Hidden Treasure: Amazing Stories of Discovery

Lisa Arsenault is an elementary-school teacher in Ajax, Ontario.

Ten true stories about treasure-seeking from around the world are
presented in Hidden Treasure. Some are well known (e.g., the discovery
of Tutankhamun’s tomb), while others are more obscure. Two deal with
natural treasures—like ocean pearls and gold—rather than those made
by humans.

Two pages are devoted to each case. Interspersed throughout the
narrative are different modes that deliver the important facts,
including a board game, a maze, a serpentine fact trail, and a secret
code complete with key for the reader to break. A section at the end of
the book provides additional information for the curious.

The book’s format will definitely appeal to preteens. There are lots
of sidebars, amusing asides in cartoon bubbles emanating from people,
and talking fish and other inanimate objects. The comic-book-style
illustrations give a funky feel to the upbeat text and are used
presumably to counteract any perceived stuffiness associated with
anything historical—which is not really necessary, because the
treasure tales are intrinsically fascinating. Actually, the
illustrations’ hectic, frenetic, and florid colours sometimes
interfere with the clarity of the text and can be distracting to the
eye. As an introduction to treasure-seeking, Hidden Treasure is
recommended.