Small Saul

May 9, 2011
This misfit comedy pits a sweet-tempered pirate against a boatful of ruffians. The diminutive, bespectacled pirate Saul tears up at his graduation from Pirate College; on board The Rusty Squid, he offers bandages to injured pirates, flowers and cookies to maidens whose jewels his colleagues have stolen, and nutritious meals to his crew. For his efforts, the captain throws him off the ship. As a result, "mold began to build up on the ship's deck. The crew was back to eating bland gruel and rat-nibbled bread." Spires's (Binky the Space Cat) prose is smartly paced, and her ink and watercolor spots and panels amplify the text with gentle humor. (As the pirates realize how much Saul has done for them, a rat turns Saul's trusty bandage box upside downâit's empty.) When The Rusty Squid returns to rescue Saul, he forgives the crew promptly: "They were pirates, after all. Throwing people overboard is just something they do." Spires does a credible job of figuring out how a pirate like Saul might fit in, and there's plenty of raucous entertainment to keep pirate-lovers happy. Ages 3â7â.

February 15, 2011
Small Saul's in love with the sea. Unfortunately, his attachment to things maritime doesn't get him past the Navy's height requirement. Pirates aren't as picky, so Saul enrolls in Pirate College. He doesn't excel in any classes: too easily distracted in Treasure Map Interpretation, lacks focus in Looting: The Basics. Perseverance nets him his pirating diploma but doesn't get him a berth on any ship...except The Rusty Squid. In no time, his shipmates discover Saul's not your average pirate. He offers baked goods to kidnapped ladies and breath mints to the Captain. Saul knows there are three things pirates love: the ship, being tough and lots of treasure. His frilly ship-improvement project...lands him head down in a bilge-bucket. He can't fight to achieve that tough look, so he tries a tattoo...a bunny. While distracted by pondering the possibilities of treasure acquisition, Saul's knocked off the ship by the Captain. It's not long before the pirates realize that, different though he is, Saul's a treasure rare as gold. Thankfully, he's quick to forgive and ready with more baked goods. Spires' tale of an unconventional pirate might travel familiar ground, but her dry humor, so wonderfully displayed in the Binky graphic novels, elevates Saul to great heights. The cartoon watercolor illustrations are always hilariously at odds with the understated text. Charrrh-ming. (Picture book. 5-8)

(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

April 1, 2011

PreS-Gr 3-Small Saul is determined to spend his life at sea. He is too short to join the Navy, but not to enroll in Pirate College. After earning a diploma that states "You ARRR a Pirate," he heads down to the docks with a smile on his face, a plant tucked under his arm, and a rat by his side. Although he is willing to join any crew, the only pirates to make room for him are those on the dilapidated Rusty Squid. He knows that pirates only care about three things: their ship, being tough, and lots and lots of treasure. Once onboard, he tries to prove his mettle by making the ship more homey, getting a bunny tattoo, and baking while on kitchen duty, but when the other pirates see the results, the captain pushes him overboard. With Small Saul out of their lives, they can continue in the "old pirate ways." But when the smell becomes unbearable in the cabins and the food indigestible at mealtimes, they go back and rescue Saul. They realize he may not be like them, but that his individuality should be appreciated and accepted. Ink and watercolor cartoons exaggerate the differences between Saul and the stereotypical pirates. His gentle appearance and behavior (handing out breath mints to the crew) are opposite to what readers have come to expect. A great book to start off a pirate-themed storytime.-Tanya Boudreau, Cold Lake Public Library, AB, Canada

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2011
Cheerful, thoughtful Small Saul loves the sea--but he's too short for the Navy. He devotes his talents to the pirates, who throw this pint-sized hero overboard before sheepishly rescuing him. The case for individuality is clear without being pedantic, while ink and watercolor illustrations highlight the comical juxtaposition of clean Saul and the less-tidy buccaneers.

(Copyright 2011 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)