THE NO-GOOD DO-GOOD PIRATES

When a band of plundering pirates is captured, the sentence is to do one good deed before sunset or go to jail. Being pirates, they have no idea what a good deed is. First they try to eat all the pies in the bakery so the baker can go home and take a nap. Then they try to sweep up all the money in the bank to neaten up the place. Finally, they try to take candy from babies so they won’t get cavities, only to be brought low by the toothy tots. Each “good deed” is, unsurprisingly, met with hostility from the ones they are trying to help. They unwittingly perform their good deed just in the nick of time by warning away another group of villainous pirates: “This town is full of pirate-bashing ladies and bloodthirsty babies!” Readers will appreciate the humor found in both the goofy situations and such piratical names as Captain Squint, Smelly Bob and Ed the Fierce. Avril’s cartoon illustrations are colorful and childlike, and help to carry this silly story to its end. (Picture book. 5-8)