Best Pirate Books for Preschoolers and Elementary Kids

One of children’s favorite themes is pirates! So we’ve pulled together a list of the best pirate book out there! These pirate books for kids include beautiful ilustrations and fun stories with lots of variety from rhyming text, alphabet books, to high seas adventures. Use these pirate books for preschoolers, kindergartners, grade 1, grade 2, grade 3, and grade 4 students.

Best Pirate Books

Living a life of adventure out on the high seas sounds like a lot of fun for little ones. This list of the best pirate books is full of fun stories that encourage imagination and teach some important lessons as well. Use these pirate books for kids from preschool, pre-k, kindergarten and elementary age students in first grade, 2nd grade,3 rdgrade, and 4th grade students too. Whether you are a parent looking for quality picture books for bedtime stories or a teacher gathering fun literature for a pirate theme – you will love these selections!

Pirate Books for Kids

Shiver Me Letters: A Pirate ABC was written by June Sobel and illustrated by Henry Cole. This alphabet book joins a pirate crew as they search the seas for the letters of the alphabet.

Goodnight Pirate was written by Michelle Robinson and illustrated by Nick East. This bedtime book uses soothing rhyming text and gentle illustrations to end a day of play for a little kid playing pirate.

Pirate Boy was written by Eve Bunting and illustrated by Julie Fortenberry. In this sweet story, a young boy’s mother reassures him when he worries about being lost at sea on a pirate ship. Kids and adults will love this pirate themed tale of a mother’s love.

Pete the Cat and the Treasure Map was written and illustrated by James and Kimberly Dean. Join the popular cool cat as he captains a ship, discovers a treasure map, and meets a sea monster.

How to Be a Pirate was written by Sue Fliess and illustrated by Nikki Dyson,. This rhyming book is perfect for young pirate fans. The peppy text teaches them pirate lingo and the parts of a boat, as well as funny advice about pirate life.

best pirate books for preschoolers

How to Be a Pirate (LEGO) was written by Nicole Johnson and illustrated by Josh Lewis. In this book, a young LEGO girl named Cecelia dreams of becoming a pirate and joins her grandfather’s pirate crew.

How I Became a Pirate was written by Melinda Long and illustrated by David Shannon. In this funny tale, a young boy joins up with a pirate crew and learns all about pirate life.

Pirates Don’t Go To Kindergarten was written by Lisa Robinson and illustrated by Eda Kaban. This sweet story follows a young girl named Emma who isn’t ready to go to kindergarten yet. Kids will love the pirate spin on a familiar back to school situation.

The Berenstain Bears Pirate Adventure was written and illustrated by Mike Berenstain. Join the popular bear family as they vacation at the beach and dream up a fun pirate adventure.

The Pirates Next Door was written by Johnny Duddle. When a pirate family moves to the quiet seaside town of Dull-on-Sea, the whole neighborhood starts gossiping. But a young girl named Matilda is able to see past the things that make the new family different and befriend the young boy.

pirate stories for preschoolers

Captain Jack and the Pirates was written by Peter Bently and illustrated by Helen Oxenbury. This story follows a trio of boys as they imagine a swashbuckling adventure together during a day on the beach. Kids and adults will love the imaginative story and the beautiful illustrations.

The Gingerbread Pirates was written by Kristin Kladstrup and illustrated by Matt Tavares. In this holiday story. When a boy named Jim leaves out his pirate gingerbread man cookie on Christmas Eve, Captain Cookie and his pirate crew go on an adventure together.

Harold’s Treasure Hunt was written and illustrated by Crockett Johnson. Join Harold and his famous purple crayon as he creates drawings that take him on a pirate adventure on the sea.

A Skipping Day was written by Andrea Posner-Sanchez and illustrated by Stefania Fiorillo, Raffaella Seccia and Gianluca Barone. This book joins Jake and his Neverland pirate friends as they outsmart Captain Hook and his pirates.

It’s Not a School Bus, It’s a Pirate Ship was written by Mickey Rapkin and illustrated by Teresa Martinez. When a young boy is afraid of his first day of school, his mom helps him to face his fears by making his bus ride an exciting trip on a pirate ship.

Best Pirate Books

Good Night Pirate Ship was written by Adam Gamble and illustrated by Mark Jasper. This addition to the Good Night Our World series uses a soothing text and fun illustrations to explore pirate life and bid good night to the pirates and the reader.

Pirate Chicken: All Hens on Deck was written by Brian Yanish and illustrated by Jess Pauwels. Lilly is a chicken who dreams of life off of the farm. When a band of pirates come to her home, she joins them on their journey and soon takes charge of the ship.

There Was an Old Pirate Who Swallowed a Map! was written by Lucille Colandro and illustrated by Jared Lee. This pirate themed addition to the “There Was an Old Lady” series follows the old lady as she swallows all kinds of pirate themed items.

Pirate Pups! was written by Ursula Ziegler Sullivan and illustrated by Fabrizio Petrossi. In this fun story, the rescue pups from Paw Patrol search for lost pirate treasure.

How to Be a Pirate was written by Isaac Fitzgerald and illustrated by Brigette Barrager. When the neighborhood boys tell Cece that she isn’t allowed to be a pirate, she goes to ask her grandfather how to be one, since she is sure he is one.

Pirate books for preschoolers

Never Mess with a Pirate Princess! was written by Holly Ryan and illustrated by Sian Roberts. When Princess Prudence’s favorite toy is stolen by a pirate, the young girl goes on an adventure to steal it back.

Dinosaur Pirates! was written and illustrated by Penny Dale. Join a team of dinosaurs as they set sail on the high seas. Kids will love the adorable illustrations showing the dinosaurs taking part in pirate life.

A Stegosaurus Would NOT Make a Good Pirate was written by Thomas Kingsley Troupe and illustrated by Steph Calvert. Gary the stegosaurus wants to be a pirate, but he gets fired from his first pirate job. Kids will love seeing all the ways Gary failed as a pirate.

Ten Little Pirates was written by Mike Brownlow. This rhyming counting book encourages kids to count along with ten little pirates as they set out to sea.

Kindergarrrten Bus was written by Mike Ornstein and illustrated by Kevin M. Barry. This back to school book shows kids that even big, blustery pirates can have fears, just like the fear that kids can have on the first day of school. Kids will love the blustery pirate narrator, and the familiar feelings of fear that he faces.