I’ve got quite the book booty for you. Here are books to celebrate all things pirate, just in time for Talk Like a Pirate Day on September 19. Let’s dive into pirate books for preschoolers and up!
Ahoy, matey, here’s a loot of books to enjoy with the kids. Get ready to don your best pirate voice for these read-alouds.
Picture Books About Pirates
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Give Me Back My Bones by Kim Norman is packed with fun learning and is an entertaining read for Talk Like a Pirate Day or any day of the year. Plus, the dust jacket turns into a poster.
And, don’t miss the book activities I created to use with the book.—> Give Me Back My Bones Book Activities
Do you remember the traditional I Know An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly? Here is a pirate version- There Was an Old Pirate Who Swallowed a Fish by Jennifer Ward. Instead of an old lady as the main character, there is an old pirate in this song story. The pirate swallows birds, fish, maps, and gold which makes his stomach grow, grow, grow.
The Pirates Are Coming! by John Condon is a take on The Boy Who Cried Wolf! Tom rings the bell one too many times to warn that a pirate ship is coming. But, what happens when the pirates really do show up?
Calling all fans who love pirates and dinosaurs. In Dinosaur Pirate by Penny Dale, those two worlds combine into one imaginative story. Imagine dinosaurs as pirates sailing the sea. Kids will enjoy acting this book out as it is filled with action words that beg kids to pretend play just like the dinosaurs in the book.
Pirates love to eat words in The Word Pirates by Susan Cooper. But, a word wizard teaches them that words are for reading and writing and not for eating. Although, I’d argue that you can savor words.
In the Pie Rats by Lisa Frenkel Riddiough, the pierats are on the search for just the right baked treasure. Storms and scallywags can’t keep them from their quest to find pie. Eating pie while enjoying the book is optional but highly recommended.
Prince and Pirate by Charlotte Gunnufson might not be your typical pirate story. but, Prince and Pirate are both fish who rule their own fish bowls until one day when things change. Now, they have to occupy the same sea and they both want to be in charge. There is an underlying message of the importance of sharing.
Get ready to laugh out loud as you read Dirty Joe, the Pirate: A True Story by Bill Harley. Dirty Joe is on a mission and it’s a very smelly quest. He and his crew are on the search for dirty odorous socks. Along the way, they meet another pirate crew led by Stinky Annie. Encourage kids to study the illustrations to find lots of hidden details.
Can a crew of two recruit a few more hands to help out on the ship? Well perhaps a ship that blows bubbles and has a large curly slide just might. Enjoy Pirate & Penguin 2 Few Crew by Mike Allegra.
A Year on the Pirate Ship is perfect for kids who love to pour over detailed illustrations. This book is action packed with seaworthy things to study in the images as we make our way through the year.
Printable List of Books About Pirates
Grab a printable list to take to the library or keep track of the books you read. Just click below to download.
Happy reading!