Sally Anne Garland, The Little Pirate Queen, New Frontier, April 2021, 32 pp., RRP $29.95 (hbk), ISBN 9781921928833
Seafarer Lucy has been weathering the storm on a rickety raft (haven’t we all?), intent on reaching the silver shores of Faraway Island, where no one has ever set foot or learned the treasures it holds. Her creaky boat is not nearly as fancy or fast as those of the other children, and Lucy doesn’t feel nearly as brave as she pretends to be. When the children are swept away by a gigantic wave, Lucy welcomes them aboard her little boat, keeping their spirits high, and teaching them the skills she has honed on the high seas. Using the broken bits of the other vessels, the children build a pirate ship, soon placing even greater adventures within their reach.
Garland’s expressive text and energetic illustrations invite readers into this captivating and engaging tale of overcoming life’s struggles with compassion and cooperation. An important and timely story for everyone navigating rough seas.
Reviewed by Maura Pierlot
