Reviews for Pirates on the farm

School Library Journal
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K-Gr 3-Drop five "swashbuckling pirates" into a small farming community and there's plenty of fodder for humor and life lessons alike. The neighbors have differing opinions on the situation; the narrator's mother is horrifed, her father is open-minded, her brother is thrilled, and she is coolly observant. The pirates' many ineptitudes are milked for full effect, including shearing sheep, harvesting corn, attending church, and hosting dinner parties (hardtack and fish heads). Their fate seems sealed when they destroy the Christmas pageant as they rescue the "baby in a feeding trough." The colorful cartoons fill in details and flesh out distinct personalities. When the mother smiles for the first time, close observers will know things are changing. A list of tongue-in-cheek definitions in pirate-ese and a "Letter to Parents" with Christian-centered discussion points conclude the book.-Carol S. Surges, formerly at Longfellow Middle School, Wauwatosa, WI (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.


Horn Book
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

When five unruly pirates buy the farm next door, the narrator observes that, while her mom is appalled, her dad helps them unload their trunks, fix their boat, etc. An author's note explains that the Bible verse "Love your neighbor as yourself" guides this story, but Fretz preaches quietly. The illustrations are unspectacular but capture some of the story's broad comedy. Glos. (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.


Publishers Weekly
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Chaos reigns in this humorous and heartwarming first book in the Next Door series, in which pirates become neighbors to a staid farm family. The daughter narrates her family's varied responses to the pirates' strange speech, style, and customs. For example, when they build a new barn to resemble a pirate ship: "Mother called it 'disgraceful.' Joey begged to walk the plank. Dad nailed down loose boards." Barretta's (Sheetzucacapoopoo: My Kind of Dog) illustrations capture the hilarious incongruity of the pirates' attempts to join their new community: a church scene shows the pirates looting the offering, to congregants' dismay. Another scene has them commandeering the Christmas pageant, upset that "anyone would put a baby in a feeding trough." Although the townspeople initially rally against the perceived interlopers, they gradually become more welcoming as they come to know their neighbors. This well-crafted, entertaining story delivers a subtle but powerful message. An endnote to parents includes discussion topics for the family. Ages 4-7. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

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