Story Time: P is for Pirates

by | Nov 5, 2025 | Blog, Kid's Corner, Story Time | 0 comments

Did you know that pirates often had unique and colorful names like “Blackbeard,” “Calico Jack,” and “Anne Bonny?” These names made them sound fierce and mysterious. Even though they were the “robbers of the high seas,” their spirit of adventure and exploration has inspired many to seek out new experiences and challenges. So, “Ahoy, matey! Sail the high seas for an adventure unlike any other,” with these books and activities!

Join us Tuesdays, and Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. in the Community Room or Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. in the Activity Room.

Ages 3-5

Sing, Talk, Read, Write, Play

Tip

To foster early math skills in preschoolers, caregivers can make math fun and engaging through everyday activities, games, and math-related books, while also encouraging counting, sorting, and problem-solving.

Activity

 Introduce some basic addition and subtraction concepts through simple daily activities. (e.g., “If you have 2 cookies and I give you 1 more, how many do you have? Let’s count together!”).

Books Presented

Book cover for Chicken of the Sea by Viet Thanh Nguyen

Chicken of the Sea by Viet Thanh Nguyen

A band of intrepid chickens leave behind the boredom of farm life, joining the crew of the pirate ship Pitiless to seek fortune and glory on the high seas. Led by a grizzled captain into the territory of the Dog Knights, they soon learn what it means to be courageous, merciful, and not seasick quite so much of the time.
Book cover for Bubble Bath Pirates! by Jarrett Krosoczka

Bubble Bath Pirates! by Jarrett Krosoczka

When pirate mommy announces bath time, it is yo ho ho and to the bath we go for her little pirates.
Book cover for There Was an Old Martian Who Swallowed the Moon by Jennifer Ward

Pirate Love Underpants by Claire Freedman

Ahoy me hearties! Join the Pants Pirates on a special treasure hunt. Grab your cutlass and sail on the Pirate Ship Black Bloomer past angry crocs, sharks in fancy pants and through gurgling swamps on a quest to find … the Pants of Gold! This hilarious new addition to the phenomenally successful Underpants series will not disappoint. You’ll be yo-ho-ho-ing until the sails come down!
Book cover for Penguinaut! by Marcie Colleen

Never Mess With a Pirate Princess by Holly Ryan

When a pirate steals Princess Prudence’s favorite stuffed animal, the very determined princess embarks on a high-seas adventure to rescue her beloved royal teddy bear.

Songs, Rhymes, and Fingerplays

If You’re a Pirate and You Know It

Tune: If You’re Happy and You Know It
If you’re a pirate and you know it, swab the deck (Swish, swish)
If you’re a pirate and you know it, swab the deck (Swish, swish)
If you’re a pirate and you know it, then you’ll hear the sea winds blowin’.
If you’re a pirate and you know it, swab the deck (Swish, swish)

(Repeat the song with “Walk the plank” (Stomp, stomp) & Say ahoy: Ahoy! (Wave hello)

Source: Storytime Katie

Five Pirates

Five pirates on a treasure chest, 
one jumped off and four are left.

Four pirates on a treasure chest,
one slid off and three are left.

Three pirates on a treasure chest,
one fell down and two are left.

Two pirates on a treasure chest,
one was pushed off and one is left.

One pirate on a treasure chest,
he climbed down and none are left.

No pirates on the treasure chest,
yo-ho-ho and now it’s all mine!

Source: Storytime Katie

Zoom! Zoom! Zoom! Pirates!

Zoom, Zoom, Zoom 
We’re hunting for doubloons.

Zoom, Zoom, Zoom
We’re hunting for doubloons.

If you want to take a trip, 
climb aboard my pirate ship

Zoom, Zoom, Zoom
We’re hunting for doubloons!

in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 AHOY!

Source: Storytime with Ms. Emily Library

Toss Your Scarves

Tune: Jingle Bells
Toss your scarves, toss your scarves
Toss them way up high.
Toss your scarves up in the air,
‘til they reach the sky.

Wave your scarves, wave your scarves,
Twirl them ‘round and ‘round.
Twirl your scarves one more time,
Then let them, all fall down.

Source: Preschool Express

Crafts and Activities

Coloring page featuring a pirate aboard his ship with a parrot on the mast.

Pirate Coloring Page

 

 

Pirate ship sailing across the sea made from a paper plate.

Pirate Ship Paper Plate Craft

Additional Books

Picture of the cover of Barefoot Book of Pirates by Richard Walker.

Pirates Discovery Kit V

Discovery kits contain books, and may also contain games, DVDs, stuffed animals, puppets, puzzles and other activities all based around a specific theme.  We have five different levels of discovery kits, each geared towards a specific age group:

  • Level V = all ages + teacher / parent resources

Parental supervision is strongly suggested for all kits.  These check out for a week at a time, and are located by the children’s nonfiction books.

This discovery kit is all about Pirates and includes books, games, a DVD, activity kits, and a pirate puppet.

Book cover for Sheepwrecked by Ashley Belote

Sheepwrecked by Ashley Belote

A crew of pirate sheep go on a swashbuckling adventure, but when their ship wrecks they discover that things are not all bad thanks to a long-lost pirate.
Book cover for Octopants and the Missing Pirate Underpants by Suzy Senior

Octopants and the Missing Pirate Underpants by Suzy Senior

Puffer Fish wakes up one morning to find that his pirate underwear has been taken from the clothesline! So Octopants the octopus offers to help look for them. They check Lobster’s Laundry, look through Mermaid’s hair, and even stop by Mussel’s Fitness Club, but the underwear isn’t anywhere … Then Shark appears and wants to join the group. But what’s that on her head?
Book cover for The Little Pirate Queen by Sally Anne Garland

The Little Pirate Queen by Sally Anne Garland

Lucy sails across the sea, fixing and mending her small rickety raft, hoping to reach Far Away Island. But when a gigantic wave sweeps all the other children away except Lucy, the Little Pirate Queen is determined to rescue everyone no–matter what.

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