25 Perfect Pirate Books for Kids. Our Pick of the Best Pirate Picture Books!

Ahoy there, me hearties! It’s time to jump aboard our pirate ship for some swashbuckling fun as we chart a course across the seven seas for there’s treasure to be found ahead! Within the covers of these 25 perfect pirate picture books you’ll find gold aplenty but beware the Captain doesn’t make you walk the plank!

25 Perfect Pirate Books for Kids

As with all of the lists in our best books for kids collection, each title includes linked to Amazon and The Book Depository (these are affiliate links) where you can find reviews and age recommendations for those you are not personally familiar with.

Never Mess With a Pirate Princess by Holly Ryan Princess Prue was sweet and fair, till pirates stole her teddy bear! Don’t they know to never mess with this princess…and pirate! Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Pirates Love Underpants by Claire Freedman Grab your peg leg and your parrot—and don’t forget the underpants! This wacky picture book pairs pirates and underwear in an uproarious adventure. This laugh-out-loud Underpants adventure is full of pirates, sharks, and treasure. You’ll be yo-ho-ho-ing with hilarity until the pirates conclude their zany expedition! Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

The Pirates Next Door by Jonny Duddle Meet the Jolley-Rogers — a pirate family who is moving to Dull-on-Sea, a quiet seaside town, while they fix up their ship. This unusual family soon has the whole neighborhood gossiping. Defying the grown-ups, Matilda becomes friends with young pirate Jim Lad. When the Jolley-Rogers return to sea, the town realizes that they were wrong to assume the worst when it is discovered that the pirates have buried treasure in everyone’s yard. The neighbors are thrilled, but Matilda is sad to have lost her new friend, until she discovers her own treasure — a pen pal! Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

The Pirates of Scurvy Sands by Jonny Duddle This summer, Matilda is going on holiday with her friends, the Jolley-Rogers. However the swashbuckling residents of Scurvy Sands are not too impressed with the clean and tidy Matilda – she is certainly not to be trusted! That is, until she discovers the secret of the legendary Scurvy Sands treasure. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

The Pirate Cruncher by Jonny Duddle A mysterious old pirate tells a tavern of salty seadogs about an island bursting with hidden treasure. But once they set sail, he also mentions that it is guarded by the terrible Pirate Cruncher. When the pirates’ greed gets the better of their fear, there’s a big surprise in store! Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Pirate Stew by Neil Gaiman The hilarious tale of the riotous adventures that occur when your babysitter turns out to be a pirate! Especially one who insists upon making magical pirate stew! Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

How I Became a Pirate by Melinda Long Pirates have green teeth—when they have any teeth at all. I know about pirates, because one day, when I was at the beach building a sand castle and minding my own business, a pirate ship sailed into view. So proclaims Jeremy Jacob, a boy who joins Captain Braid Beard and his crew in this witty look at the finer points of pirate life by the Caldecott Honor–winning illustrator David Shannon and the storyteller Melinda Long. Jeremy learns how to say “scurvy dog,” sing sea chanteys, and throw food . . . but he also learns that there are no books or good night kisses on board: “Pirates don’t tuck.” A swashbuckling adventure with fantastically silly, richly textured illustrations that suit the story to a T. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Pirate’s Perfect Pet by Beth Ferry Big, brave Captain Crave can check off most items on the handy Be Your Best Buccaneer checklist. He has a pirate ship, an eye patch, courage and daring, and more. Only one thing is missing: Captain Crave doesn’t have a pet. Arrr! Shuck me an oyster and set sail for land! The captain and his crew race and chase critters of every size and shape, from the beach to a farm to the zoo to a pet shop, causing a commotion wherever they go. But just when all seems lost, the search party stumbles on the most perfectly perfect pet for Captain Crave. Has he finally met his match? Aye-aye! Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

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Pirates Don’t Change Diapers by Melinda Long When the pirate crew turns up at Jeremy Jacob’s house and accidentally wakes his baby sister, that wee scallywag howls louder than a storm on the high seas. Sure, there’s buried treasure to be found, but nobody’s digging up anything until Bonney Anne quits her caterwauling. So, quicker than you can say “scurvy dog,” Braid Beard and his swashbuckling pirates become . . . babysitters? Blimey! Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Captain Jack and the Pirates by Peter Bently Jack, Zack, and Caspar are building a ship—on the beach, out of sand. When they set sail on their imaginary adventure, Jack spies an enemy pirate ship nearby. They chase after the pirates, but a storm wrecks their ship and sweeps them up on a desert island. The island isn’t totally deserted, though—their pirate enemies are there too. Just as the boys discover the pirates’ treasure (an array of delicious desserts), the pirates (their parents) capture them. But these pirates are friendly—they’re willing to share the treasure, and they throw in some ice cream just for good measure!” Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Pirate Boy by Eve Bunting “What if I want to be a pirate and sail away on a pirate ship?” Danny asks his mom. She will be sad; but if Danny doesn’t like it and wants to go home, she will come to the rescue, even if she has to ride on a dolphin, battle sea monsters, and wield a bottle of pirate-shrinking spray to do it! Young readers will love this adventurous and ultimately reassuring tale of a mother’s love. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Shiver Me Letters: A Pirate ABC by June Sobel The captain of this brave and bumbling pirate crew has ordered them to capture the entire alphabet–and they’ll walk the plank if they’re missing a single letter! Now these swashbuckling mateys are embarking on an alphabet adventure unlike any other, and they won’t (ahem, can’t) rest until they’ve found an A, a Z, and everything in between. June Sobel’s hilarious text and Henry Cole’s adventurous animal pirates harmonize in an irresistible book for alphabet-learning, pirate-loving kids everywhere. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

For more alphabet fun, check out our list of the best alphabet picture books for kids.

The Treasure of Pirate Frank by Mal Peet & Elspeth Graham A boy and his dog set sail in search of treasure, braving stormy seas, mountains snowy and cold, the forest where the monkeys swing, the swamp where the bullfrogs sing, and other challenging obstacles, before finally reaching the end of their quest—the treasure of Pirate Frank. But there’s a surprise in store when they discover that Pirate Frank is a girl. And no one is going to steal her treasure! Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Molly Rogers, Pirate Girl by Cornelia Funke Ferocious Captain Firebeard and the crew of the Horrible Haddock rule the high seas. But the dastardly pirates meet their match when they kidnap a small, feisty girl called Molly as she sails the seas to visit her granny! Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Captain Flinn and the Pirate Dinosaurs by Giles Andreae When Flinn discovers a pirate hiding in the school supply closet, it’s all aboard, me hearties, for a real live pirate adventure! Captain Stubble needs Flinn’s help to find his stolen ship, but there are some mean pirate dinosaurs on the loose, and Flinn and his friends soon sail into trouble. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Pirate Adventure by Lily Murray This clever pirate picture book invites readers to create their own pirate adventure – in fact, there are hundreds of adventures to choose hidden between the covers! Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

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Pirates Don’t Drive Diggers by Alex English A very funny, rhyming story about a boy who always wanted to drive a digger, but is destined to be a pirate like his dad. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Goodnight Pirate by Michelle Robinson and Nick East Getting ready for bedtime has never been so much fun! In Goodnight Pirate, kids say goodnight to everything from parrots to spyglasses to crow’s nests, because it’s time for rest. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Ten Little Pirates by Mike Brownlow A fun counting book from one to ten for little pirates, told in engaging rhyme and with fun illustrations. Available: Amazon  |  The Book Depository

Pete the Cat and the Treasure Map by James Dean New York Times bestselling author and artist James Dean brings us a fun, epic sea adventure with Captain Pete in Pete the Cat and the Treasure Map! Includes over 30 fun stickers. When Captain Pete discovers a treasure map, he and his crew are ready to set out and sail the seas to find the buried gold and jewels. But they weren’t expecting to find a giant sea monster along the way! Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

The Night Pirates by Peter Harris A fun, rhyming pirate story about the night Tom joined a ship of girl pirates on an adventure to plunder the adult pirate’s treasure. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Tough Boris by Mem Fox All pirates are tough and mean and greedy, aren’t they? While the text of this is simple and shares the story of a tough pirate named Boris von der Borch, the illustrations tell a deeper story of a young boy who sneaks onto the pirate ship to get his violin back and for a short while becomes part of the crew. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

How To Be a Pirate by Sue Fliess Little landlubbers get to earn their sea legs on a pirate ship amidst the goofiest pirates ever. There’s lingo to learn (Gangway! Blimey! Yo-ho-ho!), a pirate look to choose (Pick a parrot for your arm. Every pirate’s lucky charm!), and most importantly, pirate rules to learn (No more toothpaste! Farewell, bath! Once ye choose the pirate path!) Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

There Was An Old Pirate Who Swallowed a Fish by Jennifer Ward A fun twist on the There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly, this old pirate swallows a fish, a bird, a map, some gold, and even a whole pirate ship! Will the Old Pirate sink to the bottom of the deep, dark sea? Yo ho ho! Watch his belly grow! Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Everything I Know About Pirates by Tom Lichtenheld A very tongue-in-cheek, quite silly look at all there is to know about pirates and their habits. Great for independent readers who are keen pirate lovers. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Do you have a favourite pirate title to add to our list?