The Castaway Pirates

"...away hey-ho and down we go!" are the words set on 'repeat' in my daughter's vocabulary for the last week since we received this book. I am amazed she has managed to fit this phrase into so many active scenarios within her lifestyle. It's quite impressive really. To say this is her current book of choice, is an understatement. My daughter is three and an unabashed book hound. Our shelves are overflowing with literary treasures, but this book right now has held a place of honor (her bedside table) for over a week now. There are many qualities that make this children's book unique and a worthy birthday or Christmas gift this year. Some of the most notable qualities of course are it's quality illustrations, POP-UP book format, and catchy rhyming prose. Every page has a new treasure, and a little something new to see every time you open the book. The POP-UP pieces get more complicated with each turn of the page. The story is simple and it's writing style reminds me a little of the classic joke "a priest and a rabbi are trapped in a boat..." only in this case it is a captain and five of his crew try everything from a rope to a shoe to plug a leak that has sprung in their boat. To make matters worse a grey nosed shark hovers nearby waiting for them to sink. In the end the shark refuses to eat them because of their smelly toes. There is something really cute about my three year old daughter holding her nose and saying "Eww mommy...they're stinky". I recommend this book for children old enough to know–and can refrain from NOT pulling apart the POP-UP illustrations. The delicacy of the book's construction makes this book not suitable for very young children without supervision. However the rhyming story is suitable for younger and older children alike.

Review based on the vidoe at http://reviewedherefirst.blogspot.com/2008/06/910-of-review.html