A pirate sailing in the foggy waters of Halifax Harbour is so stinky that his only friend is Polly, a cracker-obsessed parrot with no sense of smell. A chance encounter with a clever mermaid who poses a tricky riddle leads pirate and parrot to the proverbial buried treasure – but in this case, treasure takes on all sorts of surprising forms.

Nova Scotia authors Carrie Muller and Jacqueline Halsey have used their experience in library programming to create a picture book sure to succeed in many a storytime. Full of familiar pirate phrases, the plot also contains all the requisite elements of a rollicking adventure – independent children, mythical beings, puzzles to test our heroes’ wits, and a humorous and satisfying conclusion. Readers may tire of repeating “terrible, horrible smelly pirate,” but otherwise the language is varied and entertaining. Pirate, parrot, and mermaid are all engaging characters that children will feel comfortable with, and the action unfolds at just the right pace.  

Eric Orchard’s illustrations are well matched to the whimsical text. His wonderful palette of rich blues, browns, and greens, with rolling cumulus clouds included in just about every double-page spread, add drama. The many quirky details and somewhat goofy appearances of key characters (both pirate and mermaid are in severe need of orthodontic work) demonstrate the good-natured spirit of this tale. By the final two pages, it is quite clear who is having the last laugh, as the terrible horrible smelly pirate shares some good, clean fun with his readers.