This is the Ship that Jack Built by Peter Millett & Sam Caldwell

Friday, May 17, 2024 BookBairn 1 Comments

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I’ve been talking a lot recently about modern versions of classics but I hadn’t thought about nursery rhymes… until this brilliant picture book - This is the Ship that Jack Built by Peter Millett & Sam Caldwell - sailed onto my radar!

I love this colourful and joy-filled take on the traditional poem, The House that Jack Built. I’ve re-read the lyrics of that old nursery rhyme and *boy* Jack did not comply with modern building regulations! And modern kids might find it rather perplexing.

But don’t worry, because This is the Ship that Jack Built is far more sea worthy!

Jack’s ship has set sail with precious cargo - a whole sack of gold! However, there’s mutiny afoot when thieves snatch it from under Jack’s nose. Starting with a rat who heaves the sack, through to a squid who lifts the lid, a seal that jumps to steal, a crab that sneakily grabs, Jack really has his hands full to retrieve his gold.

This is a cumulative tale (in a similar fashion to There was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Fly) that gets more raucous and riotous as you turn each page. The rhyming text bounces joyfully as if rollicking along like a ship bobbing on the waves, and the catchy repeating lines means that kids will be keen to join in! As you’d expect, the story builds and builds to an epic crescendo!

The bright and colourful illustrations really bring to life the story and kids will love spotting what’s happening in the pictures are you read aloud (and giving you a moment to catch your breath between the increasingly longer lines!) and will have great fun pointing out each creature character as they get further and further from the gold they plundered.