Treasure Island With Lots Of Dogs
- Publisher
- Pokeweed Press
- Initial publish date
- Aug 2002
- Category
- Classics
- Recommended Reading age
- 7 to 9
-
Paperback / softback
- ISBN
- 9781894323109
- Publish Date
- Aug 2002
- List Price
- $7.95
-
Hardback
- ISBN
- 9781894323116
- Publish Date
- Aug 2002
- List Price
- $18.95
Classroom Resources
Where to buy it
Description
After the death of a brutish guest at his family's inn, young Jim Hawkins discovers a treasure map that leads him and some local adventurers to an island filled with danger and intrigue. Within hours of sighting the island, the crew, led by the villainous Long John Silver, reveals itself as a band of pirates desperate to steal the treasure for themselves.
Torn between his desire for adventure and his sense of duty, Jim sets out to defeat the pirates and save his friends, discovering that there are rewards to be earned that are far more valuable than gold.
This is one of the world's greatest adventure yarns and Edwards and Bianchi do a stellar job in packaging it for young readers without sacrificing the twists, turns or flavor of the original narrative.
About the authors
Versatile and prolific, Frank B. Edwards has written 23 children's books (for ages 3 to 12), including juvenile novels, picture books and early readers. His first novel, "Frogger", was nominated for a Silver Birch Award. Frank's humorous picture books are popular with children, parents and teachers alike.
Frank B. Edwards' profile page
Tucson-based John Bianchi is a popular children's illustrator and author whose picture books have entertained millions of young readers since 1986. He has illustrated almost 50 children's books, including 15 of his own stories. His zany cartoon style is especially effective at bringing stories alive for beginning readers.
Excerpt: Treasure Island With Lots Of Dogs (by (author) Frank B. Edwards; illustrated by John Bianchi)
Jim Hawkins describes his departure from home as he sets off to become the cabin boy on the voyage to Treasure Island. Like his fellow adventurers, he mistakes the roughness of the ship's crew as an asset rather than a danger . . .
Several weeks later, I took leave of my tearful mother and set off with Dr. Livesey for the port of Bristol. Squire Trelawney had gone ahead to secure a seaworthy ship and a trusty crew, and by the time we arrived at the docks, he had purchased a sturdy schooner called the Hispaniola and had begun gathering our provisions.
He was delighted to see us and told us excitedly about his luck in finding an experienced crew. As we boarded a skiff and rowed out to inspect the Hispaniola, he described an unexpected stroke of good fortune.
"I was standing at dockside last week," he said, "when I was approached by an old sailor who had hobbled down for a whiff of the fresh salt air. Long John Silver was his name. He walked with a crutch - for he had lost a leg in service to the Queen - and he carried a green parrot on his shoulder.
"As we stood admiring the ship, Silver told me that life on shore was bad for his health and that he wanted to head back to sea as a cook. Out of pure pity, I hired him on the spot." The squire's generosity was instantly rewarded, for Long John seemed to know all the sailors in Bristol, and in no time, he had helped assemble a rough-and-tough pack of old sea dogs. To be sure, they were a mangy-looking crew, with more fleas than manners, but Long John assured the squire that they were ready for adventure.
