School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 3-Another flight of piratical fancy with young Jeremy Jacob and the motley crew from How I Became a Pirate (Harcourt, 2003). Jeremy Jacob, supposed-to-be babysitter, is distracted from keeping an eye on his snoozing sister by the boisterous, baby-wakening arrival of Captain Braid Beard and his men, who have come in search of the treasure formerly entrusted to our suburban buccaneer. They need his help to find their loot, and he needs their help to mind Bonney Anne. Unfortunately, pirates are unfamiliar with nappies, and num-nums, and naptimes, so there are a lot of funny faux pas and hysterical, histrionic looks-particularly when it's discovered that the baby's made a snack of the all-important X-marks-the-spot map. All's well that ends well, though: the brigands' booty is recovered, and their reward to Jeremy Jacob will become the birthday gift he wraps up for his mom. Long's dialogue makes for a rollicking read-aloud, and Shannon's signature artwork is a vibrant concoction of rowdy colors; Magoo-eyed, snaggle-toothed characters; and a baby who bears an unsettling resemblance to Alfred E. Newman. Yo-ho-ho!-Kathy Krasniewicz, Perrot Library, Old Greenwich, CT (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Plucky young Jeremy Jacob is reunited with Captain Braid Beard and his crew of daft, dentally challenged buccaneers in a follow-up to the bestselling How I Became a Pirate. This time, Jeremy clearly has the upper hand: he won't let the pirates dig up the treasure they buried in his backyard at the end of the previous book until they help him placate his cranky baby sister, Bonney Anne (pirate aficionados will note that her name is a nod to real-life female pirate Anne Bonny). The story unfolds rather predictably-but just as entertainingly as the original: the pirates turn out to be washouts as nannies, jokes fly about dirty diapers and strained spinach, and, of course, "the wee lass" Bonney Anne ends up being the key to recovering the treasure. But Long's piratical dialogue still delivers a juicy read-aloud: what reader of any age won't relish the opportunity to say "Aargh!" or declare "Rock on!" as the crew does in unison when Braid Beard orders them to rock Bonney Anne to sleep? And Shannon's voluptuously colorful and comic paintings runneth over with comic mayhem, sly details (somehow, the pirates manage to find a pirate show on Jeremy's TV) and no end of goofy expressions. Ages 3-7. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book Review
Braid Beard and the rest of the How I Became a Pirate crew stage a reappearance--just in time to help Jeremy Jacob mind his baby sister while Mom's out grocery shopping and Dad snoozes. Long's humorous text will tickle readers' funny bones, and Shannon's boisterous acrylic illustrations are packed with silly details (look for the pirate holding a sippy cup). (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
Though "pirates don't change diapers. They don't even change socks!" a crew of eye-patched, hook-handed knaves faces the challenge of diverting an unhappy toddler in this hilariously helter-skelter follow-up to How I Became A Pirate (2003). Showing up on the doorstep of young swabbie Jeremy Jacob to reclaim the treasure they had buried in his backyard in the previous episode, Captain Braid Beard and his scurvy tars first have to calm the fussing of little Bonney Anne--though that involves learning how to change a diaper, spooning out strained spinach ("Shiver me timbers! What be this vile-smelling swill?") and rocking the tyke to sleep. Shannon pulls out all the stops, packing each crowded scene with frantic plug-uglies in gloriously detailed pirate garb, surrounding a deceptively cute urchin who's in charge from first moment to last. Like Colin McNaughton's similarly themed Captain Abdul's Little Treasure (2006), this will engender rousing cheers from mateys of every stripe. (Picture book. 6-8) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Jeremy Jacob reunites with his pirate pals in this humorous companion to How I Became a Pirate (2003). All is quiet at Jeremy's house: Mom is out, Dad is napping, and baby Bonney Anne is asleep. Then Captain Braid Beard and his noisy crew come for their buried treasure, and--Aaargh--they wake the baby. Digging treasure must wait until Baby is calmed, and hullabaloo ensues as buccaneers turn babysitters, who find themselves changing diapers, spoon-feeding strained spinach, and playing pirate peekaboo. Just when things seem quiet enough for the digging to begin, the map goes missing and so does Bonney Anne. Drolly related by Jeremy, the witty narrative, with bountiful pirate jargon, boisterous interjections, and plenty of repetitions, makes for a peppy read-aloud, and colorful artwork captures chaos with playful perspectives and hilarious details. Nonstop action, good-natured rascals, and a comical, affectionate view of sibling relationships and baby care will attract pirate aficionados and big brothers alike. --Shelle Rosenfeld Copyright 2007 Booklist
