Scratch Kitten on the Pirate's Shoulder, by Jessica Green - Large Print Reviews

Large Print Reviews

Scratch Kitten on the Pirate's Shoulder
By Jessica Green

Scratch Kitten on the Pirate's Shoulder
By Jessica Green
Illustrations by Mitch Vane
Read How You Want, (2008)
EasyRead Super Large Print, in 20 Point TiresiasLPfont
(Originally Published in Standard Print by Little Hare Books)
ISBN: 978-1-44295-549-3
Genre: Children's Fiction

Reviewed by Anna Dogole - February 1, 2010

When we last left Scratch Kitten at the end of Scratch Kitten Goes to Sea, Scratch and Peg-leg, the ship's cook from the Silk'n'Spice had been set adrift in a small dinghy as punishment for the dire crime of putting a mouse in the Captain's stew. When Scratch stowed away on the Silk'n'Spice he had hoped to prove himself as a ship's cat and to gain an honored place amongst the ship's crew. Fate, however, can be fickle and now Scratch and Peg-leg might be lost at sea forever. But wait! What is that on the horizon? Can it be? Yes, it's a pirate ship! Yippee, Scratch and Peg-leg are rescued!!!

In Scratch Kitten on the Pirate's Shoulder, Scratch quickly learns that while he might have been saved from being lost at sea, he has a whole new set of problems to deal with on the Patch's Glory. Not the least of which is Squawk, the pirate captain's parrot, who just happens to hate being the captain's parrot. Even worse, the captain has declared that if Scratch did not quickly prove his worth as a ship's cat he would be force to walk the plank! However, Captain Patch is not your ordinary pirate - he's a love sick one, and while he wants Scratch to prove his worth, he doesn't want Scratch to catch any mice. So how is a cat supposed to prove his worth on a pirate ship?

Figuring out how to get on the captain's good side, making friends with Squawk and helping him solve his employment dilemma, are just a few of the many problems that Scratch will have to deal with in this lively and fast paced children's book.

In writing the Scratch Kitten series, Jessica Green has created a delightful cast of characters that will enthrall pre-readers, and which will encourage young readers to develop a love of reading. Along the way they also get to learn a bit about what a sailor's life was like during the age of sails, and the book includes a glossary of sailors' terms for those who would like to expand upon their seafaring vocabulary. In addition, this book has been enhanced by the inclusion of black and white illustrations by Mitch Vane, which will delight readers of all ages. Best of all, at least from the viewpoint of a parent with very young children. This is a fun book to read out loud, and which will entertain older readers as much as the younger ones for whom it was written.

Scratch Kitten on the Pirate's Shoulder concludes the story begun in Scratch Kitten Goes to Sea. While it is best to read these books in order, Green does provide enough background information for readers to read Scratch Kitten on the Pirate's Shoulder without having read the first book. However, if you can, read the books in order. Luckily both volumes are available in large print from Read How You Want.

As one of my little one's said after finishing this book, "I want more Scratch!" I concur, and am looking forward in reading more about Scratch Kitten's swashbuckling adventures in the third volume in this series, Scratch Kitten and The Ragged Reef!

Other Scratch Kitten books by Jessica Green include:

Scratch Kitten Goes to Sea
Scratch Kitten and The Ragged Reef
Scratch Kitten and the Ghost Ship
Scratch Kitten and the Terrible Beasties
Scratch Kitten and the Treasure Island

Scratch Kitten on The Pirate's Shoulder is available from Read How You Want, an on-demand publisher that makes books available in a variety of formats including Braille, DAISY, and five different large print formats. This range of formats makes this, and other books, available not only to visually impaired individuals, but also anyone with a reading or physical disability that makes reading standard print books difficult.

Want to stay up to date on what's new at RHYW? If so, Click Here to register to receive monthly updates from RHYW on their most popular large print titles.

Related Reviews:

Scratch Kitten Goes to Sea, by Jessica Green.
In the continuing adventure of Scratch Kitten, Scratch becomes a ship's cat and sets sail to the South Seas. This charming story is accompanied by whimsical illustrations by Mitch Vane.
The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents, by Terry Pratchett.
When a talking cat and his team of educated rats hit upon a scheme to run a 'pied-piper' scam on gullible townsfolk, everything seems to be working out just fine. That is until they try to run their scam on the good folks of Bad Blintz - where they learn the meaning of the word Evil.

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