Written by Jan Peck · Illustrated by Adrian Tans
Hoist the sails, me hearties! Captain Dare recruits a giggly crew and sets off through lagoons, snake pits, and jungle vines in a rollicking, call-and-response quest for buried loot. The big reveal? The treasure is a load of books—and the key is AAR-reading! Perfect for read-aloud fun, school visits, and pajama-day storytimes.
Age Range: PreK–Grade 3 · Themes: adventure, reading as treasure, bravery, teamwork, call-and-response
About the Story
Captain Dare posts an irresistible notice—“Wanted: Pirates (no experience or bath needed)!” A merry crew (including two pajama-clad stowaways) searches caves, crosses rickety bridges, and swings past crocodiles. Every stop adds rhythmic chants and big “Arrr!” moments…until a tiny twist sends everyone racing back to the ship. The final chest bursts with books, reminding young readers that reading is the greatest treasure of all.
Why kids love it
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Call-and-response lines they can echo
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Silly pirate talk and sound effects (“Argh!” “Shiver me timbers!”)
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Brave-but-friendly adventures with a cozy, book-loving payoff
Why grown-ups love it
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Built-in movement and repetition for an engaging read-aloud
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A natural springboard for early literacy (“reading = treasure”)
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Easy transitions to counting, mapping, and vocabulary play
Review Highlight
From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 2—Captain Dare issues an irresistible offer: “Wanted: Pirates/No experience or bath needed.” Through call-and-response chants, readers join the motley crew members as they search for buried loot. “Going on a treasure hunt./Going on a treasure hunt./Searching for the pirate’s cave./Searching for the pirate’s cave./We’re so smart./We’re so smart./And we’re so brave./And we’re so brave.” The quest continues through lagoons, across snake pits, and over cliffs. The text appears inside a weathered parchment scroll. A tiny mouse scares the Captain and starts the trek back to the safety of the ship. Tan’s detailed oil paintings show two pajama-clad children navigating the crocodile-infested waters and swinging through the jungle vines with their mates. The treasure inside the chest is revealed to be “a load of books!” The “key to opening ye treasure” is “Reading, me hearties!” Peppered with lots of “Arrrrrrrhs!” and “Shiver me timbers!” this is a swashbuckling good read-aloud.—Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From the Author
This book is a blast to act out! Get a bunch of “pirates” in a line, read the book, and have the kids repeat after you. Extra fun to include Grownups! Of course, the treasure is books, and the key to your treasure is AAR-READING! Sure to be a hit at school events and PTA programs!
Storytime Guide (Quick)
Before you read: Ask, “What treasure would pirates love most?” (Let someone guess “books”!)
During: Invite kids to echo the refrain and add motions—stomp (march), swish (vines), tiptoe (cave).
After: Unpack the theme: Why are books a treasure? What makes you feel brave and smart?
Classroom & Library Activities
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Pirate Name Generator: Hand out name tags for the kids, and use the generator to write their names on them.
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Treasure Map Makers: Draw a map with X marks, add lagoons, cliffs, caves; label features.
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Reading Chest: Decorate a box; kids add “book wishes” or favorite-book titles as “gold.”
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Vocabulary Ahoy!: Chart pirate words (ahoy, matey, starboard) vs. real-world terms (right/left, bow/stern).
Details
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Title: Pirate Treasure Hunt!
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Author: Jan Peck · Illustrator: Adrian Tans
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Format: Picture book · Read-aloud, call-and-response
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Best for: PreK–Grade 2, libraries, classrooms, family storytime
© Jan Peck • janpeck.com