The Word Pirates by Steven Kellogg, Susan Cooper
Published by Neal Porter Books on September 24, 2019
ISBN: 0823443590
Genres: Adventure
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads

The Word Pirates by Susan Cooper and illustrated by Steven Kellogg is dedicated to Margaret Mahy and rightly so. Young readers and listeners ages 4 – 7 will enjoy the frolicking text and classic Kellogg busy and colorful drawings. Captain Rottingbones , his pirates, and their flock of Bumblebirds steal words and eat them for breakfast. The Word Wizard in New Zealand has her words stolen right in the middle of a book reading. The children are furious, but happily the pen proves mightier than the sword and the pirates learn that words are food for the imaginations, not for bellies.  This book will be especially appreciated by those who know Margaret Mahy’s works including The Boy Who Was Followed Home, but other young children will enjoy the pirates and fast action merged with endless Kellogg supplied humorous visual details. Adults will appreciate the message that words truly are for creating imaginative “Once upon a time…” stories. Recommended by Margy Soule, Coffin Elementary School, Brunswick, Maine

4 stars