Shiver Me Letters: A Pirate ABC
What It Is
Pirates remain a popular theme for kids of all ages and June Sobel’s rhyming tale takes readers through a pirate adventure using the alphabet. A simple plot has the crocodile captain ordering his crew of pigs, foxes and other animals to sail the seas and “capture” all the letters of the alphabet.
Why It’s Fun
The rhyme and beat make it a fun book to read for parents and it’s easy to get very silly with it. Illustrator Henry Cole’s graphics are very clever with letters hidden among corresponding objects to aid kids in learning their ABCs. As the animal pirates capture each letter, parents will enjoy helping their preschoolers identify letters, while beginning spellers can work on recognizing initial letter sounds.
Who’s Going To Love It
Both boys and girls will enjoy the book and have fun making the pirate “arrrrgh” sound every time they see the letter “R”. The publisher’s recommended ages are 4-8, but I’ve found 3.5 to 6 to be the sweet spot. Kids older than kindergarten may think it’s “for babies”.
Reading Time
As a quick read, it’s about 3 to 5 minutes, but worth taking some time to ask your little ones to find the hidden letters. So get your pirate voices ready!
Read-It-Again Points
8 out of 10
Book Information
Shiver Me Letters: A Pirate ABC
By: June Sobel; Illustrated by Henry Cole (2006)
Published by: Scholastic Inc., by arrangement with Harcourt, Inc.
Approximate retail price: $5.99 (paperback)
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