Evocative imagery and gorgeous art encourage children to treasure natural wonders in this picture book celebrating curiosity, exploration and the wilderness.
To Find Treasure in the Mountains begins with three children securing their "sturdy shoes" and setting out on a mountain path. "All steps into the wild lead to treasure," the narrator explains, guiding readers to try what the story's trio does: "go eye to eye with grasshoppers" or "sit so still the painted lady butterfly believes your ear is a flower petal." These peaceful pauses occur between leaps over burbling creeks and rock climbs as a team. The children take the small tumbles that "even seasoned treasure seekers" do as they discover nature's gold: bird's eggs in a nest, a sunning lizard, a "great gray owl." Back home, they hold their treasure not as physical pieces in their hands but as memories in their hearts.
In her debut, Francine Rockey employs gentle instruction ("turn your head to look up and down and all around") and engages the senses one by one, allowing simple yet exciting moments to foster a spirit for adventure in young readers. Awe-inspiring pastel paintings from Kendra Binney (Venetian Lullaby) depict the cheerful children in differing shades of tan and warm brown, and imbue the animals with an intricate beauty--dragonflies with translucent wings, a bold red ladybug, furry chipmunks. Majestic landscapes serve as a backsplash to the children's joyous day spent hiking, while sparkles dot every page, maintaining an atmosphere of wonder throughout. This picture book is a splendid and dazzlingly illustrated love letter to the outdoors. --Samantha Zaboski, freelance editor and reviewer