Pirates

Harrison,David L. Pirates. Wordsong, 2008.

Illustrator: Dan Burr.

ISBN-13: 978-1-59078-455-6

Poetry Review:
Twenty poems in this collection detail every aspect of a pirates' life, from the terrible food and flogging to the fights and captures that went with the job, as well as the monotony of day to day living on the water. Many of the poems elicit the emotion of the struggles of mutiny and betrayal, and worse the dreaded consequences that followed. The paintings are larger than life and full of detailed expression, vast richness and natural color schemes. The end of the book offers a a further explanation of the world of piracy to encourage students to read more about the subject matter.

Poem Excerpt: "Blackbeard"
His name alone numbed men with fear:
Blackbeard.
His own crew quaked when they came near
Blackbeard.
He plundered, pillaged year by year,
no one had a bloodier career than
Blackbeard.
Unbeatable at his brutal game,
Blackbeard.
Had no conscience, had no shame,
Blackbeard.
Ruthlessly he earned his fame.
Set his own black beard aflame:
Blackbeard.

Poem Introduction to Students:
Most boys, I find, love to read about pirates. This would also be a great time to start dressing up and get into character. To help add to the "hook" I find showing a brief video of "Pirates of the Caribbean" help set the stage for all students. Set the scene in the library by having a narrow carpet serve as the "plank" for students to walk. Have a paper parrot hanging around or a stuffed monkey. This would be a great time to get a theme going during reading time. 5th graders study explorers, so why not include the seedier side with pirates. Develop a list of the known "sayings" of pirates and have students develop tag-a-longs. Or have students convert these well known verses into a different voice, for instance a "Valley girl" voice. Or a space martian voice.