Book Review: Searching for Treasure by Johanna Bell

Follow along for a day at the beach as a young child collects a multitude of treasures they find on the sand. What will they do with all these treasures? There is a glorious, surprising finale.

 

 illustrated by Emma Long

 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin Children's

Publication date: 4th February 2025

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Pages: 26

RRP: AU$24.99 (hardcover)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Searching for Treasure has large, glorious double page spreads filled with vibrant illustrations of on shore treasures.

 

"Searching for treasure on the high tide line

one step two steps, what can you find?"

 

I loved that Searching for Treasure has two ways it can be read; large simple text is a prompt to look at the picture and point things out, plus there is small text between the treasures, educational facts winding between the illustrations. These were like hidden treasures in themselves.

 

Large cut out flaps lift to find more shoreline treasures.

 

Searching for Treasure is a beautiful, bright and bold story book perfect to be read before, or after, a trip to the beach. This book would also make a great bedtime story to remember a treasured family holiday.

 

With educational facts scattered throughout, Searching for Treasure is a book that will grow with your child.

 

recommended age: 3 - 6 years

My rating 5 / 5 🐚🐚🐚🐚🐚 

 

 

Book Review: Chickenpox by Remy Lai

Set in the 1990's Chickenpox is a fabulously funny graphic novel narrated by the eldest of five siblings, twelve-year-old Abby Lai. 

Abby tries to get away from her siblings any chance she gets. She'd rather spend time with her friends far away from her annoying brothers and sisters. But when they all come down with chickenpox Abby is trapped inside, for two whole weeks.

 

I found Chickenpox to be outrageously funny. You don't need to have had chickenpox to imagine what it would be like trapped inside with your younger siblings.

Plenty of hijinks and antics abound as Abby not only tries to entertain her siblings but also has to navigate friendships by phone whilst always wondering what is going on at school in her absence.  

Luckily we now have a vaccine available for chickenpox so readers of Remy Lai's novel may not know the constant itch and isolation but I am sure their parents can remember and have some stories to tell.  

Reading Chickenpox took me back to when my five children had the virus and we were stuck at home for 5 weeks as they seemed to get it one after the other. There was much hijinks and mayhem back then too.

 

Content: I would just like to highlight this sentence from the book, if buying for younger readers.

"When I was little and still believed in Santa and unicorns" 

You should always believe in Santa and unicorns! 🎅🦄

 

My rating 5 / 5  🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 4th February 2025

Genre: Graphic Novel / Middle Grade

Pages: 240

RRP: AU$19.99 (paperback)

Source: courtesy of the publisher