In “Captain Flinn and the Pirate Dinosaurs” a little boy named Flinn becomes the captain of a ship and battles a ship full of dinosaurs including a pirate stegosaurus, pirate diplodocus, pirate triceratops, and a pirate pterodactyl. The captain of the pirate ship of course being a pirate tyrannosaurus rex.
The story begins with Flinn in class coloring in a picture of a dinosaur. Flinn runs out of markers and heads into the supply closet to look for more. While in the closet he stumbles into Captain Stubble, crying in the back of the closet. The captain explains to Flinn that he was taking a nap, and when he awoke he was in the water watching his ship sail away. He asks Flinn for his help to get his ship back.
Along with his friends Pearl, Tom, and Violet, Flinn sets out with the captain through a secret door in the back of the class supply closet to get his ship back.
When they do find the ship it has been taken over by pirate dinosaurs. Flinn and his friend get on the ship and begin to fight to take it back. All of the dinosaurs jump ship except the tyrannosaurus that stays on to fight, but eventually gives up to Flinn and his friends. In the end the Tyrannosaurus suggests that Flinn be their captain.
Remembering that it is almost lunchtime, Flinn declines the dinos invitation to become captain. The children climb back through the door and head back to class.
Captain Flinn is a great picture book, and quite possibly one of the best-illustrated books I have seen in quite some time. It is a pretty short story, but takes readers on a whirlwind of an adventure. For kids who love pirate tales, this is one with a fun dinosaur twist.
Captain Flynn and the Pirate Dinosaurs is available at most bookstores on online through Amazon.com