Captain Monty Takes The Plunge

by Jennifer Mook-Sang

illustrated by Liz Starin

Monty the Malodorous is a daring pirate. He is brave. He is bold. He is feared by all who sail the six or seven seas. But Monty has a secret: he can't swim. He never goes into the ocean --- and he never takes a bath. “Real pirates don't bathe. Yar-har-har!” he says. But things change when he meets a mermaid named Meg. “Monty's heart went ka-thunk. He tumbled head over boot heels in love.” And, one day, when Meg's life is put into peril, Monty realizes he's the only one who can jump into the ocean to save her. Monty is faced with a terrible dilemma: is his love strong enough to overcome his fear?

Suitable for: JK to grade 4. Charming tale, guaranteed belly laughs, encouragement to face fears. Some complex vocabulary.
Themes: Self-discovery, personal development, Character Education: courage.
Available: September 1, 2021
Languages: English

Lesson Plan

The Lesson Plan for Captain Monty Takes The Plunge is available with purchase and sent to an email address provided by the school board. To view a sample Lesson Plan, click on the file below. It is based on “Trampoline Boy”.

Sample Lesson Plan

Captain Monty Takes The Plunge lesson plan cover

Video Resources

All videos associated with QR Coded signs from the Book Set are located here and can be viewed at any time.

Book Creators

Jennifer Mook-Sang

Jennifer Mook-Sang was born in Guyana near the shores of the Berbice River, where pirates may have sailed long ago. Treasure for her was a stack of storybooks and an even taller pile of comic books. She moved to Canada when she was fourteen, earned two degrees in psychology and enjoyed working with children for many years. Jennifer rediscovered the wondrous world of children's books as an adult. Reading picture books to her two sons, Matt and Ben, inspired her to begin her journey to becoming a writer.

Liz Starin

Liz Starin is an illustrator, writer, programmer and former swim instructor. She still loves to swim any chance she gets. She lives with her partner in Brooklyn, New York, just a short bike ride from the Atlantic Ocean.