Steve and his magpie pal, Maggie, are headed to a pirate party. Both sport pirate hats, and they have a map to guide them on their journey. The map offers a clue, presented in the form of a rhyming challenge: “Look along your street. What’s got leaves up high and roots at your feet?” Gazing up at a nearby tree, they spot a piece of paper in its branches—the next clue! As the intrepid pair continue on their way, they uncover tantalizing new hints at various locations, among them an aquarium, a statue, the park, and their ultimate destination—the pirate party ship, where, according to the map’s “X spot,” they discover a treasure hoard. This jolly tale, first published in the U.K., provides plenty of entertaining diversion. The puzzlelike format not only adds an engaging element to Steve and Maggie’s adventure but also, importantly, heightens readers’ learning—by enhancing critical-thinking skills, spatial and directional awareness, and vocabulary development. The cartoonish digital illustrations capture the expressive protagonists’ fast-paced exploits and incorporate lots of strategically placed bold-faced type into the artwork for dramatic effect. Steve is pale-skinned, like his YouTube counterpart.
