Author Profile
Melinda Long
6 Books
Melinda Long is an American children's author best known for the lively picture books How I Became a Pirate and Pirates Don't Change Diapers. Her stories often use humor, playful language, and adventurous situations that appeal directly to young readers. She creates engaging narratives where ordinary children find themselves in extraordinary and silly circumstances. Her pirate-themed books have become widely read favorites in classrooms and homes. She continues to write entertaining stories that encourage a love of reading in early learners.
Laura’s Christmas visit to South Carolina comes with a new surprise every day. In letters home, she shares the unusual gifts and sights her cousin Conner shows her, from a wren in a palmetto tree to dolphins, pirates, shrimp stew, bright coastal houses, and wild kudzu vines. The familiar Twelve Days of Christmas pattern becomes a merry tour of one southern state, blending sing-aloud counting fun with real places, foods, animals, and history. Young readers can follow Laura through each day, spotting details in the illustrations and picking up South Carolina facts along the way. It is a festive picture book for kids who enjoy holiday traditions, travel stories, and discovering what makes a place feel special.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
22 Pages
Sleep should be simple at Papa and Nana’s house, but the whole room has other plans. First come the snores, then the rattling lamp, clattering dishes, tumbling shoes, and a bedtime racket big enough to shake the night awake. Told through a child’s amused, affectionate point of view, this lively picture book turns a common family sound into an over-the-top comedy. The noise may be annoying, but it also carries the warm feeling of being safe with people who love you. With playful repetition and expressive illustrations, When Papa Snores is a funny family read-aloud for children who enjoy silly sounds, bedtime stories, and a small mystery about who is really making the biggest noise.
6-8 Years
32 Pages
Captain Braid Beard and his swashbuckling pirate crew are back, and they are ready to dig up the treasure they buried in Jeremy Jacob's backyard! There is just one massive problem. The noisy pirates accidentally wake up Jeremy's baby sister, Bonney Anne, and that wee scallywag howls louder than a terrible storm on the high seas. Now, nobody is going to be allowed to dig up any shiny gold until the baby stops her caterwauling. So, quicker than you can say shiver me timbers, these tough, treasure hunting sailors have to become babysitters! Blimey! You will laugh out loud as you watch grown pirates try to figure out how to calm a crying baby. It turns out that minding the nursery and changing diapers might actually be far more terrifying than walking the plank. Jump into this hilarious adventure where high sea antics meet the everyday chaos of having a little sister.
6-8 Years
50 Pages
One little girl has the hiccups, and everyone in the family thinks they know exactly how to fix them. Should she drink water in a strange way, hold her breath, try a paper bag, or follow another wild cure? Each idea sounds promising, but the hiccups keep interrupting, and the advice gets funnier as the whole household joins in. Hiccup Snickup turns a familiar everyday problem into a fast, noisy, laugh-out-loud read-aloud. The story is especially fun for children who like silly situations, family teamwork, and the suspense of wondering whether the next cure will finally work. Thor Wickstrom’s energetic illustrations help every hiccup, wobble, and ridiculous attempt feel bigger than life.
6-8 Years
38 Pages
Art’s sleepover is supposed to be about friends, snacks, and a little stargazing. Then he looks through his telescope and sees what appears to be a purple spaceship heading toward Earth. The adults are not convinced, and the police do not seem alarmed, so Art and his friends Robbie, Jason, and Amy decide to investigate like true science detectives. Their emergency plans involve imagination, critical thinking, and some very questionable alien-defense supplies. This short illustrated chapter book mixes mystery, humor, and kid-friendly science as the friends test what they know about the night sky and science fiction. Readers who like funny STEM adventures will enjoy watching Art’s big idea turn into a fast-moving case where curiosity matters as much as courage.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
57 Pages
Pirates have green teeth, when they have any teeth at all! Jeremy Jacob is minding his own business building a sandcastle when a massive pirate ship sails into view. Before he knows it, he is invited aboard to join Captain Braid Beard and his swashbuckling crew on a fantastic ocean voyage. You will learn the finest points of living like a real pirate right alongside Jeremy. You get to discover how to yell scurvy dog, sing booming sea chanteys, and even throw your food without getting in trouble. It sounds like the perfect life! But as the sun goes down, Jeremy makes a surprising discovery about his new friends. Pirates do not read bedtime stories, they do not give good night kisses, and they definitely do not tuck you in. Get ready for a hilarious, action packed adventure on the high seas.
6-8 Years
48 Pages
