Walking the plank

June Casagrande

There are scary pirates and then there are really scary pirates. And

One-Eyed Jake is definitely in the latter category, if the awe-struck

little faces at Story Time at Pirate’s Cove are any indication.

More than a dozen children, most of them preschool-age, gathered

on Wednesday at the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum for the first

Story Time at Pirate’s Cove, a series of pirate stories and songs

presented by the museum, the Newport Beach Public Library and with

help from the Oasis Senior Center.

“One-Eyed Jack was a very bad pirate,” warned storyteller Judilyn

Ashley, a library staff member.

Properly cautioned, the children braced themselves for the story,

“One-Eyed Jake” by Pat Hutchins.

As the story unfolded, the robbing Jake the pirate continued to

rob other boats. But in the end, his own greed was his undoing. His

boat sank under the weight of all the jewels he stole.

Ashley was half of the storytelling team. She and Oasis Senior

Center representative Darlene Williams, both decked out in pirate

attire, took turns telling stories and leading songs such as “Blow

the Man Down.”

“Yo, ho, blow the man down!” the children sang along.

Story Time at Pirate’s Cove is one of a number of new programs at

the museum designed to highlight the area’s nautical heritage. Story

Time is designed for children 3 to 6. It will take place twice a

month on Wednesday mornings from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Reservations are

required. The cost is free.

For more information or reservations, call (949) 673-7863.