When his beloved captain gets downhearted at the dilapidated state of their ship, the young pirate boy in this entertaining picture-book from author/illustrator Steve Light has an idea. They will trade a button for two teacups, the teacups for rope, and so on, until they have everything they need to make the ship new again...

I saw the author perform Swap! at an event, and it made for an engaging read-aloud, as the audience joined in, shouting "Swap!" at every exchange. This story type, in which a series of exchanges is made, until the hero(s) finally reach their intended goal, reminds me of similar folktales I have encountered from diverse traditions, as well as such classic picture-books as Elsa Beskow's Pelle's New Suit. The detailed artwork is immensely appealing, with that same combination of pen and ink drawings and judiciously-used color accents that made Have You Seen My Dragon? and Have You Seen My Monster? so successful. Recommended to all young would-be pirates, and to anyone looking for children's stories about problem solving. ( )

Such a thoughtfully written and illustrated book. I love how the use of color lets the reader see where the swapped items go. A great book to add to my pirate collection for our Magic Tree House pirate unit. ( )

beautifully crafted book, illustrations clue us in by using color; end pages carry story before and after. This book can be read over and over, and new things seen each time in the very detailed illustrations. ( )