Book Review: Pirates Past Noon by Mary Pope Osborne

Book: Pirates Past Noon

Author and Illustrator: Mary Pope Osborne

Publisher: Scholastic

Publication date: 1996

Categories: 

Supports Diverse Protagonist

Early Chapter Book

Picture Book (some illustrations throughout the book)

Lexile Score: 290L 

Target Audience: Grades 1-4

Age Range: 6-9 year olds

Brief Summary

This is the 4th book in the Magic Tree House Series. Jack and Annie go on an adventure to island where they run into some pirates who are looking for a treasure. The pirates won't release Jack and Annie until they have found the hidden treasure. With the help of their combine intelligence and a parrot who speaks, the treasure is found. When Jack and Annie return home, they discover what the "M" on the medallion means. It's a special book in the series filled with lots of new discoveries.

Evaluation: 28/32

Illustration - 4

Storyline - 2
*This book would be hard to find a topic to connect it to.*

Appropriateness - 4

Problems/Resolutions - 4

Stereotyping - 4

Relatability - 3

Readability/Cohesiveness - 4

Critical Thinking - 3

This book is a fun book for children to read on their own. I'm not sure I would use it in a classroom setting just because it would be hard to find a connection to a topic. Students can relate to the idea of imagination and problem solving but the idea of pirates holding children captive is a hard topic for a classroom.

Literary Elements

1. Apostrophe -This book offers a unique use of the apostrophe by using it in the name Cap'n Bones.

2. Dialect - The author uses a dialect for the pirates. Students have their own idea of how pirates talk and the author uses that main "pirate language" as the dialect offered. If I were to teach a lesson on dialect, I could use this book and others as examples of how different areas and people have a different way of speaking.

3. Symbolism - The "M" on the medallion stands for Morgan le Fay and throughout the book, Morgan is represented by the parrot. The parrot is always trying to keep the children safe so she is a symbol of safety in all of Jack and Annie's adventures.