Captain Pepper wants a pet. He wants to be different...so a boring old parrot just won't do. The fiery captain sets his pirate crew to find the perfect pet. They try a monkey, a hippopotamus, and a leopard - each with hilariously disastrous results. Finally, they find a python and Captain Pepper is delighted! But the last laugh is on him when his not-so-cuddly companion eats him for dinner! At last his crew can sail home in peace. The I Am Reading series provides just the right balance of challenge and support for newly independent readers. Large, easy-to-read type, satisfying stories by top writers and cheerful full-colour pictures help children make the transition from picture books to chapter books. Each book includes a bookmark flap, tips for beginner readers and either short, numbered chapters or two short stories.