Bad Pirate

Winters, Kari-Lynn. (April, 2015). Illustrated by Dean Griffiths. See the sequels, Good Pirate and Best Pirate.

Captain Garrick thinks there’s nothing as bad as a goodhearted pirate. Can his daughter prove him wrong?

Barnacle Garrick is bold and saucy and selfish. And for a pirate captain, that’s good, very good. And his crew are all scurvy sea dogs—selfish down to the last flea-bitten scuttle-butt. And that’s good too. But Augusta Garrick is shy, polite, and selfless. For a pirate, that’s bad, very bad. Despite her father’s horrible example, the sea pup can’t stop helping out. It just might take one terrible storm, a ripped sail, a missing peg leg and a panicked crew before Augusta can prove that being selfless is a bold and saucy move after all. And that’s good, very good indeed.

A rollicking tale peppered with pirate talk, Kari-Lynn Winters’ Bad Pirate is a story about being true to yourself, even if it means you must go against the pack. Dean Griffiths’ artwork glows with rich colours, fine detail and spot-on doggie characters. A scurvy delight. For landlubbers, the endpaper design includes a glossary of pirate and sailing terms.

  • 32 pages

  • Published By Pajama Press

  • ISBN: 978-1-927485-71-2

Reviews

  • "Smart pacing and playful art tell the tale of a pirate too doggone loyal for her own good. Capt. Barnacle Garrick may be the scurviest mutt to sail the seven seas, but his blue-eyed daughter Augusta is kind, considerate, and caring. In short, she’s a very bad pirate. The story is so packed with pirate jargon and growls that even the most staid and sorry landlubbers will become salty dogs while reading. It’s Griffiths’ art that takes the wave-swept narrative to another level. Augusta’s charm goes far, and each breed of canine is rendered with a loving hand. Even more delightful are the tiny details: from Augusta’s surreptitious carving of a new peg leg to Garrick’s battles with uniformed mice in an early vignette, young readers will see something new with each turn of the page. Arrrrguably the best piratical dogfight you’ll ever sink your teeth into."

    “New Kids Book to Love” by in Bailey Public Library Newsletter (October 2015)

  • "Bad Pirate is a wickedly delightful tale that is perfect for reading aloud and for young pirates to participate in the telling. Even the inside covers contain information to enrich the adventure. In the front are pirate words, while in the back can be found nautical words any sailor would use. The artwork is fabulous, and the various expressions on the dogs’ faces perfectly capture the humor, the seriousness, the terror, and much more. The whole crew sports earrings and locating them adds to the fun. Even the rats get a chance to participate. This picture book may be for the youngest of pirates, but old pirates will get a kick out of the tale as well. Don’t be surprised if Bad Pirate becomes a favorite that young pirates want to hear again and again."."

    Crocs, Acrostics and Math. Review by Carol-Ann Hoyte, in Canadian Children’s Book News 32:4 (Fall 2009), pp. 22-23

  • "Kari-Lynn Winters is known for her fun, rhythmic language and Bad Pirate is no exception. Using repetition and boisterous words, Winters makes everyone feel like an old sea dog. (Luckily for non-pirates, the endpapers include a glossary.) And Dean Griffiths’ illustrations add to the merriment, characterizing all the pirates as dogs. From spaniels to pit bulls, even the mermaids are canine, or rather, mer-dogs. Sporting nose rings, beaded dreadlocks and a hilarious range of headgear, these hearties are an enthusiastic bunch, right up until a terrible storm makes the pages sway so realistically readers may have to close their eyes!"

    Review by Penny Draper in Readerly magazine (August 6, 2015)

  • "Both writer and illustrator have many children’s books and awards to their credit. Their depth of experience and creative ability results in a feisty, fun tale."

    Review by Reesa Cohen in CM Magazine 21:37 (May 29, 2015)

Awards

Nominated: B.C. Reader’s Choice Chocolate Lily Award, 2016

Winner: Ontario Library Association’s Rainforest of Reading Readers’ Choice Award for grades 3 and 4 (2016).

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