Captain Cat and the Great Pirate Race; Sue Mongredien, illustrated by Kate Pankhurst

More mayhem on the high seas as Captain Patch and the hapless pirates of the Golden Earring return for another adventure.

Whilst docked in Inglot Bay, Captain Hallibut of the Golden Earring bumps into his old nemesis Captain Crushbone of the Dastardly Plunderer and he learns about the Great Pirate Race. Captain Hallibut knows that his wreck of a ship is no match for the huge and fearsome Dastardly Plunderer. There’s only one way to win…take a shortcut through the ‘Sea of Really, Really Bad Things.’ When things take a much expected turn for the worse, it’s up to Captain Patch to save the crew as they come face to face with a terrifying sea monster…

This is more swashbuckling fun aboard the Golden Earring. There are jokes a plenty from Cutlass the parrot and the laughs keep coming as the actions of the hapless pirates create all manner of mayhem. The action comes thick and fast and there is never a dull moment.

A very accessible book for readers who are beginning to read chapter books. The chapters are short and the text is nicely spaced out. The book is illustrated throughout with entertaining sketches by Kate Pankhurst. So grab your cutlass and your eye patch and join the crew of the Golden Earring where as long as Captain Patch is on board things should turn out alright in the end.

Recommended for 6+.