Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Friendly themes abound when swashbucklers meet the Darlings.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 3+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Jake and the Never Land Pirates: Battle for the Book!
What's the Story?
JAKE AND THE NEVER LAND PIRATES: BATTLE FOR THE BOOK! opens with the Darling children -- Wendy (voiced by Maia Mitchell), John (Elliot Reeve), and Michael (Colby Mulgrew) -- reminiscing about their magical adventures in Never Land, which they've recorded in a treasured collection of stories. But when the scheming Captain Hook (Corey Burton) shows up and steals their book, and Wendy's old friend Peter Pan (Adam Wylie) is too busy to help them, he enlists the help of Jake (Sean Ryan Fox), Izzy (Madison Pettis), and Cubby (Jadon Sand) instead. With a little assistance from Tinker Bell, Jake's crew sets sail for London to join forces with the Darlings and foil Captain Hook's destructive plans for their book. Unfortunately, the longer the kids are separated from it, the more their memories of the adventures they recorded inside it fade away.
Is It Any Good?
Battle for the Book! marks the first meeting of Peter Pan's London friends and his Pirate Island pals, a mash-up that's sure to please kids familiar with both sets of characters in particular. Their adventures are lively and magical and complicated by mishaps that kids will find amusing, and the movie's soundtrack -- including a new original song performed by Mitchell -- strikes a positive chord as well. Attentive viewers will notice small differences between the movie and the series (there's nary a gold doubloon to be seen or pirate problem to be solved, for instance), but that won't turn them off the exciting story.
But, not surprisingly, the standout message from the cheerful characters' adventures has to do with friendship, as the young pirates and the Darlings forge new relationships with each other. By their example, kids see the joy of making new friends and the value of effective teamwork, not to mention the healing effect of showing kindness even to those whose actions don't necessarily warrant it. Such strong social themes help make this Never Land adventure a fun pick for kids.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about friendship. Kids: Is it always easy to be someone's friend? Is it possible to be a friend to everyone? What is the difference between being friendly and being a friend?
Kids: How do you feel when you do something you know is wrong? Why did Captain Hook steal the book from the Darlings? Were there any negative consequences for what he did? Did he learn a lesson?
What are some of your kids' favorite treasures? What special meaning do they hold for them? How do such special belongings tie us to our past? Why is it important to remember the things we've done?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : January 6, 2015
- Cast : Sean Ryan Fox , Corey Burton , Maia Mitchell
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Friendship , Pirates
- Run time : 141 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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