Baltazar and the Flying Pirates children's bookWe love Oliver Chin, author of the Tales from the Chinese Zodiac Series. In his latest book, Baltazar and the Flying Pirates, Chin teams up with illustrator (and blogger!) Justin Roth in this, um, high-flying tale of adventure and fortune.

The best part? The head pirate, Captain Redlocks, is a redheaded woman. Oh yes she is. And she captains the Cutlass, the fastest ship in the skies. Because not only men can be all swarthy and adventurous and brandish swords and wear cool black eye patches.

(Does anyone besides me see a hat tip to My Lady’s Cutlass, the female pirate band?)

My redheaded daughter and I think this book should immediately be made into a movie, since the stunning illustrations look like animation and the theme park tie-in is just too good for Hollywood to pass up. When it comes out, don’t say I didn’t tell you so. -Rita

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