Book 277: Pirate Boy by Eve Bunting

Pirate Boy

by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Julie Fortenberry

Pirate Boy is really a discussion between a boy and his mother.  The boy wonders “what if” questions and the mother responds.  When the boy asks what if he would go to live with the pirates and then want to come home?  Mother says she would find him no matter what.  The boy continues with “what if” questions (as children are so excellent at doing) and mother says she will use her magic spray to solve the problems.  No matter what, the mother will help the boy return home.

The mother in the story actually has some magic spray that she made that very day!  Using a spray bottle of water, some parents find this kind of idea comforts children.  Debbie Clement has a great post about using monster spray with her own family and a song about it, too.

I took the idea of the story and made a student writing frame and word bank so students could write stories about things they might like to try in their imaginations and be safe when exploring their thoughts. Children love to ask what if questions and this will put that talent to good use!  This PDF is free, of course:

FREE PDF What If Story writing frame