SMALL SAUL

Small Saul’s in love with the sea. Unfortunately, his attachment to things maritime doesn’t get him past the Navy’s height requirement. Pirates aren’t as picky, so Saul enrolls in Pirate College. He doesn’t excel in any classes: too easily distracted in Treasure Map Interpretation, lacks focus in Looting: The Basics. Perseverance nets him his pirating diploma but doesn’t get him a berth on any ship…except The Rusty Squid. In no time, his shipmates discover Saul’s not your average pirate. He offers baked goods to kidnapped ladies and breath mints to the Captain. Saul knows there are three things pirates love: the ship, being tough and lots of treasure. His frilly ship-improvement project…lands him head down in a bilge-bucket. He can’t fight to achieve that tough look, so he tries a tattoo…a bunny. While distracted by pondering the possibilities of treasure acquisition, Saul’s knocked off the ship by the Captain. It’s not long before the pirates realize that, different though he is, Saul’s a treasure rare as gold. Thankfully, he’s quick to forgive and ready with more baked goods. Spires’ tale of an unconventional pirate might travel familiar ground, but her dry humor, so wonderfully displayed in the Binky graphic novels, elevates Saul to great heights. The cartoon watercolor illustrations are always hilariously at odds with the understated text. Charrrh-ming. (Picture book. 5-8)