Pedro The Pirate by Ciara O’Neal & Antonella Fant

subtitled Learning To Trust A New Crew.

Pedro is a child who lives in a foster home. He doesn’t trust the other kids around him, but thaws to the dog whom he calls Parrot. Whenever someone human makes friendly overtures, however, he rebuffs them, claiming that he’s a pirate who sails alone. Alas for Pedro, too much rudeness calls out the adult known as Governor Daddybeard, who lays down the law.

Frustrated, Pedro decides to run away to sea with only Parrot for company. But when he stumbles across an astonishing treasure, he’ll have to reconsider whether his insistence on going it alone is really what’s best for him, or whether gathering a crew to join the fight and share the spoils is the true, free life of a pirate.

This touching picture book is impressively layered, ostensibly telling one tale with its straightforward story of a young boy with a big imagination, while adding so much nuance and detail with the illustrations. Ciara O’Neal and Antonella Fant clearly worked hard together to convey the story of a scared, lonely kid having big but entirely normal feelings about a tough situation. Ms Fant’s playful digital illustrations are the perfect complement to the light touch of Ms O’Neal’s words, ensuring that this kid’s book stays accessible for the readers who probably need it the most. The amount of care taken in this book to center Pedro and his coping mechanisms — while also gently showing how the people around him engage in best practices to draw him out — makes this an invaluable addition to the library of anyone with any connection to fostering.

This sensitivity comes as no surprise given that Ms O’Neal is a foster mom who was once in care herself. It’s clear that her experiences on both sides of the system have given her excellent perspectives on what’s truly important for everyone involved. Frankly, it’s wonderful that she’s chosen to convey that in this subtle yet powerful book. Overall, this is an exemplary work of empathy that seeks not only to give foster kids courage and support, but also helps the people around them understand what foster kids are going through.

Pedro The Pirate by Ciara O’Neal & Antonella Fant was published November 1 2024 by Cardinal Rule Press and is available from all good booksellers, including