Friday, March 22, 2019

Book Review: Stowaway! (dogs, pirates, boy, cats)


Stowaway! The First Book (of nine) in the Puppy Pirates Series, by Erin Soderberg (Random House, 2015, 96 pages, $4.99, 6-9 years, grades 1-4)



Ah, the tables are turned and the world is run by dogs (with a token Henry-boy who comes along for the ride and has thumbs which come in handy). Wally the pup (aka Walty) wants to be a pirate so badly that he stows away on blundering Captain Red Beard’s Salty Bone, a puppy pirate ship manned by dogs.

In order to stay onboard and become a real pirate, Walty must pass muster (pass some pirate tests, including helping out the cook, Steak-Eyes). He must face his fear of heights and help fight the cat pirate ship, the Nine Lives (with his intellect!).

The best part of Stowaway!? The terminology your child will learn and use after reading this chapter book: words like ahoy and aye-aye. The story is quite creative but there is something missing that I just can’t put my finger on. Perhaps it is the (probable) golden pup on the front cover who turns into an unrecognizable breed inside?

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