means. If you or the person you will read this book is interested in pirates or Vikings that is great because the book also includes an angry pirate and a huge Viking. Illustrations of the book are pretty cute even the book includes a pirate and a Viking. In the end, our little, cute scientist boy solves the problem and makes the pirate and the Viking friends. If you read this book to our little, cute, and smart scientists one-day they will solve the world’s problem and make everyone on the earth friends.

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

How can a scientist make his two friends get along? A fun way to introduce the scientific method

[Becky B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pirate and Scientist are friends. Scientist and Viking are friends. But Pirate and Viking are decidedly NOT friends. Scientist wants both his friends to have fun at his birthday party so he comes up with several different hypothesis for how to get the two enemies to be friendly. He tests each one out at his birthday party, but nothing seems to be working. The results are clear, none of Scientist’s hypotheses have been correct so far. So he decides to try one last thing, he asks the two about their favorite activities…and the discovery of common interests brings the two enemies together.

This is Jared Chapman’s debut in the picture book world - and I may be going out on a limb here (but I think it is a pretty long and extremely stable limb, aka sequoia size) - but I do not think it will be anywhere near his last. I thoroughly enjoyed this tale of how a scientist would try and bring peace between his two best friends. The things Pirate and Viking come up with to do to each other at the party are so very funny, and the resolution is both sweet and applicable to real life relationship problems. (Oh, and the science teacher in me thoroughly approves of the use and instruction in the scientific method used in the book. That was a great bonus!) So whether you’re teaching kids about problem solving, the scientific method, or trying to help kids learn how to get along (or just looking for a fun read), this is a great book.

[Venus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally posted on Children's Atheneum

Scientist is friends with Pirate. Scientist is also friends with Viking. One would think that Pirate and Viking would get along, but no. It's a disaster. This makes Scientist sad. Using the scientific method Scientist decides to find a way to get his friends to get along. Scientist forms a hypothesis, conducts an experiment, observes the results, and tests his subjects again and again until he discovers the perfect formula for friendship.

Reminiscent of The Most Magnificent Thing, this is a fantastic book featuring the scientific method and the varying results. Funny enough, I think adults can really relate to this book as well because who hasn't had a tense moment between two friends who don't exactly get along? Or worse, the whole, I can't invite this person if I invite that person. Wouldn't it be nice if we could all use the scientific method to get our friends to get along? In this respect the book is pure fantasy, but I didn't mind so much since the more obvious "message" was that of the scientific method rather than whether all your friends will get along with one another.

[Stephanie Croaning · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is both a story of friendship, as well as an introduces to the scientific method. I would have to say that combo makes it one-of-a-kind! A scientist is friends with a pirate and a viking, but Pirate and Viking do not like each other. This makes for an upsetting birthday party for Scientist, whose scientific instincts kick in and help him solve this problem. This is a very fun story with great characters, colorful illustrations, and pillaging and plundering.

This book would make a fun read-aloud as a class begins to study the steps involved in the scientific method. Making STEM learning fun!!

[Shelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

What do a pirate, a viking and a scientist all have in common? Apparently, not enough to keep the pirate and the viking from brawling during their good friend’s birthday party. Using logical instincts this young scientist forms a hypothesis and conducts several experiments to try and save his party and unite these two rowdy non-friends. Will he get the results he was hoping for before the day ends? Or is he destined to a life of separate festive merriments?

I totally felt this young boy's pain, trying to plan a gathering with the various people from different facets of my life seems too challenging to attempt.

[Kimberly [Come Hither Books] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, with a very simple introduction to the scientific method. Scientist's two good friends, Pirate and Viking, can't get along for anything, not even for his birthday. So Scientist experiments to find the solution, forming a hypothesis, testing, and observing the (entertaining) results. For science-minded kiddos, or anyone who's experimented with their friends on the sly, the story is a lot of fun. Lots of science vocabulary to learn, and the graph paper backgrounds are the perfect final touch.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a clever story that deals with the idea that you might have two friends who don't like each other. By purely scientific, logical means, the little boy figures out how to get these two friends to put up with each other, and maybe even enjoy each other's company.
Of course, the scientific, logical methods involve some really messy goings-on...
Kids can learn a lot from this story, without realizing they're doing it.

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kids who like Pirates, Vikings, birthday parties, brawls, pillaging and plundering might enjoy this friendship tale about a scientist who tries to figure out how to get Pirate and Viking to stop fighting during his birthday party. It goes through the scientific method of forming a hypothesis, conducting experiments, observing results and testing over and over again. Kids enjoyed it.
Could be used to discuss the scientific method in elementary school.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nearly perfect! Not a new plot necessarily, but told in such an original fashion I hardly noticed! I also love that Pirate is not a pirate captain, but just a regular crew pirate, with ratty trousers and no shoes. The comic style art is just right for the tone of the story, and I love the graph paper background.

[Maggie Mattmiller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adding this to my list of books to buy for my classroom for sure! This will be good when working with students who are jealous of their friend's other friends. This also could be fun when introducing the scientific method. Fun story that kids will enjoy, and can definitely be used as a teaching tool!

[Flossmoor Public Library (IL) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this picture book. There is a scientist who is friends with a Pirate and a Viking. Unfortunately, Pirate and Viking do not like each other. Scientist performs several experiments to see if he can help them get along. There are multiple science vocabulary terms throughout the book.

- Miss Emily

[Jeimy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This engaging book introduces kids to the scientific method, conflict resolution, and the most fabulous mermaid tattoo ever to be found on a kid's book.

As an English teacher, I would use it to teach word choice: The author uses vivacious verbs and amazing adjectives to liven up the tale.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a SUPER cute book that teachers the scientific method. I would love to do this in a science themed story time. Great art with bright colors and thick lines, which are (in my opinion) ideal for Story Time.

[Maggi Rohde · Rating 4 out of 5]

In an effort to teach kids the vocabulary around the scientific method in a way that makes sense, Jared Chapman's written a pretty awesome little story. Maybe the quick resolution of the friends' differences isn't exactly realistic, but it's a good strategy.

[Laura Filtness · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books to talk about a variety of topics.
check out how I used it in my classroom here: http://pawsitiveschoolcounseling.blog...

[Bethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute look at friendship - guess the transitive property doesn't work with friends! Love how Scientist experiments on what would get his best friends to get along. Might be good for a cause & effect lesson.

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

My storytime kids really wanted me to read this. They really enjoyed examining the illustrations, and they got the basic idea of what the story was about. But it just didn't flow well for storytime.

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a therapist who works with kids, I love this book. It's a simple and cute story that provides a great jumping off point for discussing social skills and CBT strategies like conducting an experiment to see what works and what doesn't. I'm not sure the book knows it's giving me this opportunity- which makes it quick, simple, and fun rather than heavy-handed. We bought this for our therapy center and put some discussion questions in the back. Recommended!

I would have liked this book even better if there were a girl in it, however! (Or even a gender neutral person. Someone not entirely male.) I hope this author, who seems talented and lots of fun, includes girls in other books he writes. :)

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book about how friends can be different but still like the same things!

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a decent one about the process of working through things. You try try try again when things don't work.

[American Mensa · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Fable about friends!”

This picture book is a story about a scientist who has two friends who do not like each other in the beginning, but eventually find that they share something in common and learn to be friends. I liked the story because it showed me that you can have more than one best friend. It also shows how we can like people once we find something in common with them. My favorite character in this book was the scientist because he solves the problem and also because I love science!

There is a good part and a bad part to the story. I did not enjoy the bad part so much.

Even though this is a picture book, I don’t think the pictures look very friendly. When I tried to read this book to my 2-year-old brother, he did not like the pictures and kept saying that they are all bad guys. He also did not seem to understand the story at all. So, the book did not keep his attention for long. But, I understood the story and enjoyed it. I would have liked better drawings too – something that looks more friendly. I would recommend this book for kids 5 years and older.

My favorite part of the book was the end, of course, because everything gets sorted out! I feel this story is like a fable because it teaches us something about life.

I gave this book 3 stars, because I did not like the pictures too much and would have liked it to not have a bad part to the story. But I did enjoy the scientist character, who I felt was very much like me- he likes to solve problems and make sure everyone is being friendly with each other.

Review by Dhruv K., age 6, North Texas Mensa

[Lori Siesto · Rating 2 out of 5]

Scientist uses a trial-and-error approach on his birthday to help Viking and Pirate resolve their differences and get along. Though Pirate and Viking are brawling batterers, Scientist is able to demonstrate to them the things they have in common and eventually bring them together. Definitely turns a large category like science into something young readers will understand.

Upsides: The book functions as an engaging introduction to scientific terms, including definitions for words like Hypothesis and Experiment. Brightly colored, comic-influenced illustrations including large onomatopoeia attract the eye. There is a great use of vocabulary (brawling, seething, plundering, e.g.) at work for such a compact book.

Downsides: Scientist is a young, nameless boy in glasses, bow tie and a white lab coat, which feels a bit limiting. Anyone can be a scientist, after all! Also, if you take issue with cartoon demonstrations of violence (Pirate hitting Viking over the head with a bat, e.g.), this is probably not the book for you. Finally, it feels awkward to refer to characters by their characterizations, and not by character names.

[Charles · Rating 2 out of 5]

While this book is supposedly about three males with vastly different backgrounds eventually learning to get along, the path there is one that I would not have exposed my daughter to. As the title indicates, there are three boys, a scientist, a pirate and a Viking.
The scientist is a small boy with large glasses that wears a bowtie and a white lab coat. Pirate is much larger, with a mermaid tattoo on his chest, one of an anchor on his arm, a beard and few visible teeth. Viking is a bear of a man with a full beard and the Viking headgear.
While both Viking and Pirate are friends with Scientist, they fight hard whenever they are together. Not the arguing type of fighting, the kind where they destroy things, such as Scientist’s birthday cake. Eventually, the two of them agree on something that they can do together, but it is pillaging and plundering.
This book would not be bad if Viking and Pirate were boys in costumes, but these are grown men. Their fighting and outlaw lifestyles are inappropriate for a book written at the level of the first or second grader.

[Reading is my Escape · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Science of Friendship
Pirate is friends with Scientist. Scientist is friends with Viking. Pirate and Viking are NOT friends. What will Scientist do? Use his brain, of course! Scientist forms a hypothesis, conducts an experiment, observes his results, and tests his subjects again and again until he discovers the perfect formula for friendship.
 

Scientist really wants his two friends to like each other. He uses the scientific method to figure out what he can do. This is a cute book about friendship that helps young students learn about the scientific method in a fun way.
 
Recommended to:
Great read-aloud for elementary school science teachers that want to teach young children about the scientific method.

[Kelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Age: Preschool-1st grade
Science: Scientific method, experimentation

Scientist is friends with Viking and Pirate, but Viking and Pirate are terrible enemies. Scientist decides to employ some experiments to bring together his friends but meets less than desirable results. But he doesn't give up! He keeps experimenting, adjusting his solutions each time until he comes to the right one. Cute, funny, with a very basic introduction to the scientific method.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was quite charming! Scientist is friends with Pirate and he is friends with Viking, but Pirate and Viking are NOT friends with each other! Can Scientist use the scientific method to make his friends get along and stop ruining his birthday party?

The pages are graph paper, seriously, adorable.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

do you like pirates? vikings? scientists? they're all here. And much like our plucky young scientist learns, the stereotypes of pirates and vikings aren't all that different. Ozman liked this one well enough. I liked that it taught how to develop and test hypotheses, but I am whelmed by the overall content.

[Ashleu · Rating 4 out of 5]

What do two people do when they have nothing in common but a third person? Fight! Of course! Thankfully their mutual friend is a scientist who is determined to make them get along and you know what, his formula for friendship is perfect and adorable.

[Tracie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Scientist can't understand why his friends pirate and viking do not get along. He makes hypotheses about what could bring the two together and then experiments to find a solution. A brilliant and fun way to explain this concept.