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The Paper Pirates

The crew of the Little Argo, folded from old maps and newspapers. They sail the Night Sea with Captain Barnacle.

Who are the paper pirates?

The paper pirates are the crew of the Little Argo, the small pirate ship of Captain Barnacle. They are folded from old maps and newspapers. Together with their captain, they are the Night Pirates.

What do the paper pirates do?

The paper pirates sail the Night Sea, the sea that only exists in the dark. Their ship bumped right into Vela’s bed one night at three o’clock, and the whole crew looked very lost.

At the Snapping Rocks, the lookout spotted the danger first. The crew hauled Vela’s blue coat up the mast to use as a sail. And when Vela was cold and wet, they wrapped her in her wind-warm coat.

The paper pirates came back to help Vela again, in the very last story. They threw their ropes around the hands of a giant clock and pulled with all their might.

What are the paper pirates like?

The paper pirates are loyal, hard-working, and a little bit lost most of the time. Only the lookout ever shouts. The rest of the crew just get on with the work.

Nobody has told us their names yet. So we know them by what they carry and how they look.

Try this tonight

Can you fold a pirate hat from a sheet of newspaper? Ask a grown-up to help, then choose which of the crew you would be.

Mysteries

Some things about the paper pirates are still a mystery, even to us:

  • What are their names?
  • How many paper pirates are on the Little Argo?
  • Who folded the very first one?

Maybe the stories will tell us one day.

Who's who

  • Illustration of The lookout

    The lookout

    Tall and keen, and the loudest of the crew. He is the one who shouts, "Rocks! Rocks dead ahead!"

  • Illustration of The one with the big beard

    The one with the big beard

    The biggest pirate on board, with a bushy brown beard. Gentle, and often a little puzzled.

  • Illustration of The one with the map

    The one with the map

    A freckled pirate with long red hair and a rolled-up map, who looks a little lost.

  • Illustration of The one with the patch

    The one with the patch

    A glum pirate with a frown, an eye patch and a small black hat.

  • Illustration of The one with the rope

    The one with the rope

    A thin, worried pirate who wears a coil of rope over one shoulder.

  • Illustration of The round one

    The round one

    A round pirate with a moon face, wide curious eyes and a grey knitted hat.

Where to find The Paper Pirates

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Last updated October 27, 2026