Pirates Don't Change Diapers
By Melinda Long
The Story
A crew of pirates returns to Jeremy Jacob's backyard to dig up their buried treasure, but first they must quiet his wailing baby sister, Bonney Anne, whom they accidentally woke up.
Why It's Special
For the kid who thinks pirates and babies are equally wild and unpredictable, this book proves that a crew of swashbucklers is no match for one howling baby sister.
- Big idea: Even the toughest crew has to learn that some jobs — like calming a baby — take more nerve than treasure hunting.
- Vibes: Rowdy, silly, and swaggering, with a comic undercurrent of pirates way out of their depth.
Perfect For Kids Who
- enjoy pirate stories and swashbuckling silliness
- like to act out rowdy, larger-than-life characters
- are working on understanding that little siblings need patience
- love stories where tough characters get outmatched by something small
Ask Your Little Reader
- Story & problem-solving: What do you think the pirates tried to do to get Bonney Anne to stop crying?
- Feelings & empathy: How do you think Braid Beard felt when the baby he woke up wouldn't stop howling?
- Real-life connection: Have you ever had to help calm down a crying baby brother or sister? What did you do?
- Imagination: If you were a pirate babysitter for a day, what would you do to keep a baby happy?
- Character study: Why do you think fierce pirates might be scared of a crying baby?
