The real treasure: learning to talk (and read) like a pirate

KENT — Ahoy, mateys! The Kent Memorial Library held Pirate Day on Saturday, May 24, to the delight of youngsters looking to learn a little more about the life of a pirate.

The children, (who ranged from young babies to age 6) showed up dressed in their best pirate costumes, including bandannas, eye patches and fake tattoos.

The children’s librarian, Sarah Marshall, began the afternoon by teaching the group of around 15 children some “pirate speak.â€� The  little pirates learned terms such as “lads and lassies,â€� “aye,â€� and the well known “Argh!â€�

Marshall also handed out fake stick-on moustaches to all who wanted them as well as eye patches and press-on tattoos.

The young buccaneers listened to stories about pirates, including “How I Became a Pirate,� by Melinda Long, and “Pirates Don’t Change Diapers,� also by Long. Both these stories chronicled the early years of a young boy who meets up with a group of pirates and learns how to live like one.

The youngsters shouted out the pirate phrases they had learned that morning as they listened to the stories. Outside the closed door of the children’s room, one could hear shouts of “Argh� and “Aye, captain!�

After story hour was over, the children had a chance to show their creative skills by making a parrot to put on their shoulder and a spyglass so they could find some buried treasure.