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The Gingerbread Pirates (by Kristin Kladstrup)

common sense media says

Engaging twist on idea of toys becoming real.

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know there is nothing to be concerned about in this book. The pirate captain carries a cutlass, but it’s never used (it’s nibbled by a mouse). The gingerbread pirates are scared that Santa Claus is going to eat them, but all ends well.

Educational value: Not applicable.
Positive messages: The pirates work together to save their crew. While prepared for a fight, they listen to what Santa has to say and come to a new understanding.
Positive role models: Santa, of course, models empathy, generosity, and kindness -- for which the cookies are very grateful. The pirate captain, though wary, trusts Santa's word.
Violence & scariness: The pirate cookies -- one armed with a cutlass -- explore a darkened house to try to escape Santa, who they think is a cannibal.
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More on The Gingerbread Pirates

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about perspective. Most of the story is told from the view of the tiny gingerbread captain, who sees stairs as cliffs and a cookie jar as a prison. Kids can pretend to be a small cookie and then a giant. How would the world look different? Take a ride on a parent's shoulders and see how the view changes.
  • Captain Cookie knows nothing about Christmas or Christmas Eve. Ask kids to imagine being the mouse he meets. How would they explain Christmas?

What's the story?

What's the story?
On Christmas Eve, Jim decorates gingerbread cookies to look like pirates and saves his favorite -- Captain Cookie -- to stay by his bedside. The rest of the pirate cookies are set aside for Santa Claus to eat. After Jim goes to sleep, Captain Cookie sets off to round up his crew and rescue them from being devoured by their mysterious enemy. But when the cookies finally encounter Santa Claus, fear is replaced by wonder and joy as the gingerbread crew receives a most magical gift.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
The strength of this sweet fantasy is the watercolor and gouache illustrations by Matt Tavares. He presents the story mostly from the perspective of a gingerbread cookie, exploring a nighttime setting cloaked in mystery and drama. The crumbling cookies’ frosted expressions melt to fear and dismay as they prepare to face Santa Claus in the shadows, then turn to wary trepidation as they follow Santa to learn about Christmas.
Unfortunately, the serviceable text doesn’t live up to the imaginative premise or the handsome illustrations. It feels rushed and flat, and relies heavily on the artwork to explain key plot points. But kids won’t mind, and they’ll enjoy following Captain Cookie as he step-taps about with his toothpick peg leg. The oversized pages and large print make this a good choice for reading aloud to a group.

Artwork makes great use of perspective and captures the magic of home on Christmas Eve.

Book themes & details

Book Details
Author: Kristin Kladstrup
Illustrator: Matt Tavares
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Publication date: September 8, 2009
Number of pages: 32
Hardcover price: $16.99
Read Aloud: 4
Read Alone: 6
This review was written by Darienne Hosley Stewart
 
 

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ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
OFF: Not age appropriate for kids this age
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