No Pirates Allowed! Said Library Lou

Ahoy, Julian! This be for you.

R.G.G.

For my son, Jarrod.

B.A.

Text Copyright © 2013 Rhonda Gowler Greene • Illustration Copyright © 2013 Brian Ajhar

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Greene, Rhonda Gowler.
No pirates allowed! said Library Lou / written by Rhonda Gowler Greene ; illustrated by Brian Ajhar.
p. cm.
Summary: Big Pirate Pete's treasure map has led him to Seabreezy Library, where Library Lou must convince him that the true treasure is the books.
ISBN 978-1-58536-796-2
[1. Stories in rhyme. 2. Libraries—Fiction. 3. Books and reading—Fiction. 4. Pirates—Fiction. 5. Buried treasure—Fiction.] I. Ajhar, Brian, ill. II. Title.
PZ8.3.G824No 2013    [E]—dc23
2012033685

NO

PIRATES

ALLOWED!

Said Library Lou

By
Rhonda Gowler Greene

Illustrated by
Brian Ajhar

A
t Seabreezy Library, things were just right. Book lovers were cozy. The sky was blue-bright when—Shiver me timbers!—through Seabreezy's door stormed Big Pirate Pete and his parrot, Igor!

“Whar be the treasure?!
X
marks this spot! We'll dig up the loot an' steal all that ye've got!”

SQUAW-AW-AWK!
Igor squawked as Pete muttered an “
Arrgh
!” Then Big Pete let loose with a scary—
“SO THAR!”

Chills ran down spines as those readers all shook. They hid behind bookshelves, but ventured a look. And what was that odor? Disgusting! Phhhew! But no one at Seabreezy knew what to do.

Except… Library Lou who dashed over to see what all the unruly commotion could be. “May I help you?” Lou asked with a pinch of a frown. “This is a library.
Shhh
! Quiet down!”

“ARRGH!”

Big Pete thundered.

“Don't waste me day! Walk the plank, saucy lass, or show me the way!”

At Seabreezy then, you could hear a pin drop. All that tough, ruffian talk and squawk stopped for Library Lou looked Pete right in the eye as Pete stood his ground with a snarl. Oh, my!

Minute by minute, their tempers both flared as they stood head to head and doggedly dared!

“Unless you be quiet…and listen up too…
NO PIRATES ALLOWED!
” said Library Lou.

SQUAWK
! Igor squawked with a blow-me-down glare. Then Library Lou boldly added—“
So there
!”
ARRGH!

“Now—where is the treasure map?” Lou asked. “…ahhh, yes.”

“The treasure is here,” she said. “Just as I guessed.”

“I'll help you find it. But first I must ask of you and your matey a wee smallish task—Go home. Take a bath. Change your underwear too. Then come back tomorrow,” said Library Lou.

ARRGH!

A landlubber tellin' Big Pete what to
do
?! But—she said thar be treasure. Sink me! 'Tis true!

So… that night Pete scrubbed thirteen layers of dirt and decided clean underwear (
sniff!
) couldn't hurt. Squawking Igor got a good scrubbin' too!
Swwwish
through the sea sailed their funky P.U.

Then later they dreamed… of a treasure or two.

SQUAWK-AWAWK!

The next day they burst through that library door with a fresh, soapy scent, but—as
LOUD
as before!

“Mateys! Your manners!” said Library Lou “Now, come. Follow me. We have much work to do.”

Aye
!

Big Pete grabbed his picks and his ax and his shovel. But Library Lou said, “Don't go to the trouble.” “But, Lassie! The loot!” Lou said, “Not yet…