In my blog, I would like to tell everyone about some of the great literature that is available for teachers to read aloud to their students. One story that became a particularly wonderful find a few years ago was Peter and the Starcatchers. This is the prequel to Peter Pan. I have read it to my third graders for the past two years and each time the students beg for more. It starts out with Peter boarding a ship to be taken to a nasty king faraway from the orphanage he is currently living in. Once he boards the ship, he and his fellow orphans are treated abhorrently. Peter manages to escape the hold that he stays in for most of the day and meets up with a young lady by the name of Molly.
Aboard this ship are some nasty crewmates who stop at nothing to make sure Peter and his pals don't trouble the rest of the passengers. Another problem arises as a famous pirate, one Black Stache by name, has his eyes set on the same ship. There is something on the ship that he must get ahold of.
Danger and action ensue creating an intense read for young and old. You don't want to put the book down. After everything on the ship occurs, we are left watching as Peter, his pals, Molly, the pirates, and a few other characters from the original Peter Pan try to survive.
The really fun part of reading this book is having Black Stache the pirate speak like Tim Curry from Muppet Treasure Island. There is also the talking dolphins. I also find it very interesting that one of the contributing authors is the humorist, Dave Barry. You see where his humor slips in throughout the story.
Watch for deals from Borders and Barnes and Nobles. I was able to get my hardcover copy for $5 from a Borders outlet store. I know that the sequel to Peter and the Starcatchers, Peter and the Shadow Thieves, is currently available for $5 through Barnes and Noble's online store.
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