September 19, 2012 is the tenth anniversary of International Talk Like a Pirate Day. Sure, a holiday devoted to talking like pirates sounds like a goofy idea, but I think everyone needs a little goofiness now and then. There are several ways the Hoover Public Library can help you celebrate. Obviously, we have plenty of books and movies about pirates. And, yes, there will be a list of some of the newest and best at the end of this post. But I want to focus on something you may not be aware of . . . Mango Languages.

Mango Languages is an online language-learning system that teaches practical conversation skills for real communication. It's the fast, easy and effective way to learn to speak a foreign language, and it's free for Hoover library patrons. All you need is an internet connection and your library card number. You can create a login and password, select a course, then get talking. There are 15 English as a second language courses and 45 foreign courses for English speakers. And one of the most popular courses is . . . Pirate. At the end of your first five lessons, you'll be able to call someone names, express surprise, give sailing commands, greet a friend and a superior, and pay a compliment to the next scurvy knave you meet.

Now, avast me lubbers to the stacks for literary and cinematic pirate booty.
ADULT NONFICTION
Empire of Blue Water by Stephan Talty
How History's Greatest Pirates Pillaged, Plundered, and Got Away With It
by Benerson Little
The Pirate Code by Brenda Ralph Lewis
Pirate Hunter of the Caribbean by David Cordingly
The Pirates Laffite by William C. Davis
Pirates of Barbary by Adrian Tinniswood
The Pirates' Pact by Douglas R. Burgess
Pirates: the complete history from 1300 B.C. to the present day by Angus Konstam

ADULT FICTION
The Barbary Pirates by William Dietrich
The Captain's Vengeance by Dewey Lambdin
The Mountain of Gold by J.D. Davies
The Pirate Devlin by Mark Keating
Pirate King by Laurie R. King
Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton
Rip Tide by Stella Rimington
Silver by Edward Chupack

TEEN FICTION
Bloody Jack by L.A. Meyer
Capt. Hook: The Adventures of a Notorious Youth by James Hart
The Dust of 100 Dogs by A.S. King
One-Piece by Eiichiro Oda
Pirates! by Celia Rees
The Princess Bride by William Goldman
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
Vampirates: Demons of the Ocean by Justin Somper
Water Wars by Cameron Stracher

JUVENILE NONFICTION
A Is for Arrr!: A Pirate Alphabet by Laura Purdie Salas
Draw Pirates in 4 Easy Steps by Stephanie LaBaff
Eyewitness: Pirate by Richard Platt
Lives of the Pirates by Kathleen Krull
A Pirate Adventure: Weather by Andrew Solway
Pirates by John Matthews
Pirates and Smugglers by Moira Butterfield
Pirates: facts, things to make, activities by Rachel Wright
Pirates: with Jake Rattlebones by Philip Steele
Sea Queens: Women Pirates Around the World by Jane Yolen
The Short and Bloody History of Pirates by John Farman
Top 10 Worst Nasty Pirates You Wouldn't Want to Meet! by Fiona Macdonald
You Wouldn't Want to Be a Pirate's Prisoner! by John Malam
Your Life as a Cabin Boy on a Pirate Ship by Jessica Gunderson

JUVENILE FICTION
Alex and the Ironic Gentleman by Adrienne Kress
The Big Book of Pirates by Alissa Heyman
Captain Hannah Pritchard: The Hunt for Pirate Gold by Bonnie Pryor
The Not-So-Jolly Roger by Jon Scieszka
Parrots and Pirates: A Mystery at Sea by Elizabeth Levy
Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry & Ridley Pearce
Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
Pirates Past Noon by Mary Pope Osborne
Saltwater Taffy by Eric Delabarre
Shiver Me, Shipwreck! by Brian James

PICTURE BOOKS
Backbeard and the Birthday Suit by Matthew McElligott
Bubble Bath Pirates by Jarrett Krosoczka
Class Three at Sea by Julia Jarman
How I Became a Pirate by Melinda Long
Pirate Bob by Kathryn Lasky
Pirate Jam by Jo Brown
Roger, the Jolly Pirate by Brett Helquist
Sheep on a Ship by Nancy Shaw
Shiver Me Letters by June Sobel
This Little Pirate by Philemon Sturges

MOVIES FOR KIDS
Backyardigans: We Arrrr Pirates!
Curious George Sets Sail with the Pirates
The Goonies
Hook
Jake and the Never Land Pirates
Jake and the Never Land Pirates: Peter Pan Returns
Muppet Treasure Island
Peter Pan (Disney animated version)
Peter Pan (live action version)
Pippi in the South Seas
The Pirates!: Band of Misfits
The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything (VeggieTales)
The Princess Bride
Return to Never Land (Disney animated sequel to Peter Pan)
Scooby-Doo and the Pirates
The Secret of Pirate Island
Tom and Jerry: Shiver Me Whiskers
Treasure Island
Treasure Island Kids
Wow Wow Wubbzy: Pirate Treasure

MOVIES FOR ADULTS
Pirates of the Caribbean
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Pirates of Penzance
Pirates! Scourge of the Seven Seas (documentary)
Real Pirates of the Caribbean (documentary)