Fourth grader Sparky can’t swim or float, but this doesn’t stop her from imagining one great pirate story for English class. Sparky’s classmates are thrown into a whirlwind over her story. Is Sparky truly a pirate captain? Are Gobble, Bobble, and Wobble real life pirates? Sparky and her pirate crew embark on hilarious adventures where she’ll learn to be a pirate and the pirates will learn to be nice. It’s up to you to discover if her story is true!
T. E. Antonino is an author in multiple genres. He also happens to be an illustrator. Writing and art fill up 90% of the available space in his head. He loves to try loose teas from all over Asia. Reading, hiking, and the occasional adventure keep him humming along nicely. Many more of his books will see the light of day shortly.
A nice read for children. My grandchildren would like it. Good message about being kind. I love the illustrations, also. 😊 Thanks to Goodreads for the digital copy.
I received a free copy of this book for evaluation.
First, the author needs to get a good editor who knows fundamental language, such as the difference between your and you're. (This should be especially important in a children's book.)
I found the book to be too meandering to hold my attention, and full of missed opportunities. While there was at least some logic to the classroom/story path, the actual pirate adventure seemed to be just a random collection of scenarios. Also, Captain Sparky was supposed to teach the pirates to be nice, yet she missed several opportunities to do so - for example when they kept interrupting her. (Again, for a children's book, this dilutes any lesson(s) that could be learned.)
very imaginative and entertaining pirate adventure!
I really enjoyed this children’s pirate adventure story. The author nailed the child’s point of view and wild imagination. Very entertaining for kids of all ages
*I won a copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway
I read this book to kids who thought some of the lines were funny. I didn't especially appreciate it. A few times I didn't care for the characters reactions and the poor attitude towards others. Thankfully the kids didn't actually comprehend the parts I don't want them.
I won a copy of this book for Kindle in a giveaway! I knew I had to read it as soon as I got it. It was absolutely adorable and a great, easy read for children and adults alike.
I also loved the inclusion of Chapter 14 and how the book teaches kids that it's okay to cry and how to be nice
The best adventures come at just the right time. Sparky was agonizing over homework for her English class when Gobble, Wobble, and Bobble, self-described pirates, came out of the pool drain. The pirates are stranded and need help returning to the open seas. Sparky is but a fourth-grader who does not know how to float or swim, much less navigate a vast ocean stalked by a terrifying sea hippopotamus. Besides, the pirates seem rough and mean to each other. Sparky knows that the pirates can stand to learn about qualities that make a great friend. She joins the grand adventure and lives to tell the tale to her fourth-grade class.
In this delightful early reader book, author T.E. Antonino shares essential lessons in friendships, overcoming fears, standing by your truth, celebrating differences, and being open to fresh adventures and experiences. Children would appreciate the fun expressions and catchy phrases featured in the back-and-forth dialogue between Sparky and the pirates. While the story emphasizes the importance of kindness and reciprocity, it does so in a pleasant and inviting way. Sparky and the pirates share an infectious enthusiasm for learning from and about each other and how to be a reliable and trustworthy friend.
The power of imagination takes center stage in the story, inspiring children to open up their notebooks and write fantastical stories. The incident with the pirate flag may make readers wonder whether Sparky is as nice as she says she is. To be a good leader of pirates, Sparky finds out that she has some work she needs to do. It is not enough to claim that one is kind. A genuinely kind person always does nice things, even when no one is looking.
Each chapter sets up a key lesson that can pose questions for more learning opportunities. Parents, teachers, and librarians can use Captain Sparky and the Pool Pirates as a teaching tool to define kindness, understanding, and diverse preferences and points of view. Sparky learns what it takes to be a good pirate captain. It is never too early to ask children about how they think and their reflections on an issue. When Sparky shared the story with her classmates, not everybody believed her. Sparky could have been discouraged, but she chose to stand by her truth. During these contentious times, this is an important lesson for children. It is all right to disagree because we can not expect everyone to have the same opinions. What’s important is that we learn to respect our differences.
Sometimes the simplest things can be the most meaningful, like being nice. When Sparky has to write a story for her fourth grade English class, she discovers just that. Pirates Bobble, Gobble, and Wobble desperately want to be nice, and it just so happens Sparky desperately wants to be a pirate. It’s a match made in heaven — maybe! Once they set sail, their journey takes them to Jerky Turkey Island where events unfold in unexpected ways. It’s hard to be nice when you have a pirate’s crusty heart, and it’s hard to be a pirate when you can’t float or swim. Join the adventure and sail away to places that bring fun, laughter, hope, and danger all into one bundle of a wild sea williwaw.