Like a contemporary Pippi Longstocking, the pirate girl has sailed the seven seas and, when she receives an intriguing letter and treasure map from her grandfather, thinks nothing of pursuing another adventure. She sets off, climbing a steep mountain, walking through blistering heat and a cold, dark cave before finally braving a stormy sea where a shark attacks her boat. Undeterred, the pirate girl swims to shore thinking, “I won’t give up on Grandfather’s treasure!” Excitedly, she unearths the treasure chest and finds the pirate shirt her grandfather has hidden there.

First-time author Peyton Leung and brother Hilary Leung (who also illustrated the Ninja Cowboy Bear books) have created an original picture book that cleverly blends an adventure tale with a crafting activity. 

Leung’s digital illustrations are colourful and playful. The flat style works here, seamlessly integrating origami elements into scenes without letting them dominate – the folded map is shown as the mountain, the pirate girl’s hat, the cave, the boat, and eventually the treasure itself.

Instructions for making the origami objects shown in the story are clear and easy to follow. The only disappointment may be that the pirate shirt won’t be nearly big enough to fit young readers, unless they start with a very large piece of paper!