Searching for Treasure

Searching for Treasure (Allen & Unwin) Johanna Bell & Emma Long PB RRP $24.99 9781761180682

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

From award-winning creators Johanna Bell and Emma Long, this gorgeous read-aloud celebrates the joy of discovery. A walk along the beach becomes a wondrous, creative adventure.

Johanna Bell lives in Tasmania, writes fiction and runs a community art business called Story Projects. She is the author of Colour Catchers, and Hope is the Thing. She is also the co-author of the award-winning bestsellers Too Many Cheeky Dogs, Go Home Cheeky Animals! and Cheeky Dogs: To Lake Nash and Back. Emma Long regularly exhibits her work in group and solo exhibitions across the Northern Territory. Her illustrations are inspired by the fresh, raw beauty of nature and she feels most at home in the bush with a brush in hand. She lives in Darwin with her husband and children.

Searching for Treasure invites young readers to explore beachcombing's wonders and discover natural treasures along the high tide line.

Johanna Bell has written Searching for Treasure in a way that appeals to very young and older children. The large, sparse text invites children to explore the illustrations visually and through the hidden smaller text, which includes fascinating facts about the natural treasures found along the high tide line. Searching for treasure on the high tide line. One step, two steps, what can you find? I can almost hear a parent saying this to a child as they explore the beach together, which is exactly the book's intention. I love the repeat refrain what can you find? —it works well.

Bell has given plenty of space for the illustrations to convey a wealth of information, making it feel as though you truly are on the beach. Cleverly, the very small factual text hidden within the illustrations allows readers to feel like they too are making discoveries. The ending is perfect: "Quick! Catch up! Don’t get left behind!" Time flies by when you're searching for treasure, and this sense of urgency is captured beautifully.

Emma Long's detailed illustrations add a magical layer of wonder and exploration. She brings the beach and its treasures to life with rich illustrations in life-like colours, gorgeous coastal landscapes and intricate depictions of the natural world. This makes the reader feel like they are searching for high-tide treasure on the beach. The illustrations cleverly integrate hidden elements, with smaller text tucked into the visuals that offer fascinating facts about the objects found along the tide line. This allows children to engage with the story on multiple levels through images and informative titbits.

The use of space is thoughtful, and the addition of smaller page inserts creates an immersive beachcombing experience while still guiding the reader's eye to the hidden discoveries. The book ends with a surprising and glorious gatefold finale that is visually breathtaking. Long's illustrations make this an engaging and interactive picture book experience for young readers.

Searching For Treasure is a picture book that brings to life the joy of fossicking for beach treasure. It informs and creates beach wonder. This magical book is suitable for children 3 years and older. It will appeal to children, teachers and librarians and anyone who loves the beach.

 

Searching for Treasure

Searching for Treasure Written by Johanna Bell and illustrated by Emma Long (Allen & Unwin) RRP $24.99 ISBN: 139781761180682

Reviewed by Melissa Wray

This picture storybook is absolutely delightful! As a mother of two who spent many hours at the beach with her children in their younger years, I can say it is perfect for the regular visitor or one-time explorer. Bell and Long have perfectly captured the exploration and fossicking readily available during a trip to the beach.

The illustrations are perfect and reflect the discoveries waiting to be found while exploring the sand, rocks and water edge formed by the tide. The soft pastel colours Long uses, along with the detailed patterns included, are gorgeous. The simplicity of the story written by Bell means that even the youngest reader can read along with the story. However, the more complex, detailed information about the discoveries along the beach offers great conversational moments with the young person, usually thirsty to learn more about the shells and creatures found at the beach.

This book's design is unique. It provides full-page illustrative spreads as well as carefully cut, lift-the-flap-style pages. It is within these pages that further information about the illustrations can be discovered.

I wish this book had been available when my children were younger, but I am so glad it is out there now.

Walking the Rock Country in Kakadu

Walking the Rock Country in Kakadu by Diane Lucas & Ben Tyler, illustrated by Emma Long (Allen & Unwin) HB RRP $29.99 ISBN 9781761067860

Reviewed by Nikki M Heath

What would you miss if you went for a walk in Kakadu? Walking the Rock Country In Kakadu (or Karrire kundenge karribolknan kunwarddehwardde in the local Kundjeyhmi language) shows how much there is to notice and appreciate for those who know how to look.

The book has the feel of a guided tour of the country, with the authors pointing out the flora, fauna, geography and culture of significance along the way, adding personal anecdotes. The illustrations are rich and detailed, supporting the text and making the reader feel almost as if they are truly there. It is a very long text, however, and without any narrative to speak of, the book takes some reader persistence.

For language nerds, a special treat is the Kundjeyhmi words peppered throughout the text, highlighted in bold colours and illustrated with small vignettes to provide the English translations. This is supported by an illustrated glossary, and pronunciations can be found by listening to the authors read the text aloud via a QR code. 

This is a substantial non-fiction text supported by detailed, sophisticated illustrations, which may offer great value in an upper primary context with appropriate teacher support and guidance.

Walking the Rock Country in Kakadu

Walking the Rock Country in Kakadu by Diane Lucas, Ben Tyler and Emma Long (Allen & Unwin) HB RRP $29.99 ISBN9781761067860

This book shows a breathtaking encounter with the magnificent rock country of Australia's iconic Kakadu National Park, from the highly acclaimed creators of Walking in Gagudju Country: Exploring the Monsoon Forest.

From the authors of the bestselling Walking with the Seasons in Kakadu comes this rich and fascinating book bringing together First Nations Australian knowledge, language, and history with Western science. This is the second of a proposed series of three titles, with the final titles to focus on the floodplains.

Diane Lucas and Ben Tyler share stories, knowledge, and their love of the land on a walk through one of Australia’s most ancient and beautiful ecosystems, introducing Kyndjeyehmi language, one of the languages of Kakadu and western Arnhem Land, along the way.

Illustrator Long’s detailed and beautifully rendered images vividly depict the rich and varied plant and animal life of this unique place, encouraging young and old to see, hear, smell, and feel the land and experience how Aboriginal people and lived and walked Country for thousands of years. Her fly pages of insect life among flowers, other plants, and rocks are stunning, and her interior pages are detailed and beautiful.

This is not a typical picture book insofar as the text is long and detailed as a family walks through the country observing wildlife in all its forms. As the text continues, there is frequent use of native words, like ‘Marrawuddi’ (or white-bellied sea eagle), and ‘Karlkki’ (or tadpoles).

At the end of the book there is an illustrated glossary of these words. And, too, there are longish acknowledgements from the book’s three creators.