Pirate Nell's Tale to Tell

Nell joins a swarthy canine crew with grand visions for her pirate’s life—informed by the many tales of adventures she’s read and with her trusty Pirate’s Almanac in tow—but soon discovers that while the rest of the crew loves her stories, Captain Gnash heartily disapproves, and she is stuck with the scut work. That is, until the power of a wish brings Nell a treasure map, and her goodness and bravery compel her to rescue the greedy captain and seize the ship’s helm to steer the crew and penitent captain to safety, buoyed by her Almanac knowledge. A brilliant twist around the treasure’s contents sets up an ending that is equal parts fun and original—a floating library! All the classic elements of a terrific pirate story—adventure, peril, heroism and a treasure worth seeking—are present in spades, and all originate with the unassuming newcomer Nell. Helen’s superb rhyming (cadence, originality and perfect rhyme) and Thomas’ signature illustration style are a perfect marriage, resulting in an utterly enjoyable read aloud. Details in the illustrations, such as Captain Gnash’s figurehead at the ship’s bow (and its ensuing upgrade), underwater scenes, and miniature Almanac pages, give readers opportunities to make some of their own discoveries within the book’s pages, and the message simply can’t be beat—books are a treasure unto themselves.