The Night Pirates: questions to ask and activities to try
Tom wakes up to find pirates, girl pirates, stealing the front of his house. The Night Pirates is a much-loved adventure about bravery and teamwork on the high seas.
What age is it for? The Night Pirates is best for ages 3–7. Good for: Adventure, bravery and girl pirates.
The Night Pirates (Peter Harris and Deborah Allwright)
- Age
- 3-7
- Best for
- Adventure, bravery and girl pirates
Read it at bedtime with a pirate voice. Ask what surprised your child about the pirates, and whether they'd join the adventure.
What it helps with
- Bravery and adventure
- Girls as pirates and heroes
- Teamwork
- Imagination at night
Comprehension and discussion questions
Pick two or three, not all of them. “I don’t know” is a fine answer, and you can always come back to it another day.
- “What woke Tom up?”
- “Who did he see outside?”
- “Why were they surprising?”
- “Where did they sail?”
- “What happened on the island?”
- “Would you join the night pirates?”
5-minute activities to try together
Pirate ship
Build a pirate ship from cushions and sail off on a night adventure.
Treasure map
Draw a treasure map of your home and hide a small treat at X.
Free printables: The Night Pirates worksheet and activity pack
This book’s one-page worksheet with the questions and activities above, plus our activity pack: printable scenario cards, three 5-minute activities and a “What could I try?” page for practising everyday skills together. Enter your email and download them straight away.
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If your child liked this, try
We're Going on a Bear Hunt (Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury)
- Best for
- Keeping going when something is hard, and facing fears together
- Age
- 2-6
Supertato (Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet)
- Best for
- Bravery, helping others, and a lot of laughs
- Age
- 3-6
Astro Girl (Ken Wilson-Max)
- Best for
- Dreaming big, and girls who love space
- Age
- 3-6
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By the Growing Wise team · Last reviewed: 10 October 2026
Growing Wise offers educational ideas for parents and carers. It is not a substitute for professional medical, developmental or mental-health advice. As an Amazon Associate, Growing Wise earns from qualifying purchases.