From School Library Journal
Grade 3-5-Well-behaved, nine-year-old Nicolas and his younger sister, Caroline, are nervous about staying with the uncle they've never met while their parents are on vacation. When wildly bearded Uncle Ludovic begs the children to help reform him of piracy, they, not quite sure if he's joking, agree to try. Their vacation on the New Zealand shore is idyllic, filled with sunny days, long sails, rowing and swimming, and breakfast barbecues on the beach. Their uncle's friend Rosie becomes part of their lives when a dull, rainy day is transformed by a treasure hunt and secret picnic. Caroline suggests that Rosie might be able to continue their reformation of Ludovic by marrying him. Soon wedding plans are underway and the pirate sails off with his new bride. First published in Britain in 1977, this is a simply written, humorous story of a family getting to know one another. Behind his pirate facade, Ludovic is a free-spirited ship builder, estranged from Nicholas and Caroline's parents over old misunderstandings that are finally cleared up. This is a lively summer read, full of the sea, adventure, and discovery, and told with Mahy's trademark wit and verve. Full-page black-and-white sketches are scattered throughout.
Anne Connor, Los Angeles Public LibraryCopyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Booklist
Gr. 3^-6. Shipped off by their parents to spend the holidays with their mysterious Uncle Ludovic, Nick and his sister Caroline begin the vacation with some trepidation. At their first meeting, Uncle Ludovic confesses that he has been a pirate and asks them to help to him reform, as old pirate habits die hard. Although neither of the children is totally taken in, each plays along with the idea, because at the beginning they're not quite sure and, as time passes, their uncle makes the ruse the occasion for so much fun. Readers may find themselves in the same boat: while the idea of a pirate has some initial appeal, the development of the book as an entertaining story about sympathetic and eccentric characters ultimately has more staying power. Ten attractive line drawings illustrate the story. This is the first American edition of a book published in Great Britain in 1977; its New Zealand setting could make it a popular and entertaining choice for those children-in-other-lands assignments.
Carolyn Phelan
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
