Swashbuckle Lil: The Secret Pirate by Elli Woollard and Laura Ellen Anderson (Macmillan Children's Books)

More fab rhyming from Elli Woollard, this time teamed with ANOTHER of our favourite artists, the awesome Laura Ellen Anderson for a piratical tale with a difference...

In "Swashbuckle Lil: The Secret Pirate" ordinary everyday schoolgirl Lil swings to the rescue when her teacher is kidnapped by nefarious cove Stinkbeard. You just know that with a name like that he's going to be a thoroughly bad egg.

Lil isn't just brave, she's brainy AND is a secret pirate herself, so she'll soon put a stop to Stinkbeard's completely daft plan.

You don't just get one Lil story, you get two and in the second rhyming tale, Lil enters the school sports day. Once again, unfortunately that nasty old bumbag Stinkbeard is on hand to wreak havoc, this time with his pet crocodile in tow! Obviously Stinkbeard hasn't learned his lesson from their last tussle, but will Lil once again reign triumphant?

I wondered how rhyming stuff for older kids would work, particularly in this rather novel format of being presented like a middle grade chapter book but with lots of illustrations, and great rhymes to tempt kids in.

I think it's a brilliant idea and the perfect type of book to get kids who aren't quite confident enough to tackle text-heavy stuff to breeze through both stories with ease, building their reading ability in a really cool way.

Charlotte's favourite bit: She loves Lil, just the right blend of tomboyish cheekiness and bravery - the sort of Character she loves in a book!

Daddy's favourite bit: Perfect rhymes as ever from Elli, brilliant illustrations from Laura - and the perfect book to get early middle graders reading something that feels more 'grown up' than a picture book. Neat!

(Kindly sent to us for review by Macmillan Children's Books)

"Swashbuckle Lik: The Secret Pirate"

Written by Elli Woollard

Illustrated by Laura Ellen Anderson

Published by Macmillan Children's Books

Publication Date: 19th May 2016