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41 Best Pirate Books For Kids of All Ages

Some themes just never get old, and pirates are one of them. My son’s been hooked on treasure maps, sea monsters, and pirate ships for as long as I can remember.

We’ve read a lot of pirate books for kids over the years, some silly, some adventurous, and a few that turned into repeat bedtime reads. The ones on this list are the ones that stuck.

If you’re building out a themed bookshelf or just want something fun that actually gets read, these are well worth a look.

Selection of fun pirate-themed children’s books like Pirate Chicken, Shiver Me Letters, There Was an Old Pirate Who Swallowed a Map, and Pirate Stew, with the heading 'Best Pirate Books for Kids'

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Best Children’s Pirate Books

These are the pirate books we’ve actually enjoyed, some worked great for bedtime stories, others kept my son hooked when he started reading on his own.

I’ve included a mix to cover different ages and attention spans.

Blackbeard the Pirate King
Blackbeard the Pirate King
This one’s best for older kids who want a more serious look at pirate history. My son was fascinated by how wild and intense Blackbeard really was, especially the part about lighting fuses in his beard. Great for diving deeper into pirate lore.

Blackbeard is also featured in our famous pirate coloring pages
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I Escaped Amazon River Pirates
I Escaped Amazon River Pirates
This adventure story had just the right mix of danger and fast pacing to keep my son reading. He finished it in one sitting and immediately started retelling parts to me. A good pick for kids who like survival stories and action.
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Pirates: True Stories of Seafaring Rogues
Pirates: True Stories of Seafaring Rogues
We used this one more like a flip-through nonfiction book. It’s full of cool facts, old maps, and short stories about real pirates. My son liked picking one or two pirates to learn about at a time, it’s not one you need to read cover to cover.

This is one of the best pirate history books
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Who Was Blackbeard?
Who Was Blackbeard?
This was the first pirate biography that actually held my son’s attention. It explained just enough history without being boring, and the illustrations helped bring it to life. Great for kids who want facts without feeling like they’re reading a textbook.
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Lives of the Pirates: Swashbucklers, Scoundrels
Lives of the Pirates: Swashbucklers, Scoundrels
We read this one bit by bit, each pirate has their own quirky story, and some are laugh-out-loud weird. It worked well for short bursts of reading, and my son liked how it mixed humor with real history.

Related: Pirate name generator printable
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Pete the Cat and the Treasure Map
Pete the Cat and the Treasure Map
This one was a hit when my son was in that silly-story phase. Pete stays cool the whole time, even while hunting for treasure, which made it a calm, funny bedtime read. Simple, fun, and great for younger kids.

Related: Color by number pirate pages
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1001 Pirate Things to Spot
1001 Pirate Things to Spot
We kept this in the car for ages, it’s perfect for quiet moments and kept him entertained without any screens. It’s part search-and-find, part pirate chaos, and great for helping younger kids build focus without feeling like schoolwork.

Related: Pirate writing printables
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Pirates Magnified: With a 3x Magnifying Glass
Pirates Magnified: With a 3x Magnifying Glass
This one feels more like an activity than a story, and that’s what made it fun. The magnifying glass was a huge hit, and my son spent a surprising amount of time going back through the pages looking for tiny details. It’s one of the few books he didn’t rush through.

Related: Pirate I spy worksheet
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A General History of the Pyrates
A General History of the Pyrates
This one’s definitely more for older kids or teens who are already into pirate history. We used parts of it for reference, but it’s dense. Not light reading, but interesting if your child is doing a project or really into the real stories behind pirate legends.

Related: Pirate Captain’s Log Worksheets
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Black Flags, Blue Waters: The Epic History of America's Most Notorious Pirates
Black Flags, Blue Waters: The Epic History of America’s Most Notorious Pirates
We didn’t read this one straight through, but it worked well as a shared read—me reading aloud and stopping to talk about it. The writing is solid and it adds a lot of context to American pirate history, especially if your kid’s already into names like Blackbeard or Anne Bonny.

Related: Famous pirate research study
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Treasure Island
Treasure Island
This is the one that kicked off my son’s fascination with pirates. We read it together when he was a bit older, and the mix of adventure, betrayal, and treasure hunting completely hooked him. It’s a classic for a reason, but definitely better as a read-aloud for younger kids.
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The Pirate Treasure
The Pirate Treasure
A fast-paced story with just enough mystery to keep things interesting. My son liked following the clues, and the whole treasure hunt vibe made it feel like a game. A good pick if your child enjoys solving things along the way.
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Pirates Past Noon
Pirates Past Noon
This Magic Tree House book was one of the first that really clicked for independent reading. It has just enough suspense, some time travel, and friendly pirates, plus, it led to a full-on obsession with the rest of the series.

Have some fun with our free pirate bingo cards.
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Pirate Pups!
Pirate Pups!
This one was purely for fun, if your kids are into Paw Patrol, they’ll enjoy seeing the pups in a pirate setting. It’s simple, cheerful, and made a nice addition to our themed storytimes when my son was younger.
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Ten Little Pirates
Ten Little Pirates
Great for preschoolers or early counters. The rhythm and repetition made it fun to read aloud, and the pirate theme kept my son more interested than your average counting book. He loved guessing what would happen to the next pirate.
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My Magical Choices
My Magical Choices
Not really a pirate book, but it’s included in some themed lists. It’s more about helping kids make good choices and manage big feelings. We liked it as a calm-down book, but it doesn’t really fit with the others here.
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Pirates Love Underpants
Pirates Love Underpants
This one never gets old. The combination of pirates and underwear is just ridiculous enough to get instant laughs, and the rhyming text keeps it fun to read aloud. It’s a go-to when we want something silly and quick.
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Pirate Mouse
Pirate Mouse
Short, sweet, and packed with charm. My son liked the idea of a tiny pirate braving big adventures. It’s great for younger kids who want the pirate theme without anything too scary or intense.
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Dinosaur Pirates!
Dinosaur Pirates!
Combining two big kid obsessions, dinosaurs and pirates, was a smart move. This one got picked up just from the title, and the playful story totally delivered. It’s light and fun, great for ages 3–6.
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Pirate Princess
Pirate Princess
We used this one during a pirate-themed week to balance out some of the typical boy-heavy stories. It’s an empowering pick that doesn’t feel preachy, and the story is fun enough that my son still enjoyed it.
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The Mystery of the Pirate Ghost
The Mystery of the Pirate Ghost
This was one of those early reader books that felt like a real “big kid” story, just spooky enough to be fun without being scary. My son liked the mystery element, and the short chapters made it easy to get through in one sitting.
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Goodnight Pirate
Goodnight Pirate
We used this one a lot when my son was a toddler. It has that same cozy bedtime rhythm as Goodnight Moon, but with a pirate twist. Great if you’re trying to wind things down while still keeping the theme going.
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Help! The Pirate Has Lost His Shipmates!
Help! The Pirate Has Lost His Shipmates!
This was more of a quiet-time activity than a read-aloud. Think “Where’s Waldo” but with pirates. The detailed illustrations gave us a good reason to slow down and look closely, nice for car rides or a calm afternoon.
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On a Pirate Ship
On a Pirate Ship
One of the first pirate books we read together. It’s simple, colorful, and gives kids a gentle introduction to what life on a pirate ship might’ve looked like. My son loved pointing out details in the pictures when he was around 3 or 4.
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Pirate Chicken: All Hens on Deck
Pirate Chicken: All Hens on Deck
This one was completely ridiculous in the best way. A chicken becoming a pirate? Sold. My son got a kick out of the absurd story and bold illustrations. Definitely one to grab if you’re in the mood for something fun and offbeat.
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Pirate Mom
Pirate Mom
This one was fun because it flips the usual dynamic, mom becomes the pirate. My son thought it was hilarious and loved the pretend-play angle. A good early reader that still feels silly and lighthearted.
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How I Became a Pirate
How I Became a Pirate
This was one of our earliest pirate read-alouds, and it stuck. The story moves fast, the pirates are ridiculous in the best way, and the ending always made my son laugh. It’s one of those books that’s just fun to read out loud, especially if you go all in on the pirate voices.
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Pirate Boy
Pirate Boy
A sweet, imaginative story that really clicked during that phase when everything turned into pretend play. It’s all about a boy imagining himself as a pirate and his mom reassuring him she’ll always be there. Soft but still adventurous.
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The Grumpy Pirate
The Grumpy Pirate
The title alone made my son want to read this one. It has a good message about friendship and attitude without feeling too preachy. A nice mix of humor and heart, great for kids who like their pirates with a side of sass.
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There Was an Old Pirate Who Swallowed a Map!
There Was an Old Pirate Who Swallowed a Map!
This was a quick, rhyming read that got a lot of laughs. It’s totally over the top (in a good way) and worked well as a read-aloud, especially with younger kids who love repetition and silly twists.
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The Pirate Cruncher
The Pirate Cruncher
This one surprised us—it looks like a fun pirate story, but there’s a clever twist that caught my son off guard (in the best way). The illustrations are bold and dramatic, and it definitely stood out from the pile.
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The Berenstain Bears Pirate Adventure
The Berenstain Bears Pirate Adventure
We used this one during our pirate week when my son was younger, it was familiar, gentle, and tied in perfectly with pretend play. If your kids already know the Berenstain Bears, it’s a great way to bring them into a themed activity without introducing new characters.
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A Year on a Pirate Ship
A Year on a Pirate Ship
This one gives a more day-to-day look at pirate life, broken down by season. It’s not a story so much as a peek into what life on a ship might’ve been like. My son liked spotting the little changes each month and how the ship’s routine evolved.
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How to Be a Pirate
How to Be a Pirate
This Little Golden Book was short, cheerful, and fun, just right for when my son was 4 or 5 and loved acting like a pirate. It’s a simple way to introduce the theme without too much action or plot, and it worked well when we needed a quick story before heading out the door.
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Pirate Stew
Pirate Stew
Neil Gaiman’s books always feel a little quirky, and this one’s no different. The rhymes are clever, the pirates are odd in a good way, and the illustrations kept my son flipping back to look at details. It’s weird and wonderful, definitely not your average pirate story.
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Shiver Me Letters: A Pirate ABC
Shiver Me Letters: A Pirate ABC
This was our go-to alphabet book during our pirate phase. It’s fast-paced, funny, and does a solid job tying in letter learning without feeling like a lesson. The hunt for the missing letters kept it from feeling like a typical ABC book.

Related: Pirate alphabet worksheets
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Scooby-Doo and the Pirate Treasure
Scooby-Doo and the Pirate Treasure
If your kids love Scooby-Doo, this one’s a no-brainer. It’s short, fun, and keeps the familiar mystery format with just the right amount of pirate twist. We used it as a quick bedtime read, and it always got a laugh when the spooky stuff turned out to be something silly.
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The Pirates Next Door
The Pirates Next Door
This one stood out for how different it felt, less about swords and treasure, more about pirates moving into a quiet neighborhood. My son liked the contrast between the normal town and the wild pirate family. It’s a clever story with a sweet message that worked well for a wide age range.
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Pirateology: The Pirate Hunter's Companion
Pirateology: The Pirate Hunter’s Companion
This book is packed. It’s part story, part fact, part interactive notebook. My son didn’t read it cover to cover, but he loved flipping through the maps, notes, and little details. It’s more like a pirate “experience” than a typical book, great for kids who like tactile and visual learning.
Related: Pirate activities for middle schoolers.
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The Curse of Snake Island
The Curse of Snake Island
This was one of the first longer pirate stories my son got into. The pirate school angle totally pulled him in, and the mix of friendship, action, and mystery kept him turning pages. If your kid likes series with a strong group of characters, this is a solid start.
Related: Pirate memory game printable
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Harley James and the Peril of the Pirate's Curse
Harley James and the Peril of the Pirate’s Curse
This one has a slightly older-kid feel, more plot, more mystery, and a bit of that treasure-hunt intensity. My son was into it around age 10, especially because the main character wasn’t perfect but still brave. It’s a good pick if you’re looking for something that feels more like a real adventure.
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Last Updated on 8 April 2025 by Clare Brown

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