Pirates Storytime Ideas
There are few pirate-themed picture books, but even kids who haven’t seen the “Pirates of the Caribbean” films will enjoy a pirate-themed storytime. You can also adapt the craft ideas to use with a 4th and 5th grade book discussion group, after reading a pirate adventure like Karen Hesse’s STOWAWAY or TREASURE ISLAND by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Books:
Augarde, Steve. BARNABY SHREW, BLACK DAN… AND THE MIGHTY WEDGEWOOD.
Blaustein, Muriel JIM’S CHIMP STORY.
Bradman, Tony. DILLY AND THE PIRATES.
Dubowski, Cathy E. PIRATE SCHOOL.
Dyke, John. PIGWIG AND THE PIRATES.
Fox, Mem. TOUGH BORIS.
Funke, Cornelia. PIRATE GIRL.
Gilman, Phoebe. GRANDMA AND THE PIRATES.
Goldsack, Gaby. CAPTAIN CALAMITY’S BIG MISTAKE.
Hawkins, Colin and Jacqui. PIRATES.
Helquist, Brett. ROGER, THE JOLLY PIRATE.
Hutchins, Pat. ONE-EYED JAKE.
Isadora, Rachel. THE PIRATES OF BEDFORD STREET.
Keats, Ezra Jack. MAGGIE AND THE PIRATE.
Lawson, Julie, and Werner Zimmerman. WHATEVER YOU DO, DON’T GO NEAR THAT CANOE!
Long, Melinda. HOW I BECAME A PIRATE.
McFarland, Lyn Rossiter. THE PIRATE’S PARROT.
McNaughton, Colin. JOLLY ROGER AND THE PIRATES OF CAPTAIN ABDUL THE SKINHEAD.
McNeil, Florence, and David McPhail. SAIL AWAY.
McPhail, David. EDWARD AND THE PIRATES.
Morgan, Allen. MATTHEW AND THE MIDNIGHT PIRATES.
Paul, Korky, and Peter Carter. CAPTAIN TEACHUM’S BURIED TREASURE.
Peppe, Rodney. THE KETTLESHIP PIRATES.
Salmon, Michael. BIG BOAR’S MOM COMES TO VISIT.
Salmon, Michael. PEG LEG PETE AND THE MERMAID.
Salmon, Michael. TALENT NIGHT ON THE HOGWASH.
Salmon, Michael. WHO STOLE CAPTAIN PORKER’S TREASURE?
Sharratt, Nick. MRS. PIRATE.
Tucker, Kathy. DO PIRATES TAKE BATHS?
Fingerplays:
“Fierce Pirate”
I’m a fierce pirate, (Brandish sword or dagger)
Captain of my ship. (Stand at attention)
I stride the deck (Walk in place)
With hand on hip. (Put hands on hips)
Our big black flag (Hands over eyes, or look through telescope)
Shows a skull and cross bones. Everybody moans. (Throw up hands and moan)
Yes, everybody moans.
Out of the hold (Climb ladder with hands)
Dark and dank, We bring the captive (Hands together behind back)
Who walks the plank. (Walk fingers of one hand off index finger of the other hand)
With our gold and silver, Away we go
With many a SHOUT (Cup hands around mouth)
And a YO-HO-HO! (Say loudly)
“The One-Eyed Pirate”
The one-eyed pirate (cover one eye)
He’s fierce, and he’s tough (clench fists)
He digs for buried treasure (digging motion)
But it’s never enough.
He lives on a ship
Way out on the sea.
His parrot is his only friend, (perch hand on shoulder)
Except for me. (point to self)
Crafts:
Treasure Maps
Have the kids make treasure maps. Use a roll of big paper and just rip off pieces (to make it look distressed), and decorate with cut out skull and crossbones, footprints, etc. Have them draw a picture of their house and lawn, etc. Roll it up and tie it with a ribbon.
Treasure Hunt
Have the families go on a treasure hunt in the library. Give them a sheet with clues for the first stop on their search. At the second stop, display a laminated poster with the next clue, and at the final stop with the final clue have another laminated clue to read; and have them bring back a paper treasure chest (which is at the last stop). The first one back to the storytime room receive a first prize, then a second prize for the second group and a third prize for the third group. Everyone receive chocolate gold coins.
Pirate Flags
Take small white plastic kitchen bags and cut out squares. Staple black construction paper cross bones and “skull” to them. Staple to kitchen straws.
Buccaneer hats
Instructions: Fold a sheet of tissue into a 20×15 inch rectangle. Now fold the rectangle into a 10×15 inch rec., with the major fold at the top. Fold the corners of each top side down 7 inches and crease. There should be about a 1 inch space at the top. Fold bottom on each side up 1-1/2 inches. Crease. Fold up 1-1/2 inches again and crease. Turn hat over and repeat on the other side. Staple hat together at edges. On the right side of hat, slightly off center, staple a feather behind the cuff or brim. Stick a gold seal over the staple.
Use instant tattoos to create real swashbucklers.
Easy Spyglass
Telescope Materials: Paper tube (paper towel or gift wrap), Construction paper, scotch tape. OPTIONAL: plastic wrap, stickers for decorating.
Instructions: Take a small square of plastic wrap and cover one end of the paper tube. Secure the plastic wrap with tape. This is the glass lens for your spyglass. Don’t worry if it is not neat because you will be covering the edges of the plastic wrap in the next step. Cover the outside of your paper tube with construction paper. (You choose the colors) Add a narrow strip of yellow around the end that has the glass (plastic wrap).