Set Sail for School

Heather Macht of Seasons of KitLit interviewed author Daryl-Lynne Gottier for Talk Like A Pirate Day – read the full interview

From Carolyn Phelan at Booklist
In this inviting book for kids learning to read, young Jack proudly gives readers a tour of the crowded but impressive boat where he lives with his family. They enjoy eating their meals in the galley, and Jack sleeps in a hammock. Their boat is small, but it’s comfortable and fun. On weekdays, it carries Jack to school, which takes place in a pirate ship, divided into sections to accommodate students in different grades. The very mention of a pirate ship guarantees that kids will pay close attention to Jack’s upbeat story as they read it, or hear it read aloud at home or at school. Jack tells his engaging story in rhymed couplets, pausing on the last word for kids to complete each rhyme and slipping in a non-rhyming word just for fun. The book concludes with a page called “Pirate Jack’s Fun Facts,” briefly exploring the history and lore of pirates. Illustrated with cheerful, digital pictures, this offers a playful narrative for beginning readers and fans of pirates.

From Christa McGrath at Edwards Book Club
Set Sail for School is full of adventure and entertainment. Jack is ready for his school day, but its no ordinary classroom. Cleverly written in a (mostly) rhythmic way, children will giggle their way through the ebb and flow of this high-energy story. Guessing what comes next — and being surprised by the humorous word twists — will keep kids entertained and engaged as they learn a little about ships and pirates. Perhaps Jack`s experience will even inspire little ones to love school and learning as much as he does!
Bright, colourful illustrations adorn every page. They add an additional educational element that can be used to teach children in a fun, playful way. It`s a story suited for kids between the ages of 4 and 8 and a must-have for their bookshelf. They will surely reach for this arrr-mazing story again and again.

From Jodi Moore, award-winning author of the When a Dragon Moves In series
It’s not out yet, but as a trusted reader for Flashlight Press, I had the great honor of reading Set Sail for School early…and please, allow me to GUSH!
In this delightful story, author Daryl-Lynne Gottier turns rhyme on its head and expectation to giggles with each turn of the page. Think you know what’s coming up next? Think again!
Illustrator Gal Weizman’s colorful images not only tell another part of the story, they contain multitudes of joyful little extras, like the darling pirate-y details (that fish light in Jack’s room! And the pirate hat and eye patch on the pet fish!) The presence of the striped cat begs readers to believe that’s Tiger, which is a perfect nod to the ‘anti-rhyme’ theme of the text itself. That said, there are clues (the empty birdcage) which will delight young and old.
The constant presence of the crab is one of my favorite parts and I love how he often mimics Jack’s behavior. I found myself looking for him in every illustration.
The attention to detail and consistency is amazing. I love how each character exudes personality, from Jack to his family to all of the school mateys. The children are diverse, not only in color and gender, but also in their individual natures, from boisterous to studious, to needing that support stuffie. Finally, I love how although they’re pirates, there isn’t a bully among them.
This book is a true treasure – highly recommend!

From Kim A. Larson, author
Tarrrr-iffic, Matey! A delightful school-and-pirate mashup that turns story time into a game! With its clever page turns, kids will love shouting out what they think is coming next, only to be met with a hilarious, pirate twist. It’s a rhythmic, high-energy read that will have young landlubbers asking to set sail for school again and again.

Barbara Gruener, The Corner on Character 
First, the scuttlebutt around town is that the incredible illustrations that bring this high-seas story to life will bait your readers, hook, line and sinker. Second, as readers catch the rhyming pattern (and expect the word bed but instead hear the word hammock), the laughter reels us in and leaves us thirsting for more. Third, this fun-loving text is so cleverly scripted for our young pirates. They’ll eagerly anticipate looking for Jack’s little red crab on each two-page spread as they predict which word comes next after the next ellipsis while preparing to turn to the next page.
And what a page-turner this back-to-school story is!
Filled with lots of new vocabulary and complete with a glossary in the back, Set Sail for School will likely steal your students’ hearts and leave them willing to walk the plank for another read-through. I can already hear shouts of “One more time! One more time!” with my granddaughter.

About the Creators

Daryl-Lynne Gottier has been published in Highlights for Children, Hopscotch, and Boys’ Quest. In addition to being a speech pathologist in elementary schools, she has worked in a bookstore and a children’s library. She lives in Central MA, and this is her first picture book. If Daryl was a pirate, her name would be Barnacle Book-Builder.

Gal Weizman has illustrated over 100 children’s books. Her playful animated characters bounce through games and TV shows, sit on packaging, and live in books around the globe. If Gal was a pirate, her name would be Captain Ink-Stain. See Gal’s work on Instagram @gal__weizman.

ISBN: HC 9781962269292  ebooks 9781962269308  
Print Length: 32 Full Color Pages
Publication Date: September 2026
Age Group: 4-8
Library of Congress Control Number: 2026936732
Themes: Pirates, School, Anti-rhyme

Activity Guides & More

• Set Sail for School Word Search – Can you find all of the hidden pirate-y words?
• Set Sail for School Maze – Help Jack find his friend at school
• Pirate Ship Coloring Page – Color and design your own pirate ship
• Pirate Crafts and Activities – Go on a treasure hunt, create a pool noodle pirate ship, and more!
• Teacher’s Guide for Set Sail for School – Suggested grade level K-3

Leveling Information

Fountas and Pinnell – Text Level L

Lexile Measurements provided by Metametrics:

Lexile Display: AD590L
Word Count: 409