Archie and the Pirates

by Marc Rosenthal

Ahoy, landlubbers, prepare yerselves for a rip-roaring adventure . . . with a shipwrecked monkey, a sweet-singing ibis, a ferocious tiger, and a band of rough, smelly, no-good pirates! Coconuts fly, danger lurks, and only one clever monkey can save the day: Archie!

Genres: Picture Books, Pirates, Animals, Childrens, Storytime, Fiction

40 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2009

Reviews

[Kevin Doyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book captured our 3 yr old's attention like nothing before. He's already a big Curious George fan so Archie the monkey naturally appealed to him. Yes, you will inevitably think of George while you read this one - but who's to say no one can ever write another book about a clever monkey? Should we never have another book about a boy wizard? I think we will see plenty.

Anyways, this book has an excellent adventure story that most young boys and emerging readers should love. Archie is marooned on a remote island where he makes some animal friends and builds a terrific tree house. But then... enter the PIRATES! No matter how many times pirates show up in picture books, kids love them every time.

The illustrations are really well done with a clean, classic style. They reminded me of Rin-Tin-Tin type of art. But I'd say that the writing and the story in this book are the best parts. There's some nice, subtle messages about remaining calm and using your head in times of trouble, about working together to solve a problem and about coming together as a community. Plus - PIRATES!! Oh, and the way Archie and the animals deal with the island invaders is quite funny and unique - our kids loved hearing about it every time.

Earlier I wrote that this is a great one for boys but our 7 yr old daughter loved it too. Girls definitely dig pirates as well! So I'd recommend this one for young boys for sure but also for any young readers who like adventure and clever animals.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read to my niece and nephew in ages, so I was really excited to read to them today! The first book we read was this one, Archie and the Pirates. Both kids received this one favorably, and my nephew asked if we could re-read this again before bed. The story is simple and entertaining, and the friendships that develop between Archie the monkey, Clarice the ibis, and Beatrice the tiger are warm. The illustrations were engaging, too. Both kids were moving closer to the book as we read, just drawn into the pictures and the story.

I miss reading to the kids as much as I used to. Reading Archie and the Pirates reminded me how much kids need stories, and it reminded me of how much I love playing a role in helping them gain literacy.

[Dest · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the first page Archie (who bears some resemblance to George--perhaps they are cousins?) is inexplicably floating on the ocean asleep in his bed. Never mind that beds don't float and we have no idea how he got there. When he reaches land he becomes a kind of monkey Robinson Crusoe. He makes friends with an ibis named Clarice and a Tiger named Beatrice and they are happy until pirates come and capture Beatrice. Archie and Clarice hatch a plan to free Beatrice and scare away the pirates.

Very well-written and classically illustrated. Enjoyable if you're into clever, friendly animals living in a human-free jungle utopia.

[Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and funny tale of a how a monkey defeats a group of pirates that have kidnapped his friend a tiger.

[Bvlmc Buchanan Verplanck Elementary School · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Archie, the monkey, finds himself marooned he begins to re-purpose things found in nature to build a house. Along the way he makes friends, rescues a tiger from some pirates and as his circle of friends expands so does the village that grows up around his home.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Archie the monkey, stranded on an island, made friends with Clarice the ibis and Beatrice the tiger. Archie built a house for himself right before some pirates invaded the island. Between the three friends they battled the pirates and saved their island home. Lots of bright colours and fun illustrations for this action adventure story which kept my 2 1/2 year-old granddaughter captivated.

[Shiloah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspires ingenuity and creativity.

[Amanda Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the ingenuous but brilliant monkey. My son and I were mesmerized by the home he built on the island. Fun book to read and gaze at.

[Kathy Ellen Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, we all know that I'm partial to sock monkeys and adventures...
And he may not be a sock monkey, but I love his adventure!
There's moments when you think he may not make it,
And other moments when you think, "What a smart monkey!"
(I thought that when I saw his combination breakfast table/bed)

I love all the characters who show up and all the fun illustrations.
The last spread is my favorite.

Haiku Review:
Archie drifts away
then lives a new island life
danger, friends, and fun!

[Penny McGill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Archie makes a few great friends in Beatrice the tiger and Clarice the Ibis. They battle some pirates in a very clever way and end up building a neighbourhood of homes so that they can live chose together.

Marc Rosenthal's illustrations are reminiscent of Curious George and his Archie is very sweet but it isn't all about parroting what has already been done. This wonderful picture book is a treat to read and is not to be missed.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hate to resort to LOLspeak, but UMM NOM NOM NOM!!

NOM colored pencils and watercolors in strong midtones! Pirates! NOM NOM Swiss Family Robinson without the violence but WITH the tiger!

And most of all... MONKEY!!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

J absolutely loves this story. He is completely engrossed and either read it himself or asked us to read it 4 times the first day I brought it home.

Recommended as a best book for boys (emerging reader level) and I have to agree!

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book got good reviews so I expected so much more. The illustrations are great; very reminiscent of Curious George. But the story is told in short, staccato bursts of basic info. The book almost reads like a "how-to" for island living. Not a great read-aloud.

[Karen]

Cute and funny. The illustrations are pleasantly detailed without being overwhelming. Archie's fabulous tree house looks like the Swiss Family Robinson. My daughter really liked that page and the fake "monkey heads" in the silly finale.

[Caroline · Rating 2 out of 5]

Archie gets stranded on an island, builds a house, makes new friends, and get invaded by pirates.

I wouldn't use this story in story time again. It's a little long. The text jumps around so much it can reading to a large group difficult in terms a flow.

[Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hope y'all get a chance to see this one. I'm a Rosenthal fan myself and this book is clearly top notch.

[Tara]

good points for narrative skills

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great illustrations and fun little story.

[Tina B · Rating 3 out of 5]

"monkeys, castaway, style of ""Babar the elephant"""

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Archie drifts accross the sea and wakes up on a beach and begins to settle by meeting a tiger and a bird...they become frinds and life is good...and then the pirates come.

[MissInformation · Rating 2 out of 5]

A nice little yarn; pleasant reading. My quibble is the look and style are way too Curious George.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the bed/breakfast table - clever monkey!

[Nancy J.]

My class enjoyed this book. We drew a map of the jungle when we finished.

[Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, and very reminiscent of Curious George, as other reviewers have stated. Takes awhile for the pirates to show up, but when they do, it's pretty fun. Maybe a bit long for storytime.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quirky story but I ended up really thinking it was quite adorable. And it did spark my son's interest in becoming a pirate so I think that's pretty dang funny.

[Courtney Ivaska · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kids loved this book (2 yrs and almost 4 years). As a result they love mangos, friend bananas and playing pirates. I enjoyed saying First Mate LaFaraah's name too.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

We really enjoyed Archie & the Pirates. At our house we can never go wrong with adventurous monkeys & pirate stories!

[Dotty · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of Johnny's favorite re-reads

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute children's story with some fun illustrations. I always like a good monkey adventure! My nephew loved Archie. It's a great book for young boys!

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute story!