The Terrible Horrible Smelly Pirate.

Gregory Bryan is a member of the Faculty of Education at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg.

A “terrible horrible smelly pirate” and his parrot, Polly, sail the waters off the Halifax coast searching for treasure. Fortunately for Polly, she has no sense of smell. It is not until after a mermaid leads the young pirate to soap that he is able to attract other friends to sail with him on his boat.

Although pirates are a popular theme for young children and the book’s plot is original, Muller and Halsey’s story is insufficiently developed for readers to know why the pirate was so terrible, horrible, and smelly in the first place. The absence of this explanation casts doubt on the story from the start. Also, the characters’ buck-toothed, goofy facial expressions are not particularly appealing. This is perhaps appropriate for the young pirate, but seems an odd choice for the mermaid.

There are pleasing qualities to the book, however. The strong vocabulary (in dialogue such as, “Hoist the mainsail. Haul up the anchor. Unfurl the jibs. It’s treasure we be seeking.”) strengthens the authenticity of the story. And Eric Orchard’s creative use of horizontal, vertical, and swirling lines add interest to his colourful illustrations.

All in all, The Terrible Horrible Smelly Pirate is recommended with reservations.