Captain Monty Takes the Plunge

Written by Jennifer Mook-Sang

Illustrated by Liz Starin

Kids Can Press

978-1-77138-626-5

32 pp.

Ages 3-7

October 2017

"Monty the Malodorous was a fearsome pirate who sailed the six or seven seas.  He was brave.  He was bold." (pg. 5)  But he couldn't swim. And he certainly didn't join his mates for their weekly soakings in the ocean for a cleansing.  "This attitude earned him much respect (and a great deal of personal space)." (pg. 7)

But then Monty spies the lovely mermaid Meg.  He gives her gifts and tells her jokes and she shares her knowledge of the sea and sky with him. Though he wishes to invite her onto the ship for dinner, she declines, declaring him smelling "like stinky boots." Monty is devastated.

From Captain Monty Takes the Plunge 

by Jennifer Mook-Sang 

illus. by Liz Starin

Yet when Meg is snatched by a mega-octopus, Monty swallows his fear and takes a leap of faith and throws himself into the sea.  In a lovely twist of fate, Monty and Meg save each other and Monty becomes a sweeter-smelling swimming pirate.

From Captain Monty Takes the Plunge

by Jennifer Mook-Sang

 illus. by Liz Starin

Captain Monty Takes the Plunge is Jennifer Mook-Sang's first picture book, though she's enjoyed much success with her first middle-grade novel Speechless (Scholastic, 2015).  The same humour she used to amuse readers in that novel is evident in Captain Monty Takes a Plunge with its stinky and heartsick pirate, motley crew of a parrot, elephant, bear, rabbit and otter, and ocarina-playing mermaid.  The message of conquering one's fears is wrapped in a buoyant tale of camaraderie, infatuation, and courage.  That same buoyancy comes through in American Liz Starin's illustrations which blend bright colours for her characters with soft subtleness in the sky and sea backgrounds.

From Captain Monty Takes the Plunge 

by Jennifer Mook-Sang 

illus. by Liz Starin

Take your own plunge with Captain Monty to see that fears can be conquered with a little assistance, a lot of courage and a sizeable commitment to helping others. Yar-har-har!

Captain Monty Takes the Plunge: Book launch (Burlington, ON)

Join author

Jennifer Mook-Sang

author of Speechless

Written by Jennifer Mook-Sang

Scholastic Canada

978-1-4431-4267-0

159 pp.

Ages 8-13

2015

Reviewed here

for the launch of 
her first picture book

Captain Monty Takes the Plunge

Written by Jennifer Mook-Sang

Illustrated by Liz Starin

Kids Can Press

978-1-77138-626-5

32 pp.

Ages 3-7

October 2017

on 

Saturday, October 14, 2017

1-3 p.m.

at

A Different Drummer Books

513 Locust Street

Burlington, ON

From the publisher's website:

Monty the Malodorous is a daring pirate. He is brave. He is bold. He is feared by all who sail the six or seven seas. But Monty has a secret: he can't swim. He never goes into the ocean --- and he never takes a bath. “Real pirates don't bathe. Yar-har-har!” he says. But things change when he meets a mermaid named Meg. “Monty's heart went ka-thunk. He tumbled head over boot heels in love.” And, one day, when Meg's life is put into peril, Monty realizes he's the only one who can jump into the ocean to save her. Monty is faced with a terrible dilemma: is his love strong enough to overcome his fear?

This is engaging, heartwarming and funny picture book tale is told with originality by Jennifer Mook-Sang. Children will love Monty the pirate (who's actually a dog!), and readers with their own fears of learning to swim will relate to his difficulties. Young children will also be delighted by the idea of not having to take a bath! The childlike style of Liz Starin's illustrations add a freshness to the story, as does the non-conformist mermaid she's created --- perfect for her character. Meg is a voracious reader who knows all the best fishing spots and teaches Monty how to set course by the constellations. This playful book is an excellent choice for story time, reinforcing themes of self-discovery and personal development, as well as character education lessons on courage.

Retrieved from http://www.kidscanpress.com/products/captain-monty-takes-plunge 

on August 7, 2017.

There will: 

• a book reading

• author signing of books

• foxy bookmark-making, and

• pirate-y refreshments!

n.b. If you know you can't make this launch, which would be a shame, Jennifer Mook-Sang will be presenting Captain Monty Takes the Plunge earlier at the Toronto Word on the Street on Sunday, September 24, 2017 at 11:30 a.m. at the TD Children's Literature Tent. Details here