Pirate tales and other interactive titles come to the fore. Pirateology, presented as the 18th-century journal of Captain William Lubber, ed. by Dugald Steer (of Dragonology fame), illus. by Yvonne Gilbert, Helen Ward and Ian Andrew, chronicles the seafaring gent's search for the nefarious Arabella Drummond-within a captivating layout. Parchment-facsimile pages literally burst with foldout treasure maps, ship's log entries, packets of gold dust plus mini-books of pirate customs and nautical terms. (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Similar in format to Matthews' Pirates 0 (2006), this large tome professes to be the journal of Captain William Lubber, an early-eighteenth-century pirate hunter. Lubber unfolds the story of Arabella Drummond as he chases her ship around the world. Besides his notes and reflections, the large parchmentlike pages are filled, scrapbook style, with pictures of various pirates and ships, maps of islands, and information on topics such as navigational charts, pirate flags, and sailors' knots. Several artists contribute a profusion of handsome illustrations, including maps, shaded pencil drawings with a period look, and colored-pencil drawings of pirates in action. Many double-page spreads include an interactive element. With a compass set into the front of the book and a large red jewel set into the back, this has tactile appeal as well as plenty of information for vicarious buccaneers. Earlier volumes in the series include Dragonology0 (2003) and Wizardology0 (2005). --Carolyn Phelan Copyright 2006 Booklist

Avast ye, mateys! Shake a leg and join 18th-century pirate-hunter William Lubber, Esq. on an around-the-world sail in search of "that especially Germinous female pirate Arabella Drummond." His trip features stops at North Carolina's Ocracoke Inlet, where Blackbeard met his doom, Caribbean pirate haven Port Royal and various remote Pacific isles just right for leaving or finding castaways, plus encounters with Chinese and Barbary pirates. The passages from Lubber's log are interspersed with maps and flaps, dramatic scenes of fictional and historical pirates buckling swash (or in two cases, twisting in the wind), booklets, trading card-style portraits, views of ships, Jolly Rogers and nautical gear--not to mention detachable packets of letters, a two-part treasure map with coded message, lengths of lanyard for knot-making practice, a packet of glittering "gold dust" and covers embedded with both a compass and an oversized "jewel." Landlocked young buccaneers (and fans of the other "-ology" outings) who have already hijacked John Matthews's kindred production Pirates! (May 2006) will rush to board--and to attack the enticing associated website. (Novelty. 9-12) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Gr 2-5-Ahoy, Mateys! The publisher of Dugald A. Steer's Egyptology (2004), Ernest Drake's Dragonology (2003), and Master Merlin's Wizardology (2005, all Candlewick) offers up myriad facts and stories about piratica. Written as the ship's log of a fictitious pirate hunter in the early 18th century, this lavish, oversize volume chronicles his efforts to track down the notorious Arabella Drummond. Through entries that span nearly three years, Captain William Lubber reveals tidbits of information on such topics as ocean navigation, tying sailor's knots, weaponry, battle tactics, and the Jolly Roger. Spreads made to look like worn parchment are chock-full of sidebars, maps to unfold, packets of gold dust to examine, and various artistic renderings of notorious real-life pirates. As the tale grows, the elusive pirate, her dogged hunter, and readers travel the globe, reaching destinations such as China, Madagascar, and Nova Scotia. Quick facts about each place as well as the local pirate scene are included, but the primary focus is on the Caribbean-based pirate. The format invites exploration and is perfect for reluctant readers. Young pirate enthusiasts will find plenty here to keep them engaged, but may well desire further sources for more in-depth information. Pair this title with J. Patrick Lewis's Blackbeard: The Pirate King (National Geographic, 2006), Richard Platt's Pirate Diary (Candlewick, 2001), or Moira Butterfield's Pirates and Smugglers (Kingfisher, 2005). A strong addition to most collections.-Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.