Captain Cat and the Treasure Map; Sue Mongredien, illustrated by Kate Pankhurst

Ahoy there me hearties! Are you ready to set sail with Captain Patch the cat? Well, what are you waiting for, jump on board for an adventure on the high seas with Cutlass the parrot, Monty the monkey, Cannonball the cook, Captain Halibut, Butch and Ginger.

When the pirates of the Golden Earring discover a treasure map tucked inside a bottle floating in the sea the whole crew are excited. Like all good treasure maps it has a giant X where the treasure is hidden and of course it is on an island full of danger. Then Patch discovers that the map is cursed and that the whole crew could be in danger. Can Patch and her animals friends stop the bumbling pirates from heading to disaster?

This is a jolly good read and is full of everything a pirate adventure should have - a wooden leg, grog, cutlasses, a parrot, jolly rogers, sea shanties, buried treasure, a map, blunderbuss and more. It is full of humour and with jokes aplenty readers will be laughing out loud as this hopeless bunch of pirates cause mayhem wherever they are.

The actions of Captain Patch provide a nice message within the story which is that you don’t have to be big to make a difference. Although Patch is small and no-one listens to her she uses her brain power to solve problems and save the crew.

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. To guide readers on their way there is a map and character introductions before the action gets going.

The action comes thick and fast and there is never a dull moment. Readers will rapidly make their way through Captain Patch’s first adventure and will look forward to setting sail with the crew on their next outing.

Recommended for 6+.