Dirty Joe, the Pirate: A True Story a True Story

by Bill Harley, Jack E. Davis (Illustrations)

The dreaded Dirty Joe and his piratical crew sail in search of the smelliest treasure ever: dirty socks! The rogues cheerfully pillage their way across the seven seas, until the day they run across another band of pirates--one led by the notorious Stinky Annie. Has Dirty Joe finally met his match?

From Grammy Award-winning storyteller Bill Harley and bestselling illustrator Jack E. Davis comes a zany, tongue-twisting, side-splitting tale certain to be prized by budding buccaneers!

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

32 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

A two-time Grammy award-winning artist and recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the RI Council for the Humanities, Bill uses song and story to paint a vibrant and hilarious picture of growing up, schooling and family life. His work spans the generation gap, reminds us of our common humanity and challenges us to be our very best selves. A prolific author and recording artist, Bill tours nationwide as an author, performing artist and keynote speaker.

Reviews

[Jen · Rating 1 out of 5]

People may think I'm taking this too seriously, or I'm too sensitive, and I'm okay with that. This IS a fun story. But I find the underwear bounty disturbing. Forcing someone else to give you their socks is one thing. Forcing someone to give you their underwear is a violation, and I have no desire to teach my children that it is appropriate, or that they have to go along with such a request. I also found the lesson about how mean big sisters are to be disturbing, since I was reading the book to my daughter who is a big sister to her little brother.

[Shelli · Rating 1 out of 5]

I swear I am not a prude, but really?? When was it deemed o.k. in children’s stories to steal underpants from others as they wear them? In real life isn’t that considered sexual assault?? And would this book have as many stars and accepting reviews if it were the boy pirates stealing underpants off the girl pirates?? Personally I didn’t like it and I would not recommend this book for children.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bet you thought that the reason your socks disappear is because of a sock monster in the wash. You'd be wrong. There are pirates that steal them! But there's another ship lurking on the oceans that steals something too. Our pirate friends better beware.

Ages: 4 - 8

Cleanliness: there are pirates that steal undies and hang them on their mast. The story ends by saying "If you've got an older sister, then I feel bad for you, 'Cause just as long as she's alive, she'll tell you what to do."

**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it! Visit my website: The Book Radar.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another pirate book to add to my collection! Thanks for the suggestion, Kristen. I highly recommend that all of you immediately go to youtube and look this book up. The author's reading of his tale is the best part!

[Edward Creter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book reminds me (again) that women do rule, and it can still be fun for both genders to share one world. Dirty Joe is a pirate who lives for the adventure of pilfering dirty socks and underwear for his decidedly all-male crew. This, of course, does not stop his sister and her Navy of bloomer-robbing baronesses from competing for his stash! The battle of the sexes takes on new depths (so to speak) and WE don't say Hanes until THEY say we say Hanes! That or someone should walk the plank of feminism! Har har har! A fun frolic thru uncharted waters for those brave enough to travel...and laugh along the route!

[Stephanie Bange · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pulling out a classic rhyming poem/tale of pirates, underwear, and stinky socks.

Dirty Joe, a vicious piratey pirate who plunders stinky socks, meets his match when he runs into Stinky Annie, another pirate whose crew plunders stinky underpants. Harley's book, Dirty Joe, the Pirate: A True Story is just as funny and fresh now as when first published in 2008. Hear him tell his story here: https://www.billharley.com/books/dirt...

Humorous mixed media illustrations by Jack E. Davis are a bonus. The oversized heads with bulbous eyes of the diverse cast of pirates are appropriately melodramatic.

Pull this one out for a raucous piratey storytime! Aaargh!

Highly recommended for PreSchool-grade 6.

[Lorena · Rating 5 out of 5]

We’re huge Bill Harley fans, and this adorable pirate tale does not disappoint. The rhymes are clever and fun to read. I read the story in a pirate voice, which enhanced the whole experience for everyone.

My favorite line of the story is on the last page, so if you don’t want a spoiler, read the story first!
If you've got an older sister, then I feel bad for you,
'Cause just as long as she's alive, she'll tell you what to do.

[Michael Guillot · Rating 2 out of 5]

A pair of siblings with respective sock and underwear fetishes get their kinks on in the middle of the ocean.

So Dirty Joe surrendered and did what his sister said.
And when he did, it's safe to say, more than his face was red."

What else was red, Bill? What else was red!?!

[Goshen PL Childrens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read at Storytime: September 13th
Theme: Pirates

[Karla · Rating 5 out of 5]

hilarious

kids LOVED it

super fun sibling story

great if you have an older girl and a boy

[Silence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good for grade schoolers

[Mrs Heet -Librarian · Rating 2 out of 5]

The rhyme was very clunky at times, and was a little strange about stealing people's underwear.

[Tweller83 · Rating 3 out of 5]

7/6/24: This was good but kinda strange too. I get it, but we'll have to see what the grandchild thinks.

[Madison LibraryBookFamily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dirty Joe is a pirate who sails the seven seas, attacking ships and stealing their stinky socks. He finally meets his match when he runs up against Stinky Annie and her crew of women pirates who steal underwear. It turns out that Annie is his older sister. She bests him in the fight and steals his underpants. The moral of the story? Older sisters will always tell you what to do.

My son liked this story, but it was a bit wordy for him. He was definitely squirming half way through.

[Katie Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poetry: Single Poem Book
No Awards
PK-2nd Grade
A. This book is written in narrative poetry because it uses rhyming to tell the story of how Dirty Joe ruled the seven seas raiding people of their socks.
B. The author uses rhyme to guide the book and give it a classic "sing-song" feel that many young children enjoy. The rhyme also adds a sense of humor to the book making it entertaining as well. While the book does not involve much repetition of phrases, this book is written in short, rhyming sentences, which would make it easy for young children to follow along.
C. Create a picture to illustrate this story.

I would draw a picture of Dirty Joe and Stinky Annie reunited.

[Emmaline MacBeath · Rating 2 out of 5]

First I must start by saying that I love pirate books and I love silly books. This book is both. It is about a pirate who steals stinky socks from other ships. But one day he comes upon Stinky Annie who is a female pirate with an all female crew. She loves to steal stinky underwear. The two battle it out. I won't give the ending away.

I was okay with this book at first. I was hoping it would be about reforming Dirty Joe the Pirate because his ship stank so badly of dirty socks. But instead a new, even worse character is introduced. And I was disturbed about how she forces people to give her their underwear. This is something a bully would do. Is it okay because she is a girl pirate? What if she were male and forcing the females to give up their underwear? This behavior is NOT okay! Then the final message we receive on the last page is that big sisters are ALL bullies and boys have to put up with that. Sure, this book is all in good fun, but at whose expense?

The illustrations are wonderful, colorful and fun. The verses at times are forced: craft rhyming with laugh, swords with aboard. I wanted to like this book because of its sense of fun, but I could not like the bullying behavior.

[eRin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this! Ultra-cute "true" stroy of Dirty Joe the Pirate who sails the seas in search of dirty socks. Dirty Joe is truly a terror everywhere he goes until he suddenly comes up against Stinky Annie and her band of one hundred women who sail in search of...underwear. Dirty Joe's crew is a bit afraid because as everyone knows, "you can't be a pirate without underwear." Will Stinky Annie make out with the boys' underwear? Or will Stinky Joe prevail with the girls' socks?

So so so so cute!! Rhyming silliness and fun illustrations make this a great read-aloud book. It's completely absurd, but in a terrific way. Loved it!

[Rachel Yingling · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really fun book to read. All about a little boy who raids other ships to get their socks, that's the bounty they set out to steal from others. Then they come across a ship with a female captain who is well known for always getting the bounty that she wants, which is others underwear. The ending was an unexpected twist when it turns out that the boy captain and the girl captain are brother and sister. Since she is the older sister she tells her little brother to give her his underwear because older sisters always tell their little brothers what to do. It was fun and I'm sure many children can relate to having an older sibling who seems to always be the boss of them.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dirty Joe the pirate sails the high seas in search of ships to plunder...for their socks! But he meets his match when he encounters Stinky Annie. Her ship of all girl pirates lovs to plunder too. But they plunder for...underwear!

When the two meet it's a battle for the ages. Stinky Annie's crew fights bare-footed. When Stinky Annie and Dirty Joe meet, they realize they look familiar to each other. They finally realize that they are brother and sister! That doesn't make a darn bit of difference to Annie who quickly takes advantage of the moment to depants the entire crew!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of Dirty Joe the pirate who sails the seven seas in search of socks! He and his dastardly crew take socks from everyone and hang them up on their ship. One day, they run across Pirate Annie who takes everyone’s underwear! There is a mighty battle, and a secret is revealed.
This is a fun and silly romp in the realm of pirates and siblings, all done in poetry and rhyme so it is even more enjoyable. It is a bit longer, but it is also singsongy, so it would be a fit for young kids up to about 2nd or 3rd grade.

[Janel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can understand the poor reviews opinions of this book. maybe my husband and I are bad parents. or, maybe we understand that children are innocent and don't see things the way we as adults do. so when there is plundering going on in this PIRATE book, who cares what each crew finds as booty. this is a hilarious book! my husband died laughing for an entire week reading this every night to our son. our son is not running around demanding kids on the play ground to Derobe... if you have a sense of humor, this will be an enjoyable book for the entire family.

[The Library Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Bill Harley. He is one of the best kids storytellers out there--and if you've never heard him tell, go out and find one of his recordings right NOW!
Kids will love this story of Dirty Joe, the pirate who collects dirty socks until he is bested by Sticky Annie, who collects underwear. Could they by chance be long lost relatives? Hmm...

[Jennie]

A rhyming pirates tale of a ship filled with boy pirates who steal socks meeting up with a ship of female pirates who steal underwear. A battle ensues until the two captains realize they are siblings. The moral of the story, “If you’ve got an older sister, then I feel bad for you, ‘Cause just as long as she’s alive, she’ll tell you what to do.”

[Sonya Huser · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dirty Joe and his pirate crew plunder dirty socks. Annie and her crew are after underwear. When the two ships meet, there is a happy reunion between the two captains who realize they are long-lost brother and sister. But no matter to Annie, who expects her brother and his crew to hand over their undies all the same. Because big sisters are bossy and cruel and that's just how it is.

[Christie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought it was a cute story but I don't know about reading it to kids. It is about a pirate that steals socks. At one part of the story it says "the pirates cursed and muttered. Then the moral at the end says older sisters will always tell you what to do. i think that it is not the best story for little kids.

[Rosa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dirty Joe sails the seas with his fellow pirates on the look out for boats so he can steal the crews socks. All is going along well until he runs into Annie a pirate that steals undergarments. There is a suprise twist that's kind of funny. The illustrations were okay, and again it feels too long for a library story time.

[Joelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very fun read aloud book. It made us all laugh out loud several times - especially because one of the main characters is named Stinky Annie. We have our very own stinky Annie in our house! The twist at the end is cute, too.

[Anne Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book for elementary school kids who love pirates! Underwear, pirates, and humor - perfect! The book rhymes, which helps with the pacing and it doesn't hurt that it's written by Bill Harley, a singer and songwriter himself.

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steve says: Dirty Joe goes after socks rather than booty. He comes across another pirate ship full of girls that takes boys boxer shorts. It ends up being a long lost family member. Funny story. Girls giggled up a storm, sayeth he.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun read! Boy pirates who scour the seas for stinky socks and girl pirates who plunder underpants, what could be better?

For some reason, my 4 year old wouldn't even open the cover...he wouldn't let me read it to him, even if it was a bonus 3rd bedtime story. Oh well, his loss!