Pirate Diary

Pirate Diary
First edition
AuthorRichard Platt
IllustratorChris Riddell
Cover artistRiddell
LanguageEnglish
SeriesDiary books by Platt and two illustrators
GenreChildren's historical fiction, picture book
PublisherWalker Books
Publication date
8 October 2001
Publication placeUnited Kingdom
Pages64 pp
ISBN978-0-7445-6233-0
OCLC47676616
LC ClassPZ7.P71295 Pi 2001[1]
Preceded byCastle Diary 
Followed byEgyptian Diary 

Pirate Diary: The Journal of Jake Carpenter is an account of the pirate life cast as the journal of a young cabin boy, written by Richard Platt and illustrated by Chris Riddell. It was published by Walker Books in 2001, two years after Castle Diary, also by Platt and Riddell. Platt continued the "Diary" series with illustrator David Parkins.

Pirate Diary received the annual Kate Greenaway Medal from the professional librarians, recognising the year's best-illustrated children's book published in the U.K. (Riddell),[2][3][4] and the Blue Peter Book Award, Best Book with Facts.[5] It was also silver runner up for the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize in ages category 6–8 years.[6]

The Greenaway press release celebrated Pirate Diary as an "exciting information book for children from 8 to 14" and the first "information book" to win the illustration Medal since 1975, and called it "a fictionalised account" (quoting CILIP). "[W]hen he spoke with author Richard Platt the harsh necessities of historical accuracy came into play. 'Everything I got excited about got shot down. No parrots, eye-patches or wooden legs. Thank god there were weapons and amputations!'" (quoting Riddell).[3]

  1. ^ "Pirate diary: the journal of Jake Carpenter" (first U.S. edition). Library of Congress Catalog Record. Retrieved 2012-09-01.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference medal2001 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference pr2001 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference bkgd2001 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Mortal Engines announced as Blue Peter Book of the Year 2003". BBC Press Office. 2003-12-16. Retrieved 2008-05-19.
  6. ^ "Nestlé Children's Book Prize". Booktrust. Retrieved 2012-11-29.