Commander Toad and the Space Pirates

Boredom settles over the crew of the space ship STAR WARTS and Commander Toad has to do something quick. Lieutenant Lily, Mr. Hop, Jake Skyjumper and Doc Peepers are all unhappy. They've watched all the ship's movies-SPLASH GORDON, THE TOAD WARRIOR, INDIANA FROG AND THE LILY PAD OF DOOM-and read all the ship's books-ROBIN TOAD, THE LIZARD OF OZ, and SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN WARTS-and played a lot of croak-kay, leapfrog, and hopscotch. There is nothing to do and they're all going a little crazy. That all changes the day Commander Salamander and his pirate crew arrive. Commander Salamander boards STAR WARTS and takes everyone captive except for Doc Peepers. Only a little while after that, Commander Salamander makes Commander Toad Hop the Plank at sword point! Only Doc Peepers can save the day!Jane Yolen is an award-winning children's book author as well as a writer of adult science fiction and fantasy. She's earned the Caldecott-given for the most distinguished picture book, the Nebula-given to the most distinguished writing in the field of science fiction and fantasy, the Golden Kite-given by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, and the World Fantasy Award. She's written seven Commander Toad Adventures, including COMMANDER TOAD AND THE LONG VOYAGE HOME, COMMANDER TOAD AND THE PLANET OF THE GRAPES, COMMANDER TOAD AND THE SPACE PIRATES, and COMMANDER TOAD AND THE BIG BLACK HOLE. With dozens of books written in many genres, Jane Yolen is a great author to introduce to young readers.Fun to read out loud and filled with puns and sight gags really well drawn by Bruce Degen, COMMANDER TOAD AND THE SPACE PIRATES is a blast to share with young or reluctant readers. The sentences are short and choppy, driving the story on and filling the events with laughs. The pirate talk, "Yo-ho-ho, me slithery-slees!" is top-notch and will inspire young readers to quote the lines long after the book is finished-if an adult is willing to read the passages in a properly piratical dramatization. The solution to the pirates, once revealed, is hilarious and makes perfect sense even to pre-readers who understand story and set-up that comes in narrative repetition.The Commander Toad series, all seven books, is recommended for imaginative young readers who have already been exposed to STAR WARS, STAR TREK, and various other science fiction based television shows and movies. Jane Yolen is one of the most entertaining authors for young minds out there.

My son is 4 years old and loves the Commander Toad Books. He is not able to read these, yet, but I am sure these books will one day be one of his top choices for reading. He loves to hear about Star Wars, as he is far too young to watch anything Star Wars, and these books have a little Star Wars twist... The ship is called Star "Warts" and it goes into deep "hopper" space (after all they are all frogs and toads). There is Commander Toad, Lt. Lily (the only girl- who by the way is very skillful and brave), Young Jake Skyjumper, Mr. Hop and Old Doc Peeper. What could be better than Star Wars and Space Pirates- it even brings me a few giggles reading it to my son... The book ends very nicely- no violence- as it turns out commander Toad and the pirates are actually old friends!

We love this series even though it older it is very funny and still relevant!

My grandson loves listening to his father read this story to him. This series is engaging and delightful. Star Trek and Star Wars fans will recognize references to favorite characters or scenes. My children loved to read them as simple chapter books and loved the puns and word play

Finding other stories that interest my son besides "star wars," "captain underpants," and anything about cars is somewhat difficult. He loves the Commander Toad stories (and I appreciate the extra references that my son doesn't always understand). Truthfully I wish they had more of these at the library, as we go through them so quickly...but if I have to get through amazon, that's what I'll do...

Read this book as a child and just had to buy it for the nostalgia

repetitive and therefore expensive for the price

Great collection for early readers. My son loves Commander Toad books!