A Pirate's Guide to First Grade

This weeks' library favorite is, hands down, A Pirate's Guide to First Grade by Greg Preller, illustrated by Greg Ruth. It seemed like a winner. Pirates, school . . . I mean, where can you go wrong with such a winning combination? And then I got it home and began to read.

This book is incredible! I read it to my boys the day before my oldest started kindergarten. Immediately the language of the book sucks you in and begs to be voiced by a thick accented buccaneer. We got to the end and went straight back to the beginning to read it again! This time we spent more time looking at the pictures. The illustrations in this book are pure genius! They bring a young boy's imagination to life -- a clear and perfect companion to the text.
Of course my favorite part was last night when I tossed the book to my husband, who is usually reluctant to read to the boys (because I'm so good at it?). He consented before knowing he was being asked to perform, but to my amazement took out his best deep, gravely pirate voice and put on a show for a captivated audience. He outdid my pirate rendition considerably! It was amazing! What a wonderful book and a wonderful memory! This one is definitely going on my list for the book shelf!