Yo, ho, ho, these pirate books for kids are absolutely ‘plunderful’! The treasure abounds and the laughs will delight as you enter into the world of pirate adventure. After you finish them, be sure to check out our list of more of the best preschool books!
Blimey, these are some great pirate tales! A pirate theme seems to appeal to kids of all ages and adults too. The pirate lingo, the mysterious search for the treasure, and the freedom of sailing the high seas sure seem fun and exciting. So don’t be a landlubber… brush up on your pirate language and set sail with these fantastic stories!
We’ve also put together a list of amazing pirate songs that “arrrrr” a great addition to your home or classroom. They’re perfect to pair with pirate books for a themed circle time.
Looking for more amazing books? We’ve got a printable list of the best preschool books, just waiting for little hands to read! Fill out the form below and we’ll send it right over to you.
The Best Pirate Stories for Kids of All Ages
Shiver Me Letters: A Pirate ABC by June Sobel
A true treasure hunt of pirate proportions! The best part about this book is the opportunity for little ones to search the page for the letters that are hiding from the pirates. Help the pirates make their way all the way through the ABCs and learn more letters than just ‘R’! This one is great to pair with our alphabet songs, too.
There Was an Old Pirate Who Swallowed a Map by Lucille Colandro
This story follows the old pirate who spends her days swallowing strange things like an anchor, a spyglass, a flag, and other odd items! The end of the story unfolds and we discover that they were on an exciting pirate ride at the amusement park. Use the search and find pages to go back through the book and find specific pictures. Or learn more about real pirate life with the detailed fact pages!
Pirate Boy by Eve Bunting
This pirate boy really wants to be a pirate but isn’t so sure he’ll like it without his mom by his side. Fortunately, his mom reminds him that she will do anything for him including swim on a dolphin or concoct her magic spray for troublesome times. While this may be tagged as a pirate story, it certainly tells the important tale of a mother’s fierce and unwavering love and the never-ending imagination of young children.
Pirates Love Underpants by Claire Freedman
This title alone makes probably for one of the most fun pirate books for kids. We all know, simply saying the word, ‘underpants’ around a bunch of little kids will earn us plenty of giggles! Sprinkle in some pirates and you have the perfect recipe for a super funny book. Search along with the captain for the fabled golden underpants and find silly sharks in knickers and a dangerous pirate crew who has already found the golden bounty! If you are looking for a super silly and wacky pirate book for kids, look no further!
How I Became a Pirate by Melinda Long
When a pirate ship ends up on the local beach, a young boy named Jeremy finds himself on the pirate boat with the rest of the crew. He learns pirate manners such as talking with your mouth full, never eating vegetables, and certainly no please or thank yous on board. Jeremy also learns that there are no storybooks or anyone to tuck him and wish him sweet dreams. The illustrations are drawn by famous author David Shannon and they are full of wonder and interest that will quickly capture the eye. A silly and adventurous story of a young boy with a big imagination.
Goodnight Pirate by Michelle Robinson
A simple and endearing good night book, designed to help little pirates learn all kinds of pirate slang as they sail off to dreamland. Full of color and excitement, this book is sure to be a must-read every night!
Pete the Cat and the Treasure Map by James Dean
Pirate books for kids would not be complete without Pete the Cat joining the crew. In this adventure, Captain Pete is out looking for buried gold and gems! Kids will love that Pete the Cat is back in another rockin’ adventurous tale! Pete even manages to make great friends with the ‘scary’ sea monster who ends up saving the day. An adorable tale that includes sharing, friendship, and positivity.
The Berenstain Bears Pirate Adventure by Mike Berenstain
It’s certainly fun to pretend to be a pirate and the Berenstain Bears take us along for the ride! When they find an old pirate ship washed ashore at the beach, they go on quite an imaginary adventure. The Berenstain Bears stories are such a timeless read and kids love reading about new experiences with their beloved characters.
Pirates Don’t Go to Kindergarten by Lisa Robinson
Is your preschooler feeling the Kindergarten cold feet? This pirate book follows Captain Emma as she sails into Kindergarten, but first, heads back to preschool where it feels safe and familiar. Emma digs her heels in throughout her Kindergarten day as she pines for her beloved preschool teacher. Once she realizes that she is always welcome to visit preschool, she finds the courage to move up a grade level and make new friends.
Pirates Go to School by Corinne Demas
A perfect back-to-school book as we discover that pirates go to school too! Time to hang up their swords, learn their ABCs, and show off some amazing treasure for show and tell with the whole class. A zany and humorous look at the life of pirates in school and a great reminder to stay shipshape and follow the rules!
Dinosaur Pirates by Penny Dale
If you love dinosaurs AND pirates, this book will delight! Dinosaur pirates dig and dig until they find the buried treasure. But look out! Robber raptors have taken over and try to take the golden gems for themselves! Will the rightful dinosaurs reign supreme? This book has vivid illustrations and helpful sound words (onomatopoeia) to help bring the story to life.
The Gingerbread Pirates by Kristin Kladstrup
This pirate holiday tale is perfect for the gingerbread fan in your life. Jim and his mom decide to make pirate gingerbread cookies for Santa. But as Jim heads to bed to await Santa’s arrival, Captain Cookie sneaks away looking for his pirate crew and runs into Santa Claus. Terrified that they will be eaten, the crew learns that Santa is pretty special after all. A clever twist on a holiday story, this book contains excitement, adventure, and family traditions.
Are Pirates Polite? by Corinne Demas
Are pirates polite? You bet your sword they are! This book is a wonderful introduction to rules and manners. While spotlighting the naughty behaviors of pirates, the author makes sure the reader knows the expected and polite manners. Saying please and thank you, sharing, and using their inside voices are all expected behaviors if you want to be part of the pirate life!
Pirate Theme Lesson Plans
The perfect addition to this awesome list of pirate books for kids is done-for-you pirate-themed lesson plans from our friends Preschool Teacher 101! These lesson plans include a variety of reading, math, science, art, and sensory activities for some memorable preschool pirate lessons.
Make sure to check out our other book lists below for other great book ideas, or check out our entire list of best preschool books!
Best of Books
- Farm Animal Books
- Best Ocean Books for Kids
- Best Read-Aloud Preschool Books
- Rhyming Books for Kids
- Yoga Books for Kids
- Outer Space Books for Kids
- Books to Teach Reading and Letter Sounds
Books for Social/Emotional Growth
- Powerful Preschool Books that Celebrate and Accept Differences
- Books on Kindness
- Gratitude and Thankfulness Books for Kids
- Books About School for Kids
Seasonal Books
- Pumpkin Books Perfect for Reading this Fall
- Fantastic Fall Books for Preschoolers
- Not So Scary Monster Books for Kids
- Winter Books
- April Preschool Themes You’ll Love! - March 21, 2023
- March Preschool Themes - February 22, 2023
- Alliteration Activities - August 26, 2022
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