with a frown.
"I think," said Nell,
"it's upside down."
"Don't tell me how to
read a map,
you good-for-nothing
whippersnap!
There's treasure here,
that's plain to see ... "
Nell can hardly believe it when her dream of being a pirate comes to fruition! She has always longed for adventure. In preparation for her time at sea, she includes an almanac with her gear, and carries stories in her head. The crew loves her daring tales.
Her days aboard the pirate ship bring reality to the fore as she scrubs pots and mops floors ... the plight of the youngest and newest crew member. Captain Gnash is full of orders, and little praise. On a sleepless night when Nell is gazing out to sea, she spies a bottle floating on the waves. Lo and behold, it has a map inside. The map sports an X on a flag-shaped island. It spurs even more dreams of adventure and treasure hunting.
It takes little time for Captain Gnash to claim the map for his own, and set sail to discover the treasure he reasons to be his own. Countless snafus and solutions along the way show Nell's innate ability to take her rightful place on the crew.
"She led them safely through the storm.
The sea grew calm; the air grew warm.
The treasure map was barely dry
when something distant caught Nell's eye.
Some craggy cliffs, a sandy shore ...
The island they'd
been searching for!"
And a treasure that is a complete surprise!
Enjoyable rhyming text keeps the story moving forward, and makes for a fun readaloud. The acrylic ink illustrations add to the fun, with action-filled, detailed spreads sure to be appreciated by kids who love pirate adventure. Librarians and early years teachers, rejoice!
Thank you for the lovely review of our book - we're so glad you enjoyed it!
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