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Jack Plank Tells Tales

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 6, age appropriate for kids over 8; suggested age 8.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    An ex-pirate spins captivating yarns.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 8 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    The usual pirate deeds, including thievery and murder, are not condoned, and the pirates show their gentler sides often enough. Also, Jack's new friends try to help him find a job.

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    No graphic descriptions of violence, but there are mentions of pirate acts such as shootings and stabbings and a hand that gets chopped off.

  • Sex:

    Not an issue.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Two mentions of pirates drinking rum/beer.

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Jack Plank Tells Tales was written by Ellen Dendy

Parents need to know that mentions of the pirates' crimes and nasty habits are minimal, and a few scenes show their gentler sides. References to violence are non-graphic and brief, including scenes in which a pirate captain threatens to shoot one of his cowardly crewmen, treasure hunters are found stabbed, and an ancient Egyptian king gets his hand chopped off. In one tale a girl in her early teens gets married, but this fits the 18th-century Caribbean setting. Pirates drink rum and beer.

Families Can Talk About

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • Families can talk about which stories they enjoyed the most and why. Do you think Jack's stories were true? If not, how do you think Jack came up with them? Can you come up with your own stories that incorporate mysteries and magic? Families can also use this as a starting point to learn more about and enjoy the art of storytelling.
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More on Jack Plank Tells Tales

Book Summary

Pirate Jack Plank is let go from the only job he's ever known. Left in Jamaica with a small bag of gold coins (so he can get a fresh start), Jack finds shelter in a boarding house, where he befriends owner Mrs. DelFresno, her daughter Nina, and the other boarders. Nina and the other boarders try to help Jack find a new profession, but each time someone suggests a job Jack responds with one of his many high-seas adventure stories.

Jack's pirate stories whisk Mrs. DelFresno, Nina, and the other boarders away to exotic tropical beaches and dark angry seas -- places where magic is possible and danger lurks around every corner.

Through a process of elimination and careful evaluation of Jack's talents, the group eventually comes up with the perfect job for their highly entertaining friend.

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Is It Any Good?

Award-winning author Natalie Babbitt (Tuck Everlasting) pays tribute to the art of storytelling in this engaging story about Jack Plank, a recently laid-off pirate. Jack's career crisis serves as a framework for eight captivating and highly imaginative pirate stories that are just plain fun to read and tailor-made for group storytelling. And Babbitt's old-fashioned, hand-drawn illustrations match the story's 18th-century setting perfectly.

Because the pirate stories are tame, JACK PLANK TELLS TALES is a great choice for little ones who are interested in pirates but are too young or sensitive for more graphic "crimes on the high seas" stories. A mix of mystery, magic, suspense, and surprise, Babbitt's pirate tales veer away from standard fare in their sheer creativity.
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Publisher’s Details

Publisher: Scholastic Inc., Publication date: 5/1/2007
Number of pages: 144, Price: $15.95 (hardcover)
Read Aloud: 8, Read Alone: 8

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Adult Reviewer
    BlueJade
    Lives in Illinois
    I rate this title on for age 7 and give it 3.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Educational

    Great twist on pirate stories

    This book was on an assigned reading list for fourth and fifth graders. It was not a typical pirate book, as the main character wants to stop being a pirate and figure out what else he should do. So the story is less about pillaging and more about finding out how people fit in. The book has several funny parts. A 9-year-old boy really enjoyed this, more than he thought. The language is not too difficult

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
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  2. Parent Reviewer
    peony
    Lives in California
    Kids ages: 8, 10
    I rate this title on and give it 3.0

    mild pirate tales

    Fairly restrained, non-graphic pirate stories, so it's okay for younger kids (7+). The resolution of Jack Plank's future is likely affirming for kids with literary or artistic interests.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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