Debra Tidball's Reviews > Captain Sneer The Buccaneer

I love this book! The text has a rollicking rhythm and rhyme that hilariously subverts reader expectations until the very end. There are surprises to be had at the turn of every page.

The illustrations are absolutely perfect for the swashbuckling tale - wonderfully earthy full paged pictures (think 'Pirates of the Caribbean' rather than Disney's 'Hook') yet with a luminescence that glitters like the elusive gold. Evans has used pencil, watercolour and gouache to create this effect. With the Captain himself, Evans has mastered a look of a vulnerable villain - to the point of being almost cuddly.

Like all great picture books, the story is to be found in the combination of words and pictures, not either in isolation, and it rewards the reader on re-readings as there is always something more to discover.

I was fortunate enough to attend the book launch, and to see it performed in front of a group of kids was magic. Perfect for reading to a group of kids in a class or more intimately snuggled up with a child on your lap - either way it's great fun. This one will be asked for again and again, and parents will be happy to oblige. Highly Recommended.