Roger, the Jolly Pirate

This picture book illustrates the story of Roger, a bumbling pirate, whose attempts to be a great pirate fail miserably. When he tries to make a cake for his pirate buddies, it results in a fantastic event. He impresses his buddies so much that they honor him with a flag, the jolly roger. This book offers a light-hearted explanation for the grim subject of pirate imagery. It's fun to read aloud and has fantastic illustrations. I recommend it as a read aloud for four-year olds and up. Even second graders will appreciate the fun ending.

Roger has a problem. He is too jolly and kind. Whenever there is a fight, the other pirates send him below and out of the way. Just before one fight was to begin, Jolly was again sent down below. He was sad that the other pirates didn't like him. He got a great idea! He would make them a cake. He found what looked like a big pot to bake the cake in. He put in any ingredients he could find. He stirred the ingredients. Jolly found a place to light the pot so that he could bake his cake. What a surprise! (You'll have to get the book to find out what it was.) All of the men they were fighting fled from fright. The other pirates thought Jolly was GREAT! They even made a flag to honor him. Most pirate ships fly this flag; they call it the Jolly Roger. This is a delightful pirate story. The illustrations are vivid and alive with action. The text is just the right length for preschool and above. One of my favorite pirate books!

This is an adorable children's book that is thoroughly enjoyed by children and adults alike! Cute humor is interspersed in this story of a jolly pirate. As one might imagine, a jolly pirate is not exactly ideal--or is it? And is there a reason for a pirate flag to be called The Jolly Roger? Read this book to find out. A great book to accompany this one is How I became a Pirate. This story has become a favorite in my second grade classroom. It was a great bargain. Share this book with a special child in your life. I love books that can combine humor with a plot that hooks kids; this is one of those books.

While on the ship, Roger is constantly made fun of for his odd behavior as a pirate. He is constantly ridiculed and put below the deck when they attack someone. But, in the end, it's Roger's silliness that saves the day for the ship. Roger the Jolly Pirate is not only a well written book, but it's also very well illustrated. This is a must read for anyone who enjoys pirates. The vibrant colors and great detail make for very exciting pictures to match the text. They can easily catch ones eye. Also, the song at the end provides for a great closing to the story.

My almost 4 year old has recently become entranced with pirates, and this book has been a big hit at our house. The illustrations are wonderful, the story is witty and fun to read out loud for parents, and it's neither too realistically gory nor too white-washy as far as what real pirates were like. We like singing the song at the end too. Great for any kid that likes pirates (or even those who don't--it's just a fun story).