cover image The Great Treasure Hunt

The Great Treasure Hunt

David Anson Russo. Simon & Schuster, $12 (1pp) ISBN 978-0-671-73349-0

Clearly derivative of Martin Handford's Waldo titles, this large-format, search-and-find book contains 12 elaborately detailed spreads depicting various street scenes in the bustling town of Huddlesford. With each turn of the page readers are asked to find an increasing number of objects, to a total of 78 in the final illustration--a carnival scene in which are hidden (among other things) three babies, five musical instruments, seven flags, nine yellow cats and 12 golden goblets. Some treasure seekers may have trouble keeping track of their findings; remembering exactly how many of the 12 goblets one has spotted, for instance, is no easy task. This--and the considerable challenge of locating some of the tinier objects--may prove frustrating to youngsters. Although as cluttered and colorful as the drawings featuring the elusive Waldo, Russo's art lacks the complexity and inherent humor of Handford's. Ages 5-up. (Oct.)