Pirates (by John Matthews)

Capitalizing on Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, this heavily illustrated book is a fascinating investigation into pirate history. However, pirate misdeeds may scare young readers. The mixed message -- that pirates are romantic and fun but also extremely bad individuals -- starts with a document for the book's owner to sign, agreeing to participate on a pirate adventure. Parents will want to be sure kids understand that pirates aren't guys to emulate.

This is a well-researched history book that may be written over the heads of many in its target audience. Additional items slipped into envelopes or unfolding from pages are scattered throughout the book encourage repeated browsing. Parents will want to read the book themselves first, but kids who are old enough to handle the violent details will be enthralled by the lavish illustrations and interesting exploration of pirate life.