1,2,3 Storytelling
Look at the front cover together. Ask: Where is the boy? What is he standing on? Who is Pirate Frank?
Storytelling 1
Read the whole story. It is likely that your child will want to tell you what is happening and will talk about the pictures. Use actions for each new place that the boy finds: swamp, forest, volcano, forest, steps.
Storytelling 2
Read the story again and ask your child about each page and the illustrations. Ask: Can you remember what comes next? How does the boy feel when he crosses the swamp? How does he feel when he meets Pirate Frank? Encourage them to join in with any repeated words.
Storytelling 3
Ask your child to share the story with you. They tell you the story using the pictures on each page.
Ask: Why did the boy run away? How does he feel at the end? Did you like the story? Why?
Watch Emma read The Treasure of Pirate Frank here
Activities
Make
Make a pirate ship – Use tin foil to make a boat. Float it in water. Find some objects. Predict how many can fill the boat until it sinks.
Or make an egg box pirate ship and decorate it. Name the different parts of the ship together.
Map Making – Design a treasure map using the different settings in the story: the island, the mountains, the forest, the swamp, the stairs, the volcano and the tree. Follow the map around the house pretending to find each place, using words to describe position and direction, such as under, over, through, beneath, between, next to, on top of.
Experience
Sail on a real-life pirate ship!
Talk to your child about the equipment a pirate needs (map, compass, telescope.) Think about what it would be like to sleep, work and eat on a pirate ship
Play
Pirate Frank charades – Ask your child to pretend to be the boy and act out a part of the story, for
example, sailing on the ship, jumping over the swamp, crossing the rope bridge. The adult has to guess which part of the story it is.
Captain’s Coming – A game to play in the garden or park.
Songs
I’m a Pirate
I’m a Pirate
I’m a pirate
I’m a pirate
I’m a pirate
Yo, ho, ho!
Yo, ho, ho!
I can sail the ocean
I can sail the ocean
Yo, ho, ho!
Yo, ho, ho!
Repeat with:
I can spot the island
I can climb the mountains
I can creep through forests
I can squelch through swamps
I can stomp up steps
I go round volcanoes
I can see the tall tree
I can find the treasure
The Treasure of Pirate Frank
To the tune of: Mary Had a Little Lamb
This is the boy who wants to find, wants to find,
wants to find
This is the boy who wants to find, the treasure of
Pirate Frank
With a map that shows the way, shows the way,
shows the way
With a map that shows the way, to the treasure of
Pirate Frank.
He sails the sea that must be sailed (x 3)
He sails the sea that must be sailed, to the island of
spice and gold
Over the mountains snowy and cold (x 3)
Over the mountains snowy and cold, to the
treasures of stories told
Here is the forest where monkeys swing (x 3)
Here is the forest where monkeys swing
And the swamp where bullfrogs sing.
Here are the steps going higher and higher (x 3)
Here are the steps going higher and higher
And the volcano that spits out fire.
There’s the tree that marks the spot (x 3)
And under the tree that marks the spot,
He found Pirate Frank!
Said (not sung) loudly: She’s not on the map!
Run down the steps going lower not higher,
Below the volcano that spits out fire,
Through the swamp where bullfrogs sing,
Through the forest where monkeys swing.
Off the island of spice and gold,
Into the ship to sail away,
And dream of what was found today,
The treasure of Pirate Frank!
The Treasure of Pirate Frank is written by Mal Peet and Elspeth Graham and illustrated by Jez Tuva. It is published by Nosy Crow Ltd.