The Great Pirate Christmas Battle - Hardcover

Yo ho ho and a bottle of eggnog! Cap'n McNasty's come with his crew of scalawags to plunder Christmas presents from sleeping children. Their daring raid pays off in sweets and toys, much to the pirates' delight. As they happily bounce on their hornswoggled pogo sticks and scarf down Christmas cookies, the pirates vow to steal gifts every year-but their plans are shaken up like a bowl full of jelly when Santa and his elves arrive! Holiday hijinks ensue as the pirates get their halls decked and plums sugared. The rapscallions are tied up in tinsel and seemingly foiled, but Cap'n McNasty won't go down without a fight! He and St. Nick square off in a duel of hook versus candy cane that could determine the very future of Christmas.

This rollicking tale features hilarious illustrations and hidden surprises on every page. Wickedly witty rhymes will leave visions of ballistic fruitcakes dancing in readers' heads. The young-and young at heart-will roar at this clever tale of merry mayhem year after year. Parents and children will never forget the most important lesson of all: if you're a pirate, shiver your timbers and shut your doors, because Santa Claus is coming to town!

Michael G. Lewis graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a BA in English and minor in drama. He worked in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles, California, for ten years. Among other credits, he was a production assistant for Warner Bros. on such shows as Growing Pains and Just the Ten of Us. A playwright-in-residence at the Los Feliz Playhouse, Lewis's work was favorably reviewed by outlets including the Los Angeles Times, the Los Angeles Reader, and the Los Angeles Independent. His 1998 independent film Getting Personal was accepted into numerous film festivals and aired nationwide. A proud father, Lewis lives with his wife and four sons in Massachusetts.

Stan Jaskiel earned his degree in industrial design from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design and has worked for both consultancies and Fortune 500 companies, designing a variety of products, primarily computers. A full-time freelancer since 1992, Jaskiel has illustrated more than twenty children's books and numerous coloring and activity books and magazines. His work has garnered him an iParenting Media Award. Jaskiel lives with his wife near Boston, Massachusetts, where he spends his time sketching and worrying about the Red Sox.

"Yo ho-ho-ho! Michael Lewis's sea-faring Santa tale is surely the best buried treasure you'll ever uncover! The Great Pirate Christmas Battle is so funny you'll shiver your timbers with laughter and clap your hands! Unless you have a hook for a hand. Then you probably shouldn't do that."

-Butch Hartman, voice actor for Family Guy, writer for Dexter's Laboratory and The Powerpuff Girls, and creator of The Fairly OddParents and Danny Phantom

"A lively tale of adventure chock-full of iconic images and comic treats, The Great Pirate Christmas Battle is sure to delight pirate and Santa fans alike. Kids (and parents) will love the surprise ending. A new Christmas classic!"

-Kate Boutilier, writer/producer for Poppy Cat, The Mr. Men Show, Rugrats, and The Wild Thornberrys

"Listen up, landlubbers! Gather round and you'll hear the tale of the most unusual Christmas on the seven seas. Buccaneer Michael Lewis spins a refreshing and completely unexpected take on Santa Claus and his biggest challenge to date. This here's real pirate gold!"

-Darrell Van Citters, director of The Tom and Jerry Show (2014) and animation director of The Berenstain Bears and The Fox and the Hound