This is a fabulous book designed to get children imagining and writing stories. This brightly illustrated book takes a reader through clear steps to write their own pirate story, from choosing a main character, a method of travel and perils that will be faced along the way. The story could simply be formed from choosing the aspect on each page or expanded upon by answering the additional questions posed. I would definitely consider using this book with a class to encourage creative writing, particularly during a topic on pirates.

Choose your own Pirate Adventure!

Leave a few extra minutes aside for this bedtime story - it's not a whip-through-in-three-minutes job. A bit like Sharratt's 'You Choose' series (and a step down from the Choose Your Own Adventure series of my childhood), this gives readers the chance to build their own story, choose all the elements themselves... then do it all again differently.

And it's PIRATES! Simple really, and we already need more of these! Each page asks a question: which hero do you want to be? What do you want to dress in? How will you go to your destination?

And then the reader gets to choose from all the choices on each double page: are they the pirate queen or a first mate? Will they have huge muscles or maybe a beard? Should they take a bodyguard with them or a robot pirate?

Once the reader has their elements in place, they get to select a route, what they are afraid of during the journey, who will greet them when they arrive, an enemy, a way out... so the story continues. And parents/teachers can tell as much of a story as they choose to, or just let children select elements they like and chat about them.

It all encourages discussion and storytelling, making choices and deciding.. but all the while knowing they can make things different on another occasion. And that imagination can take them on so many alternate journeys at the drop of a pirate's hat.

The pages are very full, and parents will have to be patient reading out all the options constantly, but it will be a worthwhile shared experience.

I do do do hope there are more of these in the pipeline - love it!

For ages 4-10.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.

What a fantastic way to get children writing, this book is absolutely filled with endless possibilities for a pirate adventure. The beautiful illustrations and easily place key vocabulary can help bring children’s imaginations alive. Finished the book open it again and create a new story.

A lovely little book that can be enjoyed over and over!
What helps this book stand out to me are the additional questions around the outside, allowing children to explain their thoughts and feelings about the narrative they have chosen.
The narrative structure is nice and simple, but there are loads of options for children to choose from, so they won’t get bored easily. My son created at least 6 pathways before moving onto another activity so it holds their attention well.
Lovely illustrations too - we particularly enjoyed the maggot hair!
I am curious to see what the physical copy of this book would look like. Maybe a list of stories chosen in the back might be a nice idea so children can recall their favourites.