Compiled by Jacqueline Church Simonds, Publisher and Author of Captain Mary, Buccaneer.
Pirates! 
Who isn’t immediately captivated by that word? The imagination springs to life, one eye squints, and a hearty, "Har!" is uttered by even the most staid citizen. That mythos, if you will, spurs writers of both fiction and non- to engage their best skills. In the course of researching my book, Captain Mary, Buccaneer, I read a lot of non-fiction. It seems as if weekly, there are more and possibly better books out about pirates in fiction, non-fiction and for children. I hope you’ll take the time to read lots of these great books!
Film buffs should see our Pirate Films page and Lisa Jensen's insightful commentary in Pirate Film Reviews!
Non-Fiction: Women Pirates |
Bold in Her Breeches: Women Pirates Across the Ages by Jo Stanley. Edited by the coordinator of the Women and the Sea network at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Ms. Staley’s book discusses Anne Bonny, Mary Read, Grace O’Malley and Cheng I Sao. Many of the essays also discuss the economic and social realities that forced these women into such a perilous occupation. |
Booty: Girl Pirates on the High Seas by Sara Lorimer, Susan Synarski (Illustrator). An illustrated book about women piracy FOR ADULTS--and about time, too! Includes coverage of little known female brigands, habits, dress, and customs. |
Iron Men, Wooden Women : Gender and Seafaring in the Atlantic World, 1700-1920 (Gender Relations in the American Experience) by Margaret S. Creighton (Editor), Lisa Norling (Editor). Explores gender relations, women in the development of the New England whaling trade, and the lives of Anne Bonny and Mary Read. |
The Pirate Trial of Anne Bonny and Mary Read by Tamara Eastman and Constance Bond. Good treatment of a subject so wrapped in myth and mystery it’s often difficult to tell what’s the truth. Contact the publisher, Fern Canyon Press, if you have trouble finding this. |
She Captains: Heroines and Hellions of the Sea by Joan Druett. New Zealand maritime scholar Druett turns her attention to 3000 years of female piracy which includes everyone from Massegetae queen Tomyris to Cheng I Sao, the 18th -century terror of the South China Sea to Lucy Brewer, who served as a common sailor aboard the U.S.S. Constitution. Also by Joan Druett: |
Women Pirates : And the Politics of the Jolly Roger by Ulrike Klausmann, et al. Essays on three thousand years of women pirates — from the Amazon’s to today’s anarchists. A far reaching book, bound to sate all your historical questions about women on the high seas. |
Women Sailors and Sailors' Women : An Untold Maritime History by David Cordingly. Mr. Cordingly's latest work, while not strictly devoted to pirates, includes the Anne Bonny / Mary Read story from the perspective of their role as lovers (Bonny as Calico Jack's lover, and Mary Read as Bonny's lover). |
Seafaring Women by Linda Grant De Pauw. This short book covers few piratical women, but lots of seafaring women. Mostly anecdotal in nature. |
Non-Fiction: General Piracy |
The Atrocities of the Pirates by Aaron Smith, Robert S. Redmond. The true story of Aaron Smith, captured in 1822 by pirates and forced to act as navigator for the brigands. He was eventually captured and tried for piracy in England. Written from his journals by his great-great grandson, Redmond, who is a former member of Parliament. |
Bandits at Sea: A Pirates Reader by C. R. Pennell (editor). Publisher's Weekly said "With titles like 'Black Men Under the Black Flag' and 'The Practice of Homosexuality Among the Pirates of China,' the 16 scholarly essays of Bandits at Sea: A Pirates Reader deliberately set out to explode myths and stereotypes. C. R. Pennell . . . has gathered foremost experts on these most romanticized of murderous predators, some of whom are shown to have had sophisticated anti-statist and class conscious ideas about what they were doing." Anti-statist and class conscious? Hmm, sounds to us like another romanticized view from a uniquely Marxist perspective. |
The Barbary Corsairs: Warfare in the Mediterranean, 1480-1580 By Jacques Heers, Translated by Jonathan North Rather slow going about an important period. |
The Barbary Wars: American Independence in the Atlantic World by Frank Lambert. A very careful study (the author makes plain that this was not a clash between Islam and Christianity, but of trade) of this critical period in the formation of America. |
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea : Merchant Seamen, Pirates, and the Anglo-American Maritime World, 1700-1750 by Marcus Rediker. A study of the socio-economic forces at work in the history of Anglo-American seafaring. Some mythologizing about piracy that smacks more of Disney than of Marx, but an interesting study.
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The Blood-Red Arab Flag : An Investigation into Qasimi Piracy 1797-1820 by Charles E. Davies. A highly recommended book on Persian Gulf piracy of old. |
The Buccaneers and Marooners of America : Being an Account of the Famous Adventures and Daring Deeds of Certain Notorious Freebooters of the Spanish Main by Alexander O. Exquemelin. One of the greatest books on Caribbean piracy written at the time it was occurring (1682). A must for those researching the field. |
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Pirates by Gail Selinger. Formatted in typical Idiot's Guide fashion, it manages to be a decent overview of piracy. |
Eyewitness: Pirate by Richard Platt. The popular series turns its attention to things piratical. |
A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the Most Notorious Pirates by Daniel Defoe and/or Captain Charles Johnson. Great source material and the first mentions of Mary Read and Anne Bonny. It remains the touchstone for all research about Caribbean piracy in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. A veritable pirate’s directory — you’ll find all your favorites here, and a few you’ve never heard of. |
A History of Pirates by Angus Konstam. Another excellent book on the why’s and wherfore’s of piracy by a museum curator. Many pictures. Also by Angus Konstam: |
The Jolly Roger: The Story of the Great Age of Piracy by Patrick Pringle. |
The Life, Adventures, and Piracies of the Famous Captain Singleton by Daniel Defoe. Finally in print again! |
The Maritime Heritage of the Cayman Islands by Roger C. Smith. Chronicles the discovery of the Caymans by Europeans in 1509, the areas history filled with pirates, buried treasure and seas-going derring-do. |
No Man Knows My Grave; Sir Henry Morgan, Captain William Kidd, Captain Woodes Rogers in the Great Age of Privateers and Pirates, 1665-1715 by Alexander Porter. Also by Porter: |
Patterns of Pillage: A Geography of Caribbean-Based Piracy in Spanish America, 1536-1718 by Peter R. Galvin. An intriguing new study that demonstrates that geographical points and patterns of shipping determined where—and when—pirates attacked. |
Piracy in the Ancient World: An Essay in Mediterranean History by Henry Arderne Ormerod. A fairly serious study. |
Piracy in the Greco-Roman World by Philip de Souza. One of the few books to cover this part of piracy. |
Piracy and Privateering in the Golden Age Netherlands by Virginia W. Lunsford A scholarly look at one of the most overlooked aspects of piracy: the Dutch. |
Piracy, Slavery, and Redemption : Barbary Captivity Narratives from Early Modern England by Daniel J. Vitkus (Editor). Concerning the capture of white men who were forced into piracy by Barbary pirates. This is the first time these old records have been published. |
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Pirates! : Brigands, Buccaneers, and Privateers in Fact, Fiction, and Legend by Jan Rogozinski. Contains an alphabetical encyclopedia-style listing of pirates from the Etruscans to the present day. Please be alerted that there are no notes given for sources in this book. Also by Jan Rogozinski: |
Pirates and Buccaneers of the Atlantic Coast |
Pirates in the Caribbean :1493-1720 by Cruz Apestegui. A Spain-centric take on piracy in the West Indies. |
Pirates of the Carolinas by Terrance Zepke. Blackbeard & the usual gang. |
Pirates on the Chesapeake : Being a True History of Pirates, Picaroons, and Raiders on Chesapeake Bay, 1610-1807 by Donald G. Shomette. |
The Pirate Coast: Thomas Jefferson, The First Marines, and the Secret Mission of 1805 by Richard Zacks In an attempt to stop the legendary Barbary Pirates of North Africa from hijacking American ships, William Eaton set out in 1805 on a secret mission to overthrow the government of Tripoli. The operation was sanctioned by President Thomas Jefferson, but at the last moment he grew wary of "intermeddling" in a foreign and withdrew government support. |
The Pirate Dictionary by Terry Breverton Fun dictionary of terms and where they came from. Poorly edited, though. See also: |
Pirates and Privateers : New Perspectives on the War on Trade in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries (Exeter Maritime Studies) by David J. Starkey (Editor), E. S. Van Eyck Heslinga (Editor), J. A. d Moor, J. A. De Moor (Editor), E. S. Van Eyck Van Heslinga (Editor). |
Pirates and Privateers of the Americas by David F. Marley. An alphabetical listing of all known pirates. Special order (& expensive). |
Pirates, Privateers, & Rebel Raiders of the Carolina Coast by Lindley S. Butler. |
The Pirates of the New England Coast, 1630-1730 by George Francis Dow, John Henry Edmonds. Edward Low, Captain Lowther, Harris, Sprigs and Fly are chronicled in these pages. |
The Pirates Own Book : Authentic Narratives of the Most Celebrated Sea Robbers by Charles Ellms, Research Society Marine. A reprint of a rare 1837 volume, still in the original 17th and 18th century vernacular (which can be slow going), this is the stories of pirates in their own voices — including Anne Bonny. Credited as a primary source for historians. |
The Pirate Primer by George Choundas. Every possible pirate-related word and meaning is covered in this impressive 500 page tome. |
The Pirate Wars by Peter Earle Noted academic Earle writes vividly about 200 years of pirate history.
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Raiders and Rebels: The Golden Age of Piracy by Frank Sherry. A piracy primer. |
The Sea Rover's Practice: Pirate Tactics and Techniques, 1630-1730 by Benerson Little An excellent work covering all aspects of pirate war tactics. Includes discussions of clothing, food, religion, hierarchy, weapons, flags, choice of ships and cultural relationships. |
Skull & Saltire: Stories of Scottish Piracy–Ancient & Modern by Jim Hewitson. An extensive look at Scottish piracy. The most famous, of course, was Captain William Kidd. Also covers J.M. Barrie, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson’s contributions to our love of things pirate. |
The Speedwell Voyage: A Tale of Piracy and Mutiny in the Eighteenth Century by Kenneth Poolman. This is the first restored account of the 1718 Speedwell tragedy, upon which Coleridges’ The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is based. Richly detailed, omitting none of the harshness that this fierce captain deserves. Poolman knows this subject inside and out. |
Terror at Sea: True Tales of Shipwrecks, Cannibalism, Pirates, Fire at Sea, and Other Dire Disasters in the 18th & 19th Centuries edited by Barbara Darrah Smith. This is all primary source, so the language is antique, but a valuable resource all the same. |
Under the Black Flag by David Cordingly. Mr. Cordingly was curator of the pirate exhibit at the British Museum. After I read this book, I completely re-wrote all the historical sections of Captain Mary, Buccaneer! Also by David Cordingly: |
Villains of all Nations: Atlantic Pirates in the Golden Age by Marcus Rediker. Covers the tumultuous high point of Caribbean and Atlantic piracy: 1716-1726 with all the key players. |
Non-Fiction: Pirate and Other Shipwrecks |
Atlas Of Shipwrecks & Treasure by Nigel Pickford. Maps and information on hundreds of shipwrecks plus a special section on pirates and privateers. Not as comprehensive as it could be, but a fun coffee-table book. |
Expedition Whydah : The Story of the World's First Excavation of a Pirate Treasure Ship and the Man Who Found Her by Barry Clifford, Paul Perry. Fascinating books about piracy, the nature of maritime history and uncovering the shipwrecks of those times. Also by Clifford: |
Famous Shipwrecks of the Florida Keys by Robert F. Weller. Covers shipwrecks of the piracy period. Also by Weller: |
Florida's Golden Galleons - The Search for the 1715 Spanish Treasure Fleet by Robert F. Burgess, Carl J. Clausen Details the adventures of state-sponsored treasure hunters. |
Pillaging the Empire: Piracy in the Americas 1500-1750 by Kris E. Lane. An overview. |
In the Wake of Galleons by Robert F. Marx. The undisputed master of shipwreck exploration books! Also by Marx: |
X Marks the Spot: The Archaeology of Piracy by Russell K. Skowrenek. Details the difficulties of underwater archeology and how hard it is to prove anything with a wreck. |
Non-Fiction: Modern Piracy |
| Dangerous Waters: Modern Piracy and Terror on the High Seas by John S. Burnett. Written by a victim of modern piracy, Burnett surveys current trends in piracy and makes some frightening predictions about future terrorist attacks. |
| From Pirates to Drug Lords: The Post-Cold War Caribbean Security Environment (Suny Series in Global Politics) by Michael C. Desch (Preface), Jorge I. Dominguez (Editor), Andres Serbin (Editor) |
| Jolly Roger With an Uzi: The Rise and Threat of Modern Piracy by Jack A. Gottschalk, Brian P. Flanagan, Lawrence J. Kahn [U.S. Naval Institute]. Although this report is about 4 years out of date at this point–and anything after the attacks of Sept. 11 concerning terrorism is ancient history–this is still a good start to research on modern piracy and its concerns. |
| The Law of Piracy by Professor Alfred P. Rubin. Concerns modern piracy law and the ways in which it is ineffective. |
| Maritime Terror: Protecting Your Vessel and Your Crew Against Piracy by Jim Gray, Mark Monday, Gary Stubblefield. Here’s a book that is very handy for all you aspiring round-the-world sailors! Tips by Navy SEALs and other professionals in thwarting pirate attacks on ships. The modern pirate is very bold, very technically savvy. . .and likely got all your particulars from a foreign government port authority. |
| Pirates Aboard! 40 Cases of Piracy Today and What Bluewater Cruisers Can Do About It by Klaus Hympendahl. The author details how and why pirates can take over your yacht. |
| Walking the Plank: A True Adventure Among Pirates by Stephen Kiesling. While not actually about piracy, this book describes the modern-day scam of funding searches for pirate treasure. Yes, some searches have been successful, just like some people actually win the lottery (but it’s never you, is it?). The book details one notable scam that hoodwinked Jacqueline Onassis, E. F. Hutton and a large number of other people. |
Non-Fiction: Biographies |
CAPTAIN AVERY |
BARTHOLOMEW ROBERTS / BLACK BART
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BLACKBEARD
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ANNE BONNY
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WILLIAM DAMPIER
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SIR FRANCIS DRAKE
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GRANUAILE / GRACE O’MALLEY
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CAPTAIN KIDD
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JEAN LAFFITE
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HENRY MORGAN
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Non-Fiction: Pirate Sexuality |
Bandits at Sea: A Pirates Reader by C. R. Pennell (editor). Publisher's Weekly said "With titles like 'Black Men Under the Black Flag' and 'The Practice of Homosexuality Among the Pirates of China,' the 16 scholarly essays of Bandits at Sea: A Pirates Reader deliberately set out to explode myths and stereotypes. C. R. Pennell . . . has gathered foremost experts on these most romanticized of murderous predators, some of whom are shown to have had sophisticated anti-statist and class conscious ideas about what they were doing." Anti-statist and class conscious? Hmm, sounds to us like another romanticized view from a uniquely Marxist perspective. |
Rum, Sodomy and the Lash : Piracy, Sexuality, and Masculine Identity by Professor Hans Turley. Not for those who don’t care to think about what happens in one-sex environments. |
Sodomy and the Pirate Tradition : English Sea Rovers in the Seventeenth-Century Caribbean by Barry Richard Burg. Not for those who don’t care to think about what happens in one-sex environments. |
Pirate Fiction |
Anne Bonney and Mary Read by Mace Taxco. A somewhat "history light" romantic novel of these two characters. |
The Barbary Pirates by C. S. Forester. Please note that this links you to a "pirate edition" of Forester’s classic. Go to the "marketplace" or "Z-Shops" and get a better edition which pays royalties to the Forester estate. |
Captain Blood by Rafael Sabatini. A must have! Also by Sabatini: |
| Captain
Mary, Buccaneer by Jacqueline Church Simonds. Captain Mary and
her pirate crew fight their way across the Caribbean creating a
financial empire and founding the free nation of Cache Island.
Captain Mary also juggles the demands of her three lovers: Dr.
Alphonse Coulances, a French doctor and traitor; the first mate, a
former slave and master pilot named Petronius; and Elaina Mayhew, at
first a hostage to be ransomed, but later, so much more! Loosely
based on the women pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Read.
Recommended by No Quarter Given, Historical Novels Review. Joan Druett (She
Captains and Hen
Frigates) said "Simonds is a strong writer." Find out more... |
Captain Sinister’s Lady by Darlene Marshall. Ah, the romance of piracy! Pirate boards ship. Pirate meets widow. Let the games begin! |
The Count of Monte Cristo (Penguin Classics) by Alexandre Dumas. If you don’t have this in your home library, do it now! |
Dead Man's Chest: The Sequel to Treasure Island by Roger L. Johnson. Recommended by the Midwest Review of Books. |
The Devil's Captain by Frank Sherry. A fictional tale of the pirate "Black" Bart Roberts. |
Gasparilla: Pirate Genius by James F. Kaserman. A novel about the Floridian pirate José Gaspar. As his legitimate career in the Spanish navy unravels, he is forced to become the ruthless pirate Gasparilla. |
Grania : She-King of the Irish Seas by Morgan Llywelyn The tale of the famed Irish she-pirate. |
A High Wind in Jamaica by Richard Hughes. Sort of a "Lord of the Flies" goes to sea. Mordantly funny at times—but creepy. |
The Only Life That Mattered : The Short and Merry Lives of Anne Bonny, Mary Read, and Calico Jack by James L. Nelson A novelization of Anne Bonney, Mary Read and Jack Rackham’s tale, told with C.S. Forrester verve. |
The Pirate's Daughter by Robert Girardi. A modern pirate adventure involving a mysterious, sexy woman and African slave trading. |
Pirates of Pensacola by Keith Thomson. A young man’s absentee father shows up and the next thing he knows, he’s embroiled with pirates. Lots of far-fetched action blending pirates and the modern-day Caribbean underworld. |
Porto Bello Gold : A Prequel to Treasure Island (Classics of Nautical Fiction) by Arthur D. Howden Smith. Yet another wanna-be Stevenson chimes in. |
Sea Star: The Private Life of Anne Bonny, Pirate Queen by Pamela Jekel. A light and frothy read, not terribly historically accurate. |
Sisters of the Sea: Anne Bonny and Mary Read Pirates of the Caribbean by Sandra Riley Anne and Mary in all their bloody glory. |
The Sweet Trade by Elizabeth Garrett is a fictional re-telling of the real female pirates Anne Bonny & Mary Read. Here the "girls" come alive as best friends from different walks of life and adventurers. A fun historical romance with very fine period details. |
In the Time of Worms by Kenelm Winslow Harris. A modern day psychologist steps into time travel and the frantic race to hide pirates from a vengeful British Admiral. |
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, illustrated by N.C. Wyeth. If you haven’t read this one, you don’t know what pirate literature is. A great adventure story, timeless in its scope. A must for any pirate fan. The N.C. Wyeth illustrations are wonderful. |
The Widow Maker by C.C. Colee. More of a romance than a piratical adventure. Recommended by No Quarter Given. |
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Other Nautical Fiction with a Pirate Theme |
The Guardship: Book One of The Brethren of the Coast by James L. Nelson. About this book, Patrick O'Brien said: "There are few greater pleasures than reading a book about a world that is not our own but that is concerned with a perfectly recognizable society with almost identical emotions--in this case the American Colonies of the very early 18th century and the sea off their coasts--and the pleasure is very much increased when the writer is a master both of his period and of the English language." That's one heck of a recommendation in our book! |
Blackbirder: Book Two of The Brethren of the Coast by James L. Nelson. Nelson's second swashbuckling adventure featuring pirate-turned-privateer Thomas Marlowe. If you liked the first one, you'll like this one. |
The Pirate Round: Book Three The Brethren of the Coast by James L. Nelson. Some say this is the best of the series. You can be sure that if you liked the other two books, you have to read this one too! |
A Watery Grave by Joan Druett A mystery set during the 1838-42 United States South Seas Exploring Expedition, with Wiki Coffin, a half-Maori protagonist. Written by the eminent sea-and piracy-historian, how much better can it get! Also by Joan Druett:
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Pirate Humor |
| Guide to Pirate Parenting by Tim Bete. Hysterical parenting advice for those who are very tired of "proper" behavior. |
| Pirattitude!: So you Wannna Be a Pirate? : Here's How! by John Baur, Mark Summers From those hilarious scalawags who brought you Talk-Like-A-Pirate Day comes this silly book on creating your pirate persona. |
Young Adult Pirate Fiction |
Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary "Jacky" Faber, Ship's Boy by Louis A. Meyer Grade 6-8 (some sexuality) Orphaned at 8 during London’s brush with the Black Death, Mary must live life on the streets. But when her gang leader is killed, she puts on his clothes, cuts her hair and signs on the HMS Dolphin as “Jack.” Clashes with pirates and a marooning give this a thrilling feel. Also by Meyer: |
| Capt. Hook: the Adventures of a Notorious Youth by J. V. Hart The little-known story of Peter Pan’s nemesis: his misunderstood youth and adventures. |
| How to Be a Pirate by Cressida Cowell Grade 6-8 If you loved How to Train a Dragon, you’ll love this. The same mad characters take on piracy! |
| Peter Raven Under Fire by Michael Molloy. A well researched tale of a 13-year-old boy involved in the politics and travails of the 1800s French and British wars. |
| Pirates! by Celia Rees Grade 6-9 (graphic depiction of the realities of slavery): two young women, united through a set of extraordinary circumstances including a brutal murder, an arranged marriage, and set of ruby earrings, find themselves sailing the high seas in search of love, adventure and freedom—as pirates! |
| Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (The Junior Novelization) by Irene Trimble A considerably watered down version of the movie. |
| The Pirate's Son by Geraldine McCaughrean Grade 7-& up A tale of a young boy sent to be with his pirate father in Madagascar. Along the way he meets 2 other orphans. Their adventures as they forge a life trying to stay away form the pirates. |
| Piratica: Being a Daring Tale of a Singular Girl's Adventure Upon the High Seas by Tanith Lee Grade 6-9 A young girl goes to sea, convinced she is the daughter of a famous female pirate. |
| Polly and the Pirates by Ted Naifeh. A girl is kidnapped by pirates from her boring life in a boarding school, to discover that her mother was an infamous pirate captain. Manga-like illustrations will appeal to YA girls. |
| Voyage of Plunder by Michele Torrey. When a young man on his way from Boston to Jamaica with his father and new stepmother (a girl hardly older than himself and carrying his unborn half-brother) encounters pirates, he has a hard decision to make... and ends up becoming an unwilling pirate himself. |
 The
Witch from the Sea by Lisa Jensen Grades
9-12
Wonderful, fast reading adventure of one girl’s coming of age
whose travels lead her into the company of pirates. It is in their
well-described milieu, she finds her heart. Author Joan Druett (She
Captains and Hen
Frigates) said, "Better than Diana Gabaldon– The Witch from the Sea is that rare
creation, an historical romance with guts as well as glamour.
Wild-spirited Tory is an irresistible character." "Reads
like Jane Eyre goes to Treasure Island," says novelist Jacqueline Church Simonds (Captain
Mary, Buccaneer). Recommended by Booklist, Romantic
Times, No Quarter Given, The Write Lifestyle, and Romance
Reader. Find out more... |
Young Adult Pirate Non-Fiction |
Booty: Girl Pirates on the High Seas by Sara Lorimer, Susan Synarski (Illustrator). Grade 9-12 An illustrated book about women piracy--and about time, too! Includes coverage of little known female brigands, habits, dress, and customs. |
Daring Pirate Women by Anne Wallace Sharp Grades 5-8 A well-written exploration of women pirates. |
Pirate (DK Eyewitness Books) by Richard Platt Grades 5-8 Readers are introduced to privateers, buccaneers, and corsairs, and told how they differ. Illustrations of various types of pirate ships, and the merchant vessels that were most often their targets, are particularly effective. |
Pirates by John Matthews Ages 6-12. Wonderful book packed with information and fun replicas of a pirate recruitment poster, overview of pirate history, pirate vocabulary and many, many fold-outs. |
The Pirate Soul by Pat Croce. An interactive book as much fun for kids as for grown-ups. |
Pirates and Privateers of the High Seas by Laura Lee Wren Grades 5-8 Short biographies of the most famous pirates. |
The Sea King : Sir Francis Drake and His Times by Albert Marrin Grades 6-9. A excellent, accessible biography of this bold figure of history. Readers may find some of the descriptions of decapitations a little intense. |
Terror of the Spanish Main : Sir Henry Morgan and His Buccaneers Albert Marrin While there is, in actuality, little about Morgan in this book, it is a great overview of how pirates lived and what made them chose this life. Tortures and unpleasant things described in great detail—you are forewarned. |
Women Pirates: Eight Stories of Adventure by Myra Weatherly Grades 6-9 |
Pirate Fiction for Children |
Backbeard and the Birthday Suit by Matthew McElligott Ages 4-8. Backbeard the Pirate (no relation to Blackbeard, a gentler, less smelly-pirate) decides to get a new suit for his birthday—only when he comes back, his crew doesn’t recognize him! Fabulous illustrations make this a fun book for young readers. |
The Ballad of the Pirate Queens by Jane Yolen, illustrated by David Shannon. Ages 4-12. Tells the story of the real women pirates Anne Bonney and Mary Reade. Excellent illustrations but not for the sensitive child. |
Blackbeard’s Last Fight by Eric A. Kimmel Ages 9-12. Not for the faint-hearted—descriptions of battles and what happens to Blackbeard’s severed head may upset some young readers. Told from the perpective of a young cabin boy who sneaks aboard Blackbeard’s ship just in time for his final battle, the book blends fact and myth. Great battle depictions. |
The Book of Pirates by Michael Hague Grades 3-6 Anthology of stories about pirates written by the greats like Robert Louis Stevenson and Arthur Conan Doyle. |
Captain Flinn and the Pirate Dinosaurs by Giles Andreae Ages 4-8. A boy discovers a pirate crying in the school cabinet. When he’s told that the pirate lost his ship to dinosaurs, Flinn is off to help. What kid wouldn’t love the combination of pirates and dinosaurs? |
Captain Slaughterboard Drops Anchor by Mervyn Laurence Peake, Ages 4-8. A reprint of the 1939 classic. Although a bit Lewis Caroll-like, worth the time! |
Don't Mention Pirates by Sarah McConnell Ages 4-8. Scarlet Silver wants to be a pirate just like her aunt, Long Joan Silver. But every since auntie was eaten by a giant shrimp, the rule of her home is “Don’t Mention Pirates.” |
Edward and the Pirates by David McPhail, Ages 4-8. A great book about how reading (and imagination) are the greatest fun. |
Fluffy: Scourge of the Sea by Teresa Bateman. A pampered poodle is kidnapped by canine pirates... and they get more than they bargained for! Very funny. |
Henry and the Buccaneer Bunnies by Carolyn Crimi. A bookish bunny pirate gets the last laugh on his scornful crewmates. A so-so plot but nice illustrations. |
How I Became a Pirate by Melinda Long. Ages 4-8. A young boy joins a group of pirates... but later wishes he'd stayed home. Also available is:
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I Love My Pirate Papa by Laura Leuck. Terrific tale in rhyme with wonderful illustrations. |
Inside Jolly Roger’s Pirate Ship by Charles Reasoner. Great for the wee pirates. |
Jonah and the Pirates Who Usually Don't Do Anything (VeggieTales Series) by Eric Metaxas, Cindy Kenney, Ages 4-8. An odd retelling of the Jonah and the Whale tale. |
Lift the Lid on Pirates by Val Garwood Grade 3-6 This is a book and activities set that lets you “Discover High-Seas Adventure, Build Your Own Pirate Ship, and Learn to Navigate With a 16th -Century Compass!” |
Night Pirates by Peter Harris Ages 4-8. Girl pirates rescue/capture Tom in the middle of the night and together they foil the adult pirates. Lovely illustrations and soothing rhyme will quickly make this a bedtime favorite. |
The Not-So-Jolly Roger (Time Warp Trio, 2) by Jon Scieszka, Ages 9-12. The three Time Warp kids get picked up by Blackbeard himself! |
On the Go With Pirate Pete and Pirate Joe by A.E. Canon, Ages 4-8. Four short, funny stories. |
Pirate Girl by Cornelia Funke Ages 4-8. A little girl sailing all by herself to Grandma’s House is kidnaped by dastardly pirates who ransom her and threaten to feed her to the sharks... until the girl’s mother shows up—who is the meanest pirate in those waters! Not a great tale, but does balance the all-male pirate books. |
A Pirate's Life for Me! by Julie Thompson and Brownie McIntosh. Ages 4-8. Sea chantys and age-appropriate pirate stories. |
Pirates in Oz by Ruth P. Thompson. Renegade Pirates join their friends in OZ for an adventure. |
Pirates Past Noon (Magic Tree House) by Mary Pope Osborne, Ages 4-8. A companion book is: |
Pirate Pete by Kim Kennedy, Ages 4-8. A cute tale about a pirate who goes in search of treasure. |
Pirate's Promise by Clyde Robert Bulla, Peter Burchard (Illustrator) Grade 4-6 Young Tom is a bonded servant on a merchant ship, until he’s captured by pirates. |
Pirate Pup by Caroline Stutson Ages 4-8. The Rover, “manned” by an all canine crew, meets up with a pirate ship full of cats before they can get to their treasure. Nifty illustrations. |
Pirates : Robbers of the High Seas by Gail Gibbons Grade 2-4 Bright watercolor pictures illustrate this non-fiction about pirates and their habits. |
Pirate School by Cathy East Dubowski, Ages 6-8. While attending pirate school, two friends find treasure. |
Pirate Treasure by Loretta Krupinski Ages 4-8. Charming illustrations adorn this tale of husband and wife mice pirates blown off course and settling down in the town of Mousam. When weather threatens the town, the pirate mice save the day. Very cute. |
Port Side Pirates! by Oscar Seaworthy. A cute illustrated tale. |
Roger, the Jolly Pirate by Brett Helquist (Illustrator) Grades Pre K-3 All about a pirate who was too nice to be bad. |
Shiver Me Letters: A Pirate A B C by June Sobel. Pre-School. These pirates discover that they only have the letter Rrrrrrrrr! And go off to capture all the rest of the letters of the alphabet, including X marks the spot. |
Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome, Ages 9-12. Introduce YOUR children to this terrific classic! |
Pirate Non-Fiction for Children |
1001 Pirate Things to Spot by Rob Lloyd Jones. Not one of the best in this series, but still fun for the pirate fan. |
The Barefoot Book of Pirates (Barefoot Collection) by Richard Walker, Olwyn Whelan (Illustrator) Grade 4-6 Retelling of pirate tales from Japan to Morocco to Persia. Rather bland stories, but nicely illustrated. |
The Best Book of Pirates by Barnaby Howard Grade 3-5 Pirates through the ages, Captain Kidd’s ship and much more. |
The Big Book of Pirates by Chuck Tessaro Ages 9-12. Facts, myths, archeological digs and maps tracing certain pirates’ routes make this an interesting addition to children’s non-fiction on pirates. |
Do Pirates Take Baths? by Kathy Tucker, Ages 4-7. Bright and cheerful rhymes with funny ideas about pirates. |
Everything I Know About Pirates: A Collection of Made-Up Facts, Educated Guesses, and Silly Pictures About Bad Guys of the High Seas by Tom Lichtenheld, Ages 4-8. Laugh-out-loud-funny— but don’t count on it for real facts. |
The Great Pirate Activity Book by Deri Robins, Ages 9-12. Fun ideas like building a pirate ship, planning a pirate party and lots of games. |
Pirates (Grosset & Dunlap All Aboard Book) by Dina Anastasio Ages 3-7. An overview of pirate history in entertaining prose. |
Pirates by John Mathews. A wonderful book with interactive pieces like playing cards and documents. A must-have for the serious apprentice pirate. Also by Mathews:
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Pirateology : The Pirate Hunter's Companion by Captain Lubber Ages 4-8. The popular “Ologies” series tackles the facts on piracy. |
A Pirate's Life for Me!: A Day Aboard a Pirate Ship by Julie Thompson, Brownie MacIntosh, Ages 7+. A brief description of pirates as not-nice people + 6 sea chantys. |
The Pirate Meets the Queen by Matt Faulkner Grades 2-4. The story of Grace O’Malley, pirate queen, from her first days to the pivotal moment when she met Queen Elizabeth to ransom her son. Interesting illustrations. |
Pirates & Smugglers by Moira Butterfield Grades 4-6 An introductory book for the subject. |
See Inside Pirate Ships by Rob Lloyd Jones. |
Sir Francis Drake : His Daring Deeds by Roy Gerrard Ages 4-8. The famous British hero/pirate and his cat in rhymes and kind of silly illustrations. |
What If You Met A Pirate? by Brett Helquist (Illustrator) Grades Pre K-3 What really went on in pirate ships. |
