Starred Review for Publishers Weekly (Thu Apr 28 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

"This picture book spoof of a reference on all things piratical will shiver the timbers and tickle the funnybones of those salts, both young and old, with a penchant for silliness," according to <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">PW. Ages 4-8. <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">(May)

ALA Booklist (Mon May 01 00:00:00 CDT 2000)

The subtitle of this droll book says it all. There's funny language and a glossary with such words as Avast and Ahoy There's an interesting note about the derivation of the term scaredy-pants and a fair amount about general pirate stinkitude as well as some insight into the evolution of pirate flags and treasure maps. The illustrations, rendered in ink, colored pencil, gouache, pastels, and ear wax, are suitably exaggerated and liberally, er, salted with helpful commentary. Figure one, for example, shows a pirate boot with a hole in it--ventilated to prevent toe crud. Lichtenheld even includes a chart showing how to make up a pirate name (there's only one girl name, of course, and the author warns children about that one). We're talking boy fantasy here, not Anne Bonny. (Reviewed May 15, 2000)

Horn Book (Tue Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2000)

Readers will enjoy learning about these pirate "facts"--such wisecracking nonsense as "the Pirate Sneer," the true origin of the Jolly Roger, and how to walk the walk and talk the talk of a genuine buccaneer. This fresh, funny, and irreverent book, along with its bold, colorful illustrations, is sure to please pirate fans young and old.

Kirkus Reviews

Accurately subtitled "A collection of made-up facts, educated guesses, and silly pictures about bad guys of the high seas," this study affirms many popular misconceptions about these archetypal villains. It clears up plenty of mysteries too, such as what pirates eat (weevils, maggots, and food stolen from fish schools) or why (besides terminal clumsiness) so many are one-eyed, one-handed, and peg-legged. Lichtenheld also describes pirate fashion in detail, from boots ("Ventilated to prevent toe crud") to hair styles, presents a gallery of historical skull and crossbones alternatives ("Hot dog and crossbones, 1620"), then caps the narrative with a chart of pirate-like monikers and a glossary ("Buccaneer. 2. How much a pirate pays to get his ears pierced"). Ingenious, sometimes gross, and illustrated with cartoony views of leering plug-uglies, this makes a fine companion to Colin McNaughton's Captain Abdul's Pirate School (1994) or, for readers who prefer somewhat straighter stuff, such alternatives as Richard Platt's Eyewitness title, Pirates (not reviewed). (Picture book. 7-10)

School Library Journal

Gr 2-5-The subtitle succinctly describes this silly book. The tongue-in-cheek humor will appeal to those who like to be grossed out by boogers, earwax, chest hair, body odor, and seagull poop. Some jokes may need to be explained to younger children: "Sometimes a pirate would refuse to use a map at all and just wander aimlessly around the ocean, refusing to even stop to ask directions. These were usually Dad pirates." A two-page "Official Pirate Glossary" reflects the mixture of fact and fiction throughout: "Buccaneer 1. A fancy French word for `pirate.' 2. How much a pirate pays to get his ears pierced." This spoof is not to be confused with factual books about pirates, even though the CIP recommends a 910.4'5 Dewey classification. The cartoon-style illustrations, rendered in "ink, colored pencil, gouache, pastels, and ear wax," are large and plentiful with amusing captions. Don't walk the plank for this one.-Eunice Weech, M. L. King Elementary School, Urbana, IL Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.