Review by Booklist Review
Whether or not a band of pirates is a bunch of salty dogs (and in this case they literally are), one thing is for sure: pirates are selfish! Augusta Garrick is a good-natured, helpful spaniel pup and the daughter of a bad-natured, horrible pirate captain. As he endlessly reminds her (while she does things like rescue small dogs who have walked off the plank), she must be saucy, bold, and selfish if she wants to be a good pirate. But when a storm hits and the sails are torn, it may be better if everyone aboard is selfless instead. Winters spreads loads of drama and humor throughout, and Griffith's expert illustrations are vibrantly colored and posed. Each breed of dog, fairly realistically drawn, is delightfully depicted in pirate garb with expressions that heighten the tension when the seas get rough. Landlubbers will discover fun details upon multiple readings, which will be welcome as this charming moral turnaround tale is accomplished without a sugar coating. These are despicable sea dogs after all!--Mazza, April Copyright 2015 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-Among the sea dogs (literal dogs in pirate clothing) on her father's ship, August Garrick is a very bad pirate. Her kind, polite, and helpful actions win her a lecture. "To be a good pirate, yez gots to be saucy," says Captain Garrick. "And yez gots to be bold. But most important, me sea pup, yez gots to be SELFISH!" Scully, a bull terrier with a wooden leg, will see to it, or the Captain will feed him to the fish. So Augusta throws Scully's peg-leg out a porthole while he's sleeping, hoping this selfish act will make her father proud. That night a terrible storm comes up and rips the sails. The ship lists and takes on water. Just as the crew is ready to abandon ship, Augusta climbs the rigging and takes charge. "Less speed!" she calls. "Lads, help me reef the sails!" They obey her, and the ship is saved. Her proud father hugs her. "Augusta, yez be the best pirate I'z ever known-saucy, bold, and SELFLESS!" With its nautical terms and pirate speak, this book is a delight to read aloud. The full color artwork is rich in detail, and the expressive canine faces of captain and crew will bring smiles. VERDICT This seagoing tale with its endearing heroine will be a sure hit with youngsters.-Mary Jean Smith, formerly at Southside Elementary School, Lebanon, TN © Copyright 2015. 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 Kirkus Book Review
Wicked smart pacing and playful art tell the tale of a pirate too doggone loyal for her own good. Capt. Barnacle Garrick may be the scurviest cur (literallyhe's a springer spaniel) to sail the seven seas, but his blue-eyed daughter Augusta is kind, considerate, and caring. In short, she's a very bad pirate indeed. Disgustedshe's more inclined to tuck her bunkmates in than to commit basic forms of piracyher father admonishes her to "be saucybold.But most important, me sea pup, yez gots to be SELFISH!" Augusta tries by purloining a fellow shipmate's peg leg, but when a squall and a torn mainsail mean almost certain sinking, the feisty sea pup teaches her father and his crew that sometimes it pays to be saucy, bold, and selfless. In a story so packed with piratical jargon and growls that even the most staid and sorry landlubbers will become salty dogs while reading it, it's Griffiths' art that takes the wave-swept narrative to another level. Augusta's charm goes far, and each breed of canine is rendered with a loving hand. Even more delightful are the tiny details. From Augusta's surreptitious carving of a new peg leg to Garrick's battles with uniformed mice in an early vignette, young readers will see something new with each turn of the page. Arrrrguably the best piratical dogfight you'll ever sink your teeth into. (Picture book. 4-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
