Denette Fretz's Pirates on the Farm ~ Reviewed

Pirates on the Farm

By Denette Fretz

Illustrated by Gene Barretta

ISBN#978-0-310-72348-6

 Pages HB Picture Book

Back Cover: 'No one ever imagined that five swashbuckling pirates would settle in our proper little southern community. But they did.' When pirates move in next door, life on the farm is bound to get interesting. But will the unadventurous Sanders family be able to handle the pirates' bad manners, ghastly grub, and outrageous antics? Or will they learn the importance of loving one's neighbor and help the graceless pirates find their 'land legs'?

Review: I loved the illustrations and the message of this book. I’m thankful for the review copy of such a precious and fun book.

What does it mean when the bible says to love your neighbor as yourself? This author sets up a scenario everyone young and old can relate to. The story takes place in a small town where everyone knows how things are supposed to be. It shows how town’s people react to Pirates moving into town and becoming their neighbors! This story will have parents look at that scripture in a new light.

The Book Blurb says, “Will they learn the importance of loving one’s neighbor and help the graceless pirates find their “land legs?”

This is an amusing and delightful story that will have children laugh as the towns people try to figure out these pirates and how the Pirates try to fit in. I loved how this author and illustrator show how one family dared to love neighbors that were very different then they were.

Five Pirates traded doubloons for dire and bought a farm. They were clueless on how to things worked on a farm. The Pirates watched others to get clues on how things should go. But they were still clueless. The story is told thru a child’s POV. I liked that. The child saw how their father was wiling to lend a hand in showing these Pirates how things were done. The mother wanted nothing to do with the lot of them. The father went out of his way to make them feel welcome. He didn’t judge them but loved them. Just because they were different it didn’t make them bad.

The pirates accepted the help and were very grateful. So the Pirates invited the family to dinner. The family noticed they ate different things – but they had fun anyway. The child’s family invites the pirates to a community event. They were just being themselves at this event. They didn’t know the rules of the community and they broke a few laws and were charged a fine they couldn’t pay.

The father searches his heart on what he should do to help and/or wondered if he should do anything at all about the situation. How would God have the farmer help? He wondered. Would the pirates have to leave the village? WWJD

The illustrations in the book help get the message across to young readers. There is so much to look at that will make the young giggle and the parents smile.

This book will be enjoyed by the child and the one reading the book. So, if your child and/or grand child are fascinated with Jake the pirate cartoon on T.V. They will love this book. I highly recommend it to kids and the young at heart. There is a great message we all could learn inside the colorful pages. It that will warm your heart and put a smile on your face. It will soon become a family favorite.

Nora St.Laurent

TBCN Where Book Fun Begins

www.bookfun.org