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Book Review of Pirates

Pirates
Pirates
Author: John Matthews
Genres: Children's Books, Nonfiction
Book Type: Hardcover
cathyskye avatar reviewed on + 2275 more book reviews


First Line: They have many names: pirates, buccaneers, corsairs, Brethren of the Coast.

This book is gorgeous, with its cover showing a glittering ruby eye and a gleaming gold tooth; it's informative; and it's fun. Printed on thick stock, Pirates is loaded with illustrations, history and facts about... pirates.

The movie Pirates of the Caribbean provided some inspiration for this book, and there are a few stills from the film scattered throughout. I didn't mind a bit because not only am I a pirate at heart, Pirates of the Caribbean is one of the movies I watch whenever I want to laugh and have fun.


As you can see in the illustration above [http://www.kittlingbooks.com/2009/12/pirates-by-john-matthews.html], it's a large book. This particular photo shows that there is quite a bit of detail given on the various parts of seventeenth- or eighteenth-century ships commonly used by pirates as well as many of the flags they flew under. Since the pages are printed on such heavy stock, Matthews has had attached throughout small pamphlets on pirate slang and weapons as well as envelopes containing facsimiles of such items as the Articles (laws), Licenses, and treasure maps.

Adults and children alike can enjoy Pirates. The book is so beautifully illustrated, so accessible, and so much fun that you might just read it and think you didn't learn a thing.

Arrrrrgh!