"After a night dreaming of drifting and floating... Archie awakes to find himself on a strange beach." Archie is a monkey who somehow becomes stranded on a deserted island. Quite the resourceful primate, he quickly finds the things he needs to build himself a tree house and gathers enough food to feed himself. He becomes friends with an ibis named Clarice and, unexpectedly, with a tiger named Beatrice (the black and orange stripes on Archie's shirt remind her of her tiger cubs). The three of them play games, cook together, and generally have a great time. Until one day, a ship of ferocious pirates lands on the beach! The horrible pirates capture Beatrice and lock her in a cage. It's up to Archie and Clarice to figure out a plan to save her - and that's exactly what they do.
I read this book because I am working with a young reader who is enthralled by animals and sea stories. And, as he put it, "this book is amazing!" From a teacher's standpoint, Archie and the Pirates is not profound, and it does not offer any deep and meaningful messages. But it is a fun book, and tells an entertaining story of unexpected friendships and teamwork. The plot and illustrations offer a lot to keep younger readers engaged (for example, there is a crab that reappears on many of the pages, and many of the contraptions that Archie builds are drawn in detail). So, if you're looking for a lighthearted story with a good message, this is the book for you.
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