Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 3-This rollicking, seafaring version of Moore's poem will give pirate fans a chuckle while not exactly establishing itself as a Christmas classic. The adapted rhymes scan fairly well: "'Twas the night before Christmas aboard the Black Sark./Not a creature was stirrin', not even a shark!/The stockin's were stuck to the bowsprit with tar,/In hopes that Sir Peggedy soon would be thar." The pencil and ink illustrations have a vibrant, cluttered humor that is reminiscent of, though not as well executed as, those of Lane Smith. Sir Peg himself is a little hard to make out as a person, but this is a fun addition to the subgenre of wacky adaptations of the classic.-Anne Connor, Los Angeles Public Library (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
(Preschool, Primary) "The stockin's were stuck to the bowsprit with tar, / In hopes that Sir Peggedy soon would be thar." Leave sugar plums, St. Nick, and Dasher and Dancer for the lily-livered landlubbers. Yates calls on his inner buccaneer to spin a swashbuckling version of the classic Christmas poem, with "visions of treasure chests," Sir Peggedy ("a jolly old seadog enormously fat"), and eight giant flying sea horses ("On, Cutthroat! On, Cross-Eyes! On, Roger an' Jolly!"). The robust verse sails along with gusto; the injection of pirate-speak (glossary included) into the familiar rhyme scheme makes reading the story aloud as much fun as hearing it. Serra's digitally colored, retro-looking illustrations bring holiday cheer to the high seas; his jewel-tone palette highlights both the briny deep and a festive band of brigands. From HORN BOOK, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Yo-ho, ho, ho, ye landlubbers! Can that be Santa Claus with a black suit, skull-shaped earring and one shiny, gold tooth? And are those seahorses pulling a shell-shaped sleigh instead of reindeer? Aargh! Sir Peggedy's the name, pirating's the game, and a pitch-perfect parody is the definition of this witty take on the classic Christmas poem that will have pirate fans rolling on the poop deck with laughter. As narrated by a little redheaded pirate boy watching from aboard the Black Sark, the expertly rhymed text is packed full of pirate jargon and symbols, cleverly interwoven into the familiar lines that beg to be read aloud in rousing fashion. Serra's busy illustrations capture the pirate antics with a modern, moody edge, and a glossary defines all the pirate terms for little pirate wannabes. In the manner of many a pirate character, however, Sir Peggedy has a peg leg, an eye patch and a hook replacing one hand like Captain Hook, piratical literary conventions that may be seen as making light of legitimate disabilities. (Picture book. 4-9) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
