ChildrensPictureBook.info Review

Pirate Diary: The Journal of Jake Carpenter
Author: Richard Platt
Illustrator: Chris Riddell
Publisher: Candlewick Press

Young Jake Carpenter, under the watchful eye of his Uncle Will, sets off to see the world as a young seaman. An educated young man, his father expects him to return and study medicine, Jake keeps a journal of his adventures. He doesn't start out to be a pirate, but once his ship is taken over by pirates he must join them or be marooned. The details of life at sea and pirating are fascinatingly woven into Jake's diary. The book is a delight of entertaining learning that should have most adventure-loving boys and girls daydreaming about setting to sea themselves.

The more gruesome aspects of ship and pirate life are included in the text and graphics, but they are never presented gratuitously and are factually based. The illustrations, drawn in an illustrated classics cartoon style, are a fabulous depiction of the text. "Notes for the Reader" are included and give both further explanation of what the colonies in North America were like in 1716 and a history of piracy. The book includes a combination index/glossary that allows the reader to look up facts or get the definition for less familiar terms.

Pirate Diary: The Journal of Jake Carpenter

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