Dirty Bertie: Pirate!; Alan MacDonald

Trouble and Bertie go together. Dirty Bertie: Pirate is three stories in one…which means triple the fun. Know-All Nick lands Bertie in some stormy seas on Pirate Day at school. A trip to a fancy restaurant has Bertie’s mum hopping mad. And Sports Day brings out the competitive side of the children and their parents.

Bertie is thrilled that it is Pirate Day at school but with Captain Boot (Bertie’s teacher) he has to keep his swashbuckling antics in order. When Know-All Nick leads Bertie to some buried treasure he is thrilled at what he might find. But the treasure is buried in a forbidden place in school and damaging it could upset the very grumpy caretaker, Mr. Grouch.

Burger sees mum get a new job as a restaurant critic which means free food. Bertie is desperate to check out the burgers and chips at Burger Madness but mum takes the family for a much fancier meal at Restaurant Paradiso. Unfortunately, Bertie has brought his latest wild pet along too and when it escapes it leaves mum ‘hopping’ mad.

In Run, it is Sports Day at school and Bertie is not looking forward to it at all. He has been selected to run in the parent-child relay which means he will be embarrassed by at least one of his parents and has to race against the biggest show-off in class, Royston-Rich. But winning the race will be the least of Bertie’s worries as the race brings out his dad’s hidden competitive side.

Readers will delight at these tales full of mischief, chaos and plenty of laughter. Dirty Bertie is a character that both young boys and girls will be able to recognise either in themselves or someone they know. With stories set in familiar settings, readers will immediately be able to relate to the situations that Bertie finds himself in.

The book is illustrated throughout with black and white drawings and each story is told over four short chapters.

Full of the kind of humour that young children will love, this is a great read for children who are growing in confidence and beginning to read chapter books.

Recommended for 6+.