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Pirate Blunderbeard #1

Pirate Blunderbeard: Worst. Pirate. Ever.

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Pirate Blunderbeard is a truly utterly rubbish pirate – so how can he win the pirate of the year award…?


Pirate Blunderbeard – is the most calamitous young pirate ever to set sail and now he must win the Pirate of the Year award – or at least try to survive it. And he’s been done up like a kipper by Pirate Pete’s Pet shop and instead of being sold a proud-plumed parrot – he got Boris – a scrawny chicken. Can Blunders and Boris win the award and more importantly can they win the respect of the other, bigger, meaner pirates? Probably not but he’ll make us laugh, trying.

160 pages, Paperback

Published June 1, 2017

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Amy Sparkes

43 books168 followers

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5 stars
23 (31%)
4 stars
22 (30%)
3 stars
23 (31%)
2 stars
4 (5%)
1 star
1 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
Profile Image for Nicole.
840 reviews26 followers
June 8, 2017
Interesting read for good 6yr old + readers, set in diary format with lots of cartoon pictures I found it rather run of the mill but younger readers will like a pirate who is unable to balance on a plank and has a chicken for a pet. I found the bullying from other pirates a bit unnecessary but that was the trial of what Blunderbeard had to get over. To be Pirate of the year and accepted back into the pirate club he has to do pirate skills, fight a Kraken and find lost treasure. A fun enough read for confident early readers.
Profile Image for Jo.
987 reviews26 followers
October 16, 2017
Pirate Blunderbeard: Worst. Pirate. Ever. (Pirate Blunderbeard, Book 1)
by Amy Sparkes
Synopsis
Can the worst pirate ever win the Pirate of the Year Award…?

Mum is making me take part in the stupid Pirate of the Year Award. All I have to do is fight an enormous sea monster, (doom), beat my oh-so-brilliant brother at something (please please please) and find the legendary treasure that no one has ever found EVER in the history of EVER (easy peasy, then). Wish me luck! Pirate Blunderbeard.

Blunderbeard might be the worst pirate ever but he’s also the funniest – laugh-out-loud fun for young readers of 7+

Review
This book is thoroughly charming and really fun - its like the Worst Witch except it has a blundering pirate instead of a witch. Over the last couple of years books aimed at young boys are all about farting and and naked super hero's. 4 stars
Profile Image for Mrs Mommy Booknerd http://mrsmommybooknerd.blogspot.com.
2,238 reviews92 followers
March 12, 2019
#FirstLine ~ Dreamed last night that I was chased by goldfish with gigantic false teeth that turned into my mom and ate all my cupcakes.

A cute chapter book that will entertain kids four hours. The story is funny and one that kids can relate too (especially if they have a sibling). It has some twists and turns and it not predictable, rather more of an adventure. The illustrations throughout are clever and add much to this original story.
Profile Image for Josef Komensky.
673 reviews15 followers
October 29, 2024
Ik vond het boekje over het meest waardeloze piraat ooit best grappig. :-))
Profile Image for Evelyn Evertsen-Romp.
1,640 reviews99 followers
July 20, 2019
Och och och wat is dit een leuk boek. Blunderbaard is zo'n lieve piraat, ik snap volledig waarom hij niet op zijn plek is bij al die andere stoere gemene piraten. Ik kan niet wachten op deel 2.

Echt ontzettend geschikt voor kinderen die niet zo goed zijn in lezen. Hier vliegt iedereen doorheen, door de vele tekeningen lees je snel veel pagina's. De tekeningen zijn ook erg gaaf.
Profile Image for Riana.
144 reviews3 followers
April 3, 2022
Blunderbeard is a young pirate who is not very good at pursuing the family trade. To prove he is worthy of being a pirate, he has to take part in a Pirate-of-the-year contest. And things are not looking good for him.

I did like the fact that the main character in this story is somewhat of an underdog, and uses his own unique approach to solving problems rather than fit the stereotype. I also don't have anything against silly stories - on the contrary! However, I did feel like this story could've had a bit more flesh to it and a bit less misery. Do you really want to encourage children to pursue sibling rivalry, think that the world hates them and feel like they are failures? I'm sure this is just some over-the-top exaggeration, but still I'm not sure that it won't hit too close to home for some kids. Even thought the story has a happy ending, it is mostly based on luck rather than real problem solving.

I really did enjoy Boris the chicken! She is the best part of the entire story, and I'll read the sequel just for her! Oh, and the illustrations are absolutely delightful!
Profile Image for whatbooknext.
1,342 reviews49 followers
December 22, 2018
Age – 5+

Blunderbeard is the worst pirate ever! His big brother Blackbeard enjoys rubbing it in every chance he gets. Blunderbeard is scared of fish, bites his nails, enjoys baking cupcakes and has a terrible sense of direction.

His pirate mum is embarrassed by her youngest son and signs him up for the POTY Award (Pirate of the Year), to try and make him become a better pirate. He is doomed!

He does his best with his trusty sidekick Boris the chicken at his side (the parrots were all gone when he went to the pet shop), and between the two of them and Blunderbeard’s crazy inventions, maybe, just maybe he can survive the trials to live another day.
Profile Image for Judy Wollin.
Author 11 books9 followers
May 8, 2022
Blunderbeard struggles to fit in. His family are successful pirates, and everyone he knows is a successful pirate, but Blunderbeard keeps messing up.
It haunts him in his dreams, his brother hassles him when he’s awake, and his parents are so disappointed.
Blunderbeard decides winning Pirate of the Year will set things right. He must win three events, Pirates’ Skills, Kraken-wrestling and Treasure-hunting on the Island of Death. He sucks to start with, but something happens. What does the chicken do?
I enjoyed the humour of the adventure.
Recommended for middle-grade readers.
Profile Image for John Naylor.
929 reviews22 followers
August 11, 2023
A fun story about the world's worst pirate. Featuring inventions, cupcakes, and a chicken instead of a parrot.

Some great set pieces and a likeable underdog hero mean that this is better than a lot of books aimed at the same age group. Nicely illustrated and with age appropriate language. I enjoyed this and will look to continue the series in the future.
Profile Image for Erin.
Author 1 book11 followers
February 4, 2018
Very enjoyable chapter book! Lots of funny twists and turns, a very likeable ne’er do well pirate at the helm, and some classic sibling rivalry. Early readers will enjoy this! It’s clever and nicely illustrated.
887 reviews23 followers
August 16, 2020
Started this little book as I am way behind on my years reading challenge. . First word in this book was DREAMED,! Is that even a word, it should have been dreamt. Stupid terminology. I know it’s a kids book but even so, just stupid.
273 reviews1 follower
May 22, 2024
Verhaal over een piraat die overal slecht in leek te zijn. Hij doet mee aan de piraat van het jaar trofee. Later blijkt hij toch ergens goed in te zijn. Geschikt voor sterke lezers uit groep 4 of lezers uit groep 5.
Profile Image for Enea Musliu.
20 reviews
May 15, 2018
It was a very good and funny book. It is amazing how he changes things in the story.
Profile Image for Andy.
1,698 reviews69 followers
June 9, 2023
I wasn’t overly impressed with this but my 7 year old really liked it and was giggling and wants to read the rest. So what do I know. Fun illustrations.
203 reviews
April 17, 2024
it’s a pirates life yo ho !

Such a Cute story.i didn’t think much of this book and only bought it to try it out.but now im thinking of getting the second book too.funny and cute
Profile Image for Judith.
209 reviews
November 1, 2019
Lastig boek -vanwege de vorm- om voor te lezen. Ik heb, om de verhaalconstructie duidelijk te houden voor een bijna 6-jarige, best wat eigen inbreng toe moeten voegen. Al is het maar uitleggen wat een dagboek is en er meer een vertelvorm van te maken ipv dagboeknotities op te lezen. Mijn bijna 6-jarige vond het wel een erg leuk boek en zat goed in het verhaal. Dus het is wel gelukt om het over te brengen :)
Ik vond het steeds neerhalen van zichzelf dat hij niks kan (hoofdpersoon blunderbaard dus) soms net wat teveel en te vaak. Wel erg leuk de tekeningen erbij.
Profile Image for Mehsi.
15.7k reviews468 followers
February 21, 2019
Een best grappig boek over een jongen die best faalt als piraat. En ik me zelfs afvraag waarom hij niet gewoon een cupcakecafe of iets met zijn uitvindingen doet. Maar ja, hij wil de familienaam hoog houden en het toch proberen. We zien hoe hij steeds zijn best doet... maar gewoon te klunzig en sukkelig is om het goed te doen. Ik vond zijn uitvindingen wel interessant om te zien, hij heeft echt wel briljante ideeën.
De andere karakters waren allemaal vreselijk, en ja ik snap dat dat waarschijnlijk de bedoeling was maar het zorgde er wel voor dat ik het boek toch minder leuk vond.
Wat er met de kip aan de hand was? Ik had al een vermoeden, leuk om aan het einde confirmatie te krijgen.
Leuke illustraties.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews