Ahoy there! Justin Somper, author of the Vampirates series, has picked top five recommended children’s books about pirates.

Justin says, “The idea for “VAMPIRATES” came to me very simply – and thrillingly – when the word “VAMPIRATES” just landed in my head one day. Cue tingles down the spine, excitement, nerves, impostor syndrome etc… As things settled down, I realised I’d been “given” an amazing idea… to combine two beloved story worlds in one. Neither of which I knew very much about! So I embarked on a phase of research – looking into pirate history and vampire myth, on the hunt for intriguing factoids and maybe even nascent connections between the two. I made a conscious decision NOT to read pirate fiction or vampire fiction at that point. And, indeed, that remained the rule while I was immersed in writing each book in order to keep my vision unclouded. Since bringing the six-book sequence to a conclusion, I have relaxed that rule a little, to dip my toe in the waters and see how other writers are creatively embracing the swashbuckling world of piracy. Here are a few of my favourites…”