It's mutiny on the high seas in this light-hearted lesson in playing well with others. When Salty Jack pretends his bedroom is a pirate ship, his friends help him tie ropes to serve as rigging and sheets to serve as sails. Crewmates Scallywag Sanjay and Barnacle Bob hoist the sails, and soon the friends are cruising past flying fish and secret caves. But their daring adventure goes to the dogs when Captain Salty Jack barks out too many orders and Millie the Mermaid abandons ship, setting an example for the rest of the crew. When Jack discovers it's not as much fun playing alone, he must figure out a way to get his friends back. Children will discover, along with Captain Jack, that an adventure can be even more thrilling when everyone is allowed to share their creative ideas, and even steer the ship.

About the Author
John Steven Gurney is the author and illustrator of the graphic novel Fuzzy Baseball and the picture book Dinosaur Train. He is the illustrator of the A to Z Mysteries and lives in Brattleboro, Vermont.

Reviews
Fun and friendship have a lot in common. They both require a lot of give and take. Jack and his friends share in imaginary play, and his bedroom quickly becomes an amazing pirate's ship. All are having fun, until Jack takes his part as Captain a little too seriously, and barks out orders till there is mutiny on the high seas. So you see, in order for friendships and fun to really be, it can't become all about me. (Ages 5-6) -- Midwest Book Review, Children's Bookwatch
A smart easy reader story about sharing and playing well together, The Bossy Pirate is a good read-aloud and a good independent book for newly confident readers. The sentences are slightly longer than beginning easy readers, and include imaginative words like scuttlebutt, barnacle, and nautical. Back matter includes a list of nautical terms that come up in the book, and a list of "nonsense words" that the pirate friends use. The artwork combines realistic and imaginative, with action going from Jack's room to the high seas, where whales and dolphins glide and leap around a pirate ship. The group of friends is multicultural. The Bossy Pirate is good fun with a smart message: it's always better to play well together. Let the kids make their own newspaper pirate hats and have a pirate storytime. -- Rosemary Kiladitis, Mom Read It
The moral of the story is, don't be bossy! Nobody wants to play when they aren't allowed to add their own ideas to the story. (Shreya - Age 8) -- Kids' BookBuzz



Book Information
ISBN 9780764356254
Author John Steven Gurney
Format Hardback
Page Count 48
Imprint Schiffer Publishing Ltd
Publisher Schiffer Publishing Ltd
Weight(grams) 59g