For once, Wilson is almost cheered by the Bad News Pie his mom is making--maybe whatever news she has will keep his parents from noticing that his glasses are broken. Again. Lucky for him, Mom's news is just distracting enough: her long-lost brother has been found, and is coming to stay with them. Wilson is shocked when his uncle arrives: he's not just a relative, he's a pirate, and he travels with a talking penguin. Captain Jack (the penguin) wants to learn to read, and Uncle Pirate (Bob) needs to adjust to life on land, so it's off to Wilson's elementary school--the most un-shipshape place imaginable. That is, until Uncle Pirate takes over as Captain....

This is a goofy, humorous story, reminiscent of the Wayside School books. Early readers will enjoy Uncle Pirate's nautical vocabulary, and will likely adopt "arh" and "matey" into their own speech. The zaniness of the school's faculty is at odds with the realistic portrayal of Wilson and his family, which makes one or the other seem wrong for the book, but kids will get a kick out of this wacky story regardless. ( )

Great blend of the mundane and the fanciful for young readers. Living in a condo with a talking penguin and a pirate. And a school named after a teacher driven insane by the students! Arrg! ( )

Reviewed by JodiG. for Kids @ TeensReadToo.com

Wilson's mother is making Bad News Pie. That's bad news. It is really pumpkin pie, but Wilson's mom only makes it when she has bad news. What could it be this time?

Wilson's mom hands his dad a letter from the Navy. They have found Wilson's uncle, an uncle he never knew he had, marooned on an island near Antarctica. He had only a fishing pole and a penguin with him when he was found. The Navy is sending them to Wilson's house (yes, the penguin, too!).

They barely finish the letter when there is a knock at the door. There stands Wilson's uncle--and he's a pirate!

The pirate, Desperate Evil Wicked Bob, and his talking penguin, Captain Jack, are now living with Wilson and his family. How does a pirate learn to live a normal life? Uncle Pirate attempts to hold a regular job, as a gardener and in a coffee shop, but nothing is as easy as it seems. And now, Captain Jack wants to go to school. A penguin in school? Very Elementary isn't even the nicest school in town. Things are out of control and even the principal hides under his desk from the bullies.

Soon, Uncle Pirate is at school, too, and things start to look up for Wilson. Can Uncle Pirate fit in at school and with Wilson's family? Things are certainly more interesting since he's come.

UNCLE PIRATE is a fun story for kids ages 7-10. It is silly and even the youngest readers will find their pirate "voice." Before long, the entire family will be walking through the house uttering, "argh" in a pirate voice. ( )