Spring 2025

The Fierce Little Woman and the Wicked Pirate, 2nd Edition

  • Interest Level: Preschool - Kindergarten
  • Reading Level: Grade 2

This enduring tale of independence and family is an unconventional love story with a strong female lead and a pirate with a sensitive side, written by New Zealand’s leading children’s writer and illustrated by one of Japan’s foremost children’s illustrators.

The fierce little woman lived in a house at the end of a jetty. She knitted socks in blue and green wool to sell to sailors who had got their feet wet. But when there were no ships at her jetty, she was quite alone.

One stormy day, a pirate came to the house on the jetty. He stood on his toes, and starting tap-tap-tapping on the window…

After a battle of words through the jetty trapdoor, these two windswept heroes find they are suited after all in a warm story of a carefree family.

Format Your Price Add
979-8-7656-7168-9
$18.99
979-8-7656-9104-5
$23.99
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Interest Level Preschool - Kindergarten
Reading Level Grade 2
Genre Picture Books
Copyright 2025
Publisher Lerner Publishing Group
Imprint Gecko Press ™
Language English
Number of Pages 32
Publication Date 2025-07-01
Text Type Fiction
BISACS JUV001020, JUV026000, JUV039050
Dewey [E]
Dimensions 10.6 x 8.7
Features Original artwork, Reviewed, Teaching Guides, and eSource

Author: Joy Cowley

Joy Cowley is a celebrated New Zealand writer for children and adults, who has won many awards and honors. These include a New Zealand Arts Foundation Icon Award for lifetime achievement, the Prime Minister’s Award for contribution to literature, and shortlisting for the Hans Christian Andersen Award.

Illustrator: Miho Satake

Miho Satake is a highly regarded Japanese artist and illustrator known for illustrating the Japanese editions of classic children’s books including Diana Wynne Jones and anniversary editions of the Harry Potter series.

Lerner eSource™ offers free digital teaching and learning resources, including Common Core State Standards (CCSS) teaching guides. These guides, created by classroom teachers, offer short lessons and writing exercises that give students specific instruction and practice using Common Core skills and strategies. Lerner eSource also provides additional resources including online activities, downloadable/printable graphic organizers, and additional educational materials that would also support Common Core instruction. Download, share, pin, print, and save as many of these free resources as you like!

The Fierce Little Woman and the Wicked Pirate, 2nd Edition

This enduring tale of independence and family is an unconventional love story with a strong female lead and a pirate with a sensitive side, written by New Zealand’s leading children’s writer and illustrated by one of Japan’s foremost children’s illustrators. The fierce little… View available downloads →

Reviews

Children's Literature Comprehensive Database (CLCD)

“Through its excellent character development, the story delivers an impactful message about first impressions not always being quite what they seem. Reviewer Rating: 5”—Children’s Literature

Booklist

“In this updated edition with new illustrations, the fierce little woman could be described more accurately as independent and capable. The text retains a folkloric quality, with the woman living alone in a small house at the end of a jetty . . . Illustrations convey the movement of the sea as it constantly surrounds the characters, highlighting the fantasy setting with humorous touches.”—Booklist