Benji the Buccaneer product reviews

Benji the Buccaneer is a simple easy to read chapter book that will appeal to boys and girls of various reading levels and ages, but definitely most suited to pre-teens. As I was chosen to review it, not only do my kids read the books but so do I. I have to be honest and say I like books that have catchy, or quirky book covers. Ones that stand out and appeal right from the word go. The title is often irrelevant, if the cover can catch my attention then the book has already got thumbs up from me.

Unfortunately the cover for this one is pretty sub-standard. Nothing stands out, and it really is just a simple cover to match a simple book in my opinion. I also have to be honest in saying that when reading the first few pages I actually thought, errrr not so sure about this, don't really know if I want my kids to read this lol There was nothing wrong with the story, it was just the whole how Benji got to being on the bus that did not appeal to me. Especially in todays society of stranger danger warnings etc. Sadly for me I often over read a situation.

However, once I got past that bit, and Benji was on the bus, the story was agreeable enough. It possibly lacked in any really true excitement, in fact most excitement was really avoided due to Benji learning to be a Pirate captain and avoiding situations that he did not want to be in. I did like the listens that were learnt and the hidden messages that were within the story, about the importance of school But in absolute honesty its not a book I would tell kids they should read, or one I would rush out to buy.

Two of my three kids managed to finish reading it. One said it was okay, one really enjoyed it and one read a few pages, said it was boring and not his thing and never finished it. I am sure it would appeal to some kids a lot, just not for me and my lot is all.

Benji the Buccaneer looked like a fun book for the kids, and having read one of the books in this series before, I knew that they were fun books.

Benji is on his was to school, waiting for a bus, when suddenly a different bus appears and offers his a chance to be.... a pirate! After some confusion, and who wouldn't be... he decides to give it a try and jumps on board the bus for an adventure. Along the way he discovers what it could be like and the fact that normal school might actually be better.

My son is seven, but not up to reading it on his own yet, which is fine, each child to their own pace, but it is the perfect level that when he gets there he can give it a go and for now it is great for reading to the kids. The illustrations are fun and really tie in well with the book. As with the others in the series, there is a page with two punch out rockets to turn into one small rocket, this provided some great entertainment for the children.

The kids rather like this book and it has already found its way onto their bookshelf.