The Horn Book Guide

PICTURE BOOKS

Yates, Philip

A Pirate's Night Before Christmas

32 pp. | Sterling | October, 2008 | Trade ISBN 978-1-4027-4257-6 $14.95

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Sebastià Serra. Yates calls on his inner buccaneer to spin a swashbuckling version of the classic Christmas poem. The robust verse sails along with gusto, injecting the familiar rhyme scheme with pirate-speak (glossary included). Serra's digitally colored, retro-looking illustrations bring holiday cheer to the high seas; his jewel-tone palette highlights both the briny deep and a festive band of brigands.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2008