PIRATE NAP

’Tis a cheerful afternoon on Spyglass Street, with swords flashing and pirates plundering—until Mom interrupts the fun.

 “Time for a nap, rowdy crew. / Mighty pirates need sleep too.” But the two little buccaneers don’t agree. A mutiny is staged (or temper tantrum—rebellion takes all forms), and the Captain defiantly cries, “’Tis a trap! / Pirates never, ever nap!” The two boys set off running through the house, searching for treasure along the way. Yellow coins are found buried in the couch, a brown wooden chest is discovered in the attic and sparkling orange beads are hidden in the closet. But avast, every adventure must come to an end. The tired pirates find their ship (the bed), stow their treasure, lift the anchor (a green boot) and sail off to sleep. Smith and Petrone pair once again (Two at the Zoo, 2009) for another lively concept-book creation. With staccato sentences and a snappy scansion that never wastes a syllable, it is impossible to deny the energy found in these two imaginative little boys. Petrone’s unmuddled palette and stretchy, loose-limbed characters add even more bounce to the romp.

Arr—pirates may not surrender without a fight, but even the rowdiest readers will have to concede the inevitability of naptime.