A playful and diverting pirate tale that will appeal to kids and adults alike.
In this illustrated children’s book sequel, a pirate captain braves perils on and under the sea.
Hundreds of people have shown up at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul. It’s the perfect spot for blond, 4-foot-tall Capt. Elaine Mermain and her rainbow-bandanna crew to peddle their pirate wares, like rhinestone-studded eye patches. Before they pack and sail away aboard the Cotton Candy Ship, Elaine happens upon Mariko Morosight, a purple-eyed stranger whose painting of the captain’s ship turns out to be an alarming premonition. This seer predicts “rocky and rough” days ahead for Elaine and her crew, and Mariko’s crystal ball shows ominous gray skies and crashing waves. Sure enough, trouble ensues, starting with the ship’s rainbow mast sustaining some surprising damage, necessitating repairs. That night, as her crew sleeps, Elaine and her trusty feline sidekick, Ginger, face a sinister winged creature on the ship’s deck. But in the waters below, someone needs Elaine’s help. The bubbly and amiable Bertle the Turtle leads the captain to a pod of dolphins, as one of them has been pinned by a crate on the ocean floor. There’s no doubt that these crates belong to Capt. Bad Breaker, an ex-pirate whom Elaine had once tried to help overcome his rebellious ways. Little does Elaine know that Bad Breaker is following the Cotton Candy Ship for an unknown reason, although surely it’s something diabolical. When Mariko sees him in a precognitive dream, she sets off to warn the rainbow-bandanna crew before it’s too late.
This tale from Faer and her 9-year-old daughter, Raven, is entertaining and often amusing. Character names are particularly fun, from ship engineer Agent Coconut to Pooey-Poo, once the “smelliest pirate who ever lived,” who has, thanks to Elaine, put a stop to his stinky habits. There are likewise wonderful descriptions and visuals throughout the story. The Cotton Candy Ship, for example, has a unicorn horn on its bow while its glittery, pink sails are made from actual cotton candy. The story preaches an uplifting message of acceptance; positive rainbow colors pop up on the ship, the crew’s bandannas, and the hilt of Elaine’s sword. At the same time, the crew comprises diverse, abandoned sailors who have come together as a family, all with black cat companions at their sides. In terms of adventure, there’s not as much swashbuckling as some readers may hope for. But Elaine’s aquatic rescue is a gleeful turn, as the White “miniature sailor” and furry Ginger both experience a touch of something unexpectedly magical. The uncredited digital artwork, meanwhile, brims with vibrant hues and bright facial expressions. Animals are especially memorable, like Bertle’s infectious smile as well as the dolphins, whose initial annoyance with Elaine amid their pod is impossible to miss. The authors signal that this second installment of a series is not the last. The story ends with dangling plot threads and a cliffhanger that imply further dangers await the captain and her crew.
A playful and diverting pirate tale that will appeal to kids and adults alike.Pub Date: Feb. 25, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-66981-094-0
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Xlibris US
Review Posted Online: Sept. 21, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Hugely entertaining, timely, and triumphant.
Robot Roz undertakes an unusual ocean journey to save her adopted island home in this third series entry.
When a poison tide flowing across the ocean threatens their island, Roz works with the resident creatures to ensure that they will have clean water, but the destruction of vegetation and crowding of habitats jeopardize everyone’s survival. Brown’s tale of environmental depredation and turmoil is by turns poignant, graceful, endearing, and inspiring, with his (mostly) gentle robot protagonist at its heart. Though Roz is different from the creatures she lives with or encounters—including her son, Brightbill the goose, and his new mate, Glimmerwing—she makes connections through her versatile communication abilities and her desire to understand and help others. When Roz accidentally discovers that the replacement body given to her by Dr. Molovo is waterproof, she sets out to seek help and discovers the human-engineered source of the toxic tide. Brown’s rich descriptions of undersea landscapes, entertaining conversations between Roz and wild creatures, and concise yet powerful explanations of the effect of the poison tide on the ecology of the island are superb. Simple, spare illustrations offer just enough glimpses of Roz and her surroundings to spark the imagination. The climactic confrontation pits oceangoing mammals, seabirds, fish, and even zooplankton against hardware and technology in a nicely choreographed battle. But it is Roz’s heroism and peacemaking that save the day.
Hugely entertaining, timely, and triumphant. (author’s note) (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 26, 2023
ISBN: 9780316669412
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Aug. 26, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2023
A hymn to the intrinsic loveliness of the wild and the possibility of sharing it.
What happens when a robot washes up alone on an island?
“Everything was just right on the island.” Brown beautifully re-creates the first days of Roz, the protagonist of his Wild Robot novels, as she adapts to living in the natural world. A storm-tossed ship, seen in the opening just before the title page, and a packing crate are the only other human-made objects to appear in this close-up look at the robot and her new home. Roz emerges from the crate, and her first thought as she sets off up a grassy hill—”This must be where I belong”—is sweetly glorious, a note of recognition rather than conquest. Roz learns to move, hide, and communicate like the creatures she meets. When she discovers an orphaned egg—and the gosling Brightbill, who eventually hatches—her decision to be his mother seems a natural extension of her adaptation. Once he flies south for the winter, her quiet wait across seasons for his return is a poignant portrayal of separation and change. Brown’s clean, precise lines and deep, light-filled colors offer a sense of what Roz might be seeing, suggesting a place that is alive yet deeply serene and radiant. Though the book stands alone, it adds an immensely appealing dimension to Roz’s world. Round thumbnails offer charming peeks into the island world, depicting Roz’s animal neighbors and Brightbill’s maturation.
A hymn to the intrinsic loveliness of the wild and the possibility of sharing it. (author’s note) (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: June 24, 2025
ISBN: 9780316669467
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: March 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2025
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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