Reagan Staff Picks -- Pirate and Orphan books!

"Aye, aye mateys!  Have ye yet got'n yer tickets fer Reagan Academy's Pirates of Penzance?"    They're on sale now, so don't miss out!

To get you in the mood for swashbuckling fun, here are a few staff recommended books on pirates and/or orphans.  Don't miss the play and don't miss these fun reads!

Mrs. Talley and Mrs.Garret both recommend:

How I Became a Pirate

(by Melinda Long and illustrated by David Shannon)

Jeremy Jacob is building a sandcastle when pirates show up on the beach. The pirates see him with his shovel and invite him to bury a treasure chest with him. Jeremy Jacob doesn’t think his parents will mind as long as he is back for soccer practice the next day. This picture book has humor and heart. The illustrations are absolutely magnificent. Mrs. Talley said, "I read it to my class every year and do a fun writing project about choosing imaginative jobs-like being a pirate."  Mrs. Jarrett said, "You won’t believe how these pirates live! This book is a fun one for all ages."

Mr. Snarr recommends:

Treasure Island
(by Robert Louis Stevenson)
Who cannot help but love this classic?  It is intrigue and adventure from start to finish.  My father read this to me as a little boy and I have read it many times since.  I also love the Muppet Movie adaptation.  I think this is a good book for 5th grade and above.

Mrs. Benson recommends
Solomon Snow and the Silver Spoon
(by Kaye Umansky and illustrated by Scott Nash)
This story is a "twist" on Oliver Twist.  A young man finds out he is an orphan, left on someone's doorstep with a silver spoon in his mouth.  He sets out on a quest to find his real parents.  It is a great story with hilarious characters.

Mrs. Myler (formerly Miss Sonne) recommends:

Anne of Green Gables

(by Lucy M. Montgomery)
Anne of Green Gables  is one of my favorite orphan books. This is a timeless book that teaches about the value of friendship, dreams, and hard work.  I love Anne's zest for life and her way of looking at the world.  I could read this book over and over and never get tired of its humor and heartwarming adventures.  I would recommend this book for anyone in fourth grade or older.

Mrs. Westerman recommends:

Tough Boris

(by Mem Fox)

Boris is a mean pirate, but when his parents die he is like anyone else. In very simple text and moving pictures we see that not only is he tough, but he can also cry and be sad.  This is a good book for reading aloud and then discussing with your kids.  The illustrations really help to tell the tale. 

Mrs. Laraway recommends:

Orphan Train Boy:  One Boy's True Story 

(by Andrea Warren)

This nonfiction book reads like fiction; I couldn't put it down.  From 1854-1930 "orphan trains" traveled across the U.S., stopping in small, rural towns with the hope that people would adopt the orphaned or homeless children on board.  Read this with your older children and you're sure to have an interesting discussion about the real-life experiences of these children.  Appropriate for ages 10 and up.

Mr. Pratt recommends:

Obadiah the Bold 

(by Brinton Turkle)

This picture book is a favorite from when I was a little kid.  It is about a young Shaker boy that wants to become a pirate when he grows up, but after playing pretend pirates with his older brothers (who make him walk the plank), he's not so sure anymore.  He learns from his father that he was actually named after an ancestor that was a brave sea captain and decides that, instead of a pirate, he wants to become a brave sea captain.  I remember liking the way the family speaks in old English.

Mrs. Jenni recommends:
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
(by Avi)
Pirates, murder, mutiny, storms at sea . . . this intense read will keep you on the edge of your seat. Charlotte embarks on her trip across the Atlantic as a prim and naive 12 year old, but arrives in the U.S. as a much different girl. A great adventure for any reader (girl or boy, despite the very feminine cover) ages 10 to 110.