February 15, 2024
Preschool-Grade 2 There's a pirate ship on the horizon, and it's helmed by rascally rats on a treasure hunt. But they're not out for gold or rubies; they need pie! Armed with enormous utensils, the starving sailors dream of piles of baked goods. The determined crew spots a "dessert-ed" island and eagerly swims ashore, passing up perfectly good cookies, candy, and sprinkled donuts in the quest for their particular quarry. But what's this? Hamsters have gotten there first, and their stuffed cheek pouches and empty pie pans seem to spell disaster. Are the dessert dreams dashed? The enormously appealing story is told via rollicking rhyming text with a repeating call for treats ("From the main deck, hear them cry: PIE, PIE, PIE, PIE!") that would make for an uproarious read-aloud, and the twist ending will satisfy both the audience and the pie-rats themselves. The ratty rapscallions are adorably depicted, and the mouthwatering illustrations are teeming with details sure to delight. Have treats on hand to satisfy readers longing to join these snack-seeking scoundrels!
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Starred review from January 15, 2024
Rodents dressed like Captain Hook seek dessert. Being tossed through stormy seas doesn't bring these intrepid pie-rats to their knees, and even when there are no pies to be eaten, these scurvy dogs won't be beaten. Yes, a period-costumed rat-crew mans (rodents?) a ship with an enormous spoon for a figurehead. They clutch oversize cutlery instead of cutlasses; a spoon and pie server stand in for skull-and-crossbones on the captain's cocked hat. Their refrain, shouted out from the poop deck, main deck, ratlines, and lookout, is simply "PIE, PIE, PIE, PIE!" While gazing at clouds that resemble pies, they yell out their favorite flavors: "Pumpkin, apple, that one's cherry / Plum, pecan, a slice of berry." Undeterred by a typhoon, they spy a "dessert-ed island," swim ashore, and trek through a Candy Land-esque world. Alas, a troupe of "scallywags" (aka hamsters) has somehow eaten every last pie: The tins hold only crumbs. Preparing to fight (though there's no prize now), the riled rodents luckily spot another island feature: hillocks of sumptuous cake. Surprise, surprise, they dive in; "pie-rats aren't that picky." The puns, rhymes, and wave-rocked rhythms will please many, and for in-lap or solo readers the thrills are enhanced by colorful, cartoonish illustrations with lots of details to notice: the meringue moon, red crabs, pie-shaped clouds, and more. Avast, mateys! Here be treasure. (Picture book. 3-7)
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