Andreae combines several childhood obsessions into a rousing tale of a schoolboy named Flinn who helps a weeping pirate, discovered at the back of his classroom's supply closet, to recover a ship that has been stolen by a gang of dinosaurs. In Ayto's appropriately big, messy, garishly colored cartoons, the peg-legged, eye-patched dino crew is impressive enough, but it's nothing next to its leader, a huge, slavering tyrannosaur Captain Hook, who battles intrepid young Flinn for more than two hours before conceding defeat. Will Flinn stay and become captain of all the pirate dinosaurs? No, it's time to sail back through the closet for lunch. Children fond of pirates, dinosaurs, ships, and wild rumpuses in general will happily climb aboard.

In his classroom's supply closet, young Flinn encounters and teams up with a stubble-bearded pirate named (what else) Captain Stubble. Three classmates join them as they embark on a fantasy adventure that leads to a showdown with pirate dinosaurs, Flinn going one-on-one with Tyrannosaurus rex. Bold colors and exaggerated art and situations are engaging.

While drawing dinosaurs at school, Flinn discovers he doesn't have enough markers. He goes into the closet and discovers Captain Stubble crying over the loss of his ship The Acorn to some mysterious Yo-ho-ho-ers. Flinn volunteers to help, as do his friends from class. They are transported to a ship and set off in search of The Acorn only to find it overrun with dinosaur pirates. The pirate diplodocus, stegosaurus, triceratops and pterodactyl are easily dispatched, but the evil Captain Tyrannosaurus Rex fights on. After a lengthy sword battle, Flinn prevails. He returns the ship to Captain Stubble and reappears in the back of the supply closet with his friends just in time for lunch. Ayto's wild watercolor-and-ink illustrations of boldly colored backgrounds and exaggerated perspectives are a shot in the arm to Andreae's slightly sedate tale. The pirate theme, the riotous art and the jagged-toothed, drooling dinosaurs will make this a sure hit with Me Hardies of all stripes. (Picture book. 4-7)

K-Gr 3-This imaginary adventure combines a boy's two passions-pirates and prehistoric animals. Flinn's markers run out while he is drawing a dinosaur at school and he goes to the supply closet to get more. There he discovers a sobbing pirate who explains that his ship has been stolen. Along with three friends, Flinn vows to help Captain Stubble retake the Acorn. The closet wall falls away, revealing a bright blue day and a scrappy-looking vessel. The children don pirate garb and Captain Stubble, who prefers to be the cook, puts Flinn in charge. They discover that the Acorn has been taken over by fierce, pirate dinosaurs, and a great battle ensues. All of the creatures jump overboard--except for the Tyrannosaurus rex. Flinn crosses swords with the frightening beast until it finally surrenders. Then it is time to return to school and the children step back through the closet and into the classroom where everyone is wondering where they have been. Ayto's watercolor-and-ink illustrations are angular, bold, and lively. The pirate dinosaurs-complete with eye patches and pointy weapons-are a curious combination of ferocious and precious. They look very much like Flinn's drawing. The fast-paced action and vibrant artwork make this tale a fun and exciting read-aloud.-Linda Staskus, Parma Regional Library, OH Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.