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TWO SPLENDID SEAFARING PICTURE BOOKS + 2 GIVEAWAYS

carolbaldwin

 If you’re like me, you give books as presents. On today’s blog, I have two fun books published by Sleeping Bear Press that will make great presents for a young pirate or sailor in your life. Both books use great wordplay which will tickle the ears of both kids and adults.

REVIEWS

PIRATES DON’T DANCE

What happens when a young man (who loves to dance) signs up to be a pirate? Author-illustrator Shawna J.C. Tenney answers that question in this action-packed picture book.

More than anything, Jack wanted to be a pirate. 

……
When Jack heard the 
slosh slosh slap of the waves,
the flip flip flap of the sails,
the creak creak crack of the ship,
he felt the rhythm in his soul

But, he quickly found out that,



Jack danced without knowing it. At sword-fighting practice, he saw the pirates-in-training stumble and fumble. Jack couldn’t help himself.


He showed his fellow trainees how to grand jete’ over gullies during a treasure hunt. But that got everybody in trouble.

Finally, a feared pirate came on board. Jack and his friends hid and watched.


Jack couldn’t just stand by and do nothing–he had to dance! 


It was a fierce battle. In the end, the Captain conceded. “Blimey! Keep dancing, Jack! KEEP DANCING!”

Jack’s amazing dancing steps won the battle, the Captain’s heart, and the reward of becoming an official pirate. From then on, everyone put their best foot forward.


Parents, grandparents, and teachers will enjoy the pleasure of reading this story out loud and children will enjoy the onomatopoeia and how an unlikely hero wins the day.

To read about Shawna’s backstory for writing and illustrating this book, please see this post on Kathy Temean’s blog.

Back matter includes an author’s note, explanations of dance movements, and pirate speak definitions.

MONSTERS IN THE BRINY

Lynn Becker‘s rhyming debut picturebook is about mythical sea creatures and the mayhem they cause when they meet up with a boat full of hardy, young sailors. Scott Brundage performs his magic with marvelous illustrations that are as funny and rollicking as the text. 

The first monster who appears even before the first page is a Kraken.

You would

Share some jokes and your best riddle,
Feed her cakes from Cookie’s griddle,
Teach her how to bow the fiddle,
Kraken in the briny.
Just when the sailors successfully tame a surly, scruffly, sea goat, the ship gets a visit from a

The sailors 
Keep a bucket at the ready,
Mop his forehead if he’s sweaty,
Tuck him into serpent beddy,
Serpent in the briny.

Next, the brave sailors meet a tearful turtle. They find innovative ways to cheer him up.


 Readers will be anxious to find out what sea monster is next. 

How about a hungry hydra?

“Yo! Ho! And up he’s rising, Yo! Ho! He’s quite surprising,


But wait. 

One of the sailors is sick of shipwrecking monsters.

So,

Yo! Ho! And up we’re rising,

Yo! Ho! We’re all surprising,

Yo! Ho! We’re harmonizing,

Monsters in the briny.

The back matter includes two pages about sea monsters and the music to “Monsters in the Briny” which is based on an old sea shanty about a drunken sailor. 

If you’re interested in reading about Lynn’s book journey, you can find it on Kathy Temean’s blog. 

I recently took a webinar with children’s book author Pat Miller. She encouraged picture book writers to look at different frameworks for their story idea. Using a song was one of her suggestions. Now I see how that can work so well–particularly with the imaginative team of Lynn Becker and Scott Brundage. This week Lynn and Scott will share some of the inside scoops behind this sea-faring creation in the Talking Story Facebook group. Don’t miss the childhood game that inspired Lynn and some of Scott’s drafts! (P.S. If you’re not a member yet, just click on the link and request to join it.)

GIVEAWAYS

Please leave a comment by November 23 and let me know which book you’re interested in winning. MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE YOUR NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS IF YOU ARE NEW TO MY BLOG. If you follow my blog or sign up to follow it, I’ll give you two chances. 

Congratulations to Theresa Milstein who won SUPERPOWER? from last week’s blog. 

Published by carolbaldwin

Carol enjoys teaching writing and has presented at many educators' and writing conferences. She has published widely in newspapers and magazines and along with Rebecca Wheeler, co-publishes Talking Story, a newsletter for educators and media specialists. When she isn’t reading, writing, or blogging, you’ll find her walking with friends, golfing, or gardening.

38 thoughts on “TWO SPLENDID SEAFARING PICTURE BOOKS + 2 GIVEAWAYS”

  1. Dear Carol,Both of these books sound delightful. Especially, the pirate story. Great illustrations in each book.Thanks for sharing. I would love to win a copy.Never Give UpJoan

    Reply

  8. Such a delightful pair of books! I'd be happy with either of them. If forced to choose, I'd go with Pirates Don't Dance, because “Captain Squinty Eye” alone makes me laugh. (Also, I follow your blog. Thanks.)

    Reply

  20. Dear Carol,Both of these books sound delightful. Especially, the pirate story. Great illustrations in each book.Thanks for sharing. I would love to win a copy.Never Give UpJoan

    Reply

  27. Such a delightful pair of books! I'd be happy with either of them. If forced to choose, I'd go with Pirates Don't Dance, because “Captain Squinty Eye” alone makes me laugh. (Also, I follow your blog. Thanks.)

    Reply

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