World of Pirates

Read about piracy through the ages, from the Caribbean to the South China Seas. Learn about pirate ships flags, and daily life for the crew. What exactly was pirate treasure? What happened to pirates who were caught? Who are the most famous pirates? Are there any pirates around today? It's all here—and much, much more.

Within the pages of the beautifully illustrated book Pirates children will discover the exciting world of pirates and buccaneers: who they were, how they lived, and their swashbuckling deeds. Young readers will meet the pestering pirates of Ancient Greece and Rome, the bloodcurdling Viking warriors of Scandinavia, and all the other bold privateers, corrupt corsairs, and drunken rogues...if they dare! They will then go on to uncloak secret details of the lives of women who out-fought men and princesses who led an all-female crew, as well as find out what it was like to sail the Seven Seas in a creaky timber sailing ship, to dodge angry naval patrols, and to capture a Spanish galleon filled with gold and jewels. Practical projects show kids how to serve up hard tack biscuits, make a treasure chest, fashion a cutlass, dress like a pirate captain, and much, much more. Pirates is a voyage that takes readers from the Caribbean to the South China Sea on an unforgettable adventure!

Nancy Garhan Attebury - Children's Literature

Shiver me timbers! Pirates galore run rampart through this highly informative source about rowdy buccaneers. This title from "The World Of" series holds a wealth of educational material. A sword wielding, gun-packing burly pirate graces the cover, with lively pirates in the background. The cover signals the reader that the contents will be action-packed. The book is organized into eight main categories. Each category consists of one to four sections. Several old-world maps depict the sailing grounds used by pirates in the past. They clearly denote where the pirates roamed in regard to different countries and continents. An excellent section entitled "Clues to the past" allows the reader to understand what kind of archeological work is done today to find out about pirates from the past. The pirates discussed include Vikings, pirates from Jamaica, the Barbary Coast, and others. A two-page spread mid-book shows a cut-away illustration of a pirate ship. Twenty-eight labels are utilized to mark various components of the ship. Another two-page spread gives readers a view of pirate ships from the 1400s to 1900s. Labeled illustrations of weapons are of interest too. Girls may be happy to learn about pirates who were women. Another plus is the "Rogues Gallery," which lists pirates' names and their biographies. This book is a "must have" for school libraries. Place it on your shelf to encourage exciting reading. 2004, Kingfisher/Houghton Mifflin, Ages 8 to 12.

Philip Steele has a passion for writing about history. He is a well-known author of more than one hundred children's books, including Castles, Pirates, Knights, The Best Book of Mummies, The World of Pirates, and The World of Castles. He was a student of medieval French and German literature, and has visited castles in England, France, Germany, Spain, and Poland. He has travelled to the Valley of the Kings and other sites of Ancient Egypt, and has met mummies face to face in the Cairo Museum. Philip now lives near Beaumaris and the other great castles of North Wales.