Pirates Don't Go to Kindergarten!

Emma, the heroine of Robinson's debut, is first spied eagerly packing up her cutlass, spyglass, and treasure map on the first day of kindergarten, but she is soon navigating rocky waters. With a hearty "Ahoy," she confidently reports to her former preschool classroom, helmed by "Cap'n Chu" and decked out in a pirate theme. The captain gently steers the girl to "her new ship"--the kindergarten classroom, which features a space motif. Headstrong Emma is reluctant to drop her pirate persona and parlance as well as accept her new teacher; she twice "swims" back to Cap'n Chu before the adults persuade her to make the spaceship her new vessel, and Emma at long last embraces her new identity: "space pirate." Kaban (Pink Is for Boys) contributes vigorous digital cartoons that boldly reinforce Emma's bravado while hinting at her apprehension. A lively, if drawn-out, tale about a pivotal childhood transition. Ages 3-7. (Aug.)