Avast me hearties! Calling Pirate fans everywhere—did you know that September 19 is International Talk Like a Pirate Day?

Kathy Storfer knew.  And she was happy to spread some good pirate fun to landlocked lubbers who joined her at the Bedford Hills Library during story time on Tuesday and Wednesday the 21and 22  of September.

The Director of Programming for the Bedford Hills Library, known as Miss Kathy to her young fans that come weekly to her animated read-alouds, said that the library has had "Talk Like a Pirate Day" for the last six years.

"We were trolling the internet looking for ideas for storytime themes, and came across a website dedicated to International Talk Like a Pirate Day," Storfer said.  "The holiday has been around for years, but Dave Barry, the writer, publicized it in his humor column several years back and it took off in the United States."

Three-and-four-year-old pirates were invited from 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. on Tuesday, while their  kindergarten through second grade mates came on Wednesday to read, sing, and learn some  pirate lingo.

Many of the children came sporting their favorite pirate tee shirt, and one young swashbuckler was decked out in a costume his mother had made for him. All the children however, were given pirate bandanas, spyglasses and hats to decorate upon arrival.

With their costumes complete, Miss Kathy asked each pirate for his or her name, and using the official Talk like a pirate website, typed in the name, and the site generated a pirate name.  Miss Kathy became "Pirate Jessie the Sword Test Dummy."

Once the children had their names, Pirate Jessie regaled them with tales like Pirate Pete Talks like a Pirate by Kim Kennedy and Doug Kennedy, as well as Peg Leg Peke, by Brie Spangler and The Erie Canal Pirates by Eric Kimmel which tells the tale of band of pirates who are pursued as they navigate the canal from Albany to Buffalo and on to Niagara Falls.

While reading How I Became a Pirate by Melinda Long, a book about a boy who sails off with a group of pirates, the children giggled when Miss Kathy asked if they thought their parents would mind them sailing off to live with a band of pirates. The room echoed as the story continued and the kids shouted, "I treasure!" and "Scurry Dog!"

Austin Omin, a.k.a. "Poop Deck Jake," said that pirates are his favorite and that he listens to pirate songs on the computer. Teddy, age four, added that he loves to dress up and play pirates with his brother, but that the best part of pirate life is the eye patches they wear.

The group finished with a rousing version of the theme song from Veggie Tales "The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything." All the mates went home shouting "Arrrr," which is pirate lingo for "I am happy."