The Pirate Mums: questions to ask and activities to try
Billy's mums sing sea shanties and have a rude parrot, and he wishes they were normal. The Pirate Mums is a swashbuckling story about being proud of your family.
What age is it for? The Pirate Mums is best for ages 3–7. Good for: Embarrassing parents, and being proud of your family.
The Pirate Mums (Jodie Lancet-Grant and Lydia Corry)
- Age
- 3-7
- Best for
- Embarrassing parents, and being proud of your family
Read it with pirate voices. Talk about what makes your family different, and what's great about it.
What it helps with
- Same-sex parents and different families
- Feeling embarrassed by family
- Being proud of who you are
- Adventure
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 are Billy’s mums like?”
- “Why did he want them to be normal?”
- “What happened on the school trip?”
- “How did his mums help?”
- “How did Billy feel after?”
- “What’s special about your family?”
5-minute activities to try together
Family flag
Design a pirate flag for your family.
Sea shanty
Learn a sea shanty and sing it together.
Free printables: The Pirate Mums 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
And Tango Makes Three (Justin Richardson, Peter Parnell and Henry Cole)
- Best for
- Different kinds of families, from a true penguin story
- Age
- 3-7
The Night Pirates (Peter Harris and Deborah Allwright)
- Best for
- Adventure, bravery and girl pirates
- Age
- 3-7
The Pirate Tree (Brigita Orel and Jennie Poh)
- Best for
- Making friends with someone new through play
- Age
- 3-7
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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.