PIRATE’S EYE

As in his Old Pirate of Central Park (1999), Priest pairs elegantly composed, deceptively simple cartoon illustrations to an unusually rich and satisfying story. Here, it’s a tale of karmic balance restored, as the glass eye of a fierce pirate captain falls into the hands of a gentle pauper named Sandpiper. He turns the (low violence) visions of crime, treason and treasure-gathering that he sees within it into a popular book—A Pirate’s Life—that he gives away to all who have been kind to him. Later, catching sight of the title in a library—overseen by a shushing, bun-haired librarian, but let that pass—the pirate tracks Sandpiper down, and demands his eye back—only to be profoundly changed by the acts of kindness given and received in Sandpiper’s life that the eye now reflects. Readers too will be left reflective by this understated episode. (Picture book. 7-9)