What a Treasure!

I Like to Read

by Jane Hillenbrand

Mole has a new shovel and he is digging for buried treasure. But what he finds are treasures for everyone else! He finds a stick and gives it to Bird for his nest. He finds a shell and gives it to Snail for a home. An acorn he gives to Squirrel for his dinner. Finally, he finds a treasure for himself, a friend.

Genres: Picture Books, Friendship, Storytime, Animals, Childrens, Nature

24 pages, Paperback

First published January 23, 2006

Reviews

[MistyinCLE · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. We made this into a visual story using a mole puppet, shovel, shredded brown paper (dirt). We had the mole pretend to dig and threw the shredded brown paper in the air for effect. The children couldn't see that it was us so they thought the mole was doing it. Very fun. The mole dug and found treasures each time for a new animal friend. At the end the mole finds a rabbit. This was the best treasure of all because the rabbit becomes his new friend.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happens when you go digging for treasure?

Lucky you if you manage to find some treasures. But what if those treasures only really count as treasures for people other than you?

This delightful picture book can inspire readers with what Mole learns about generosity... and treasure... and friendship.

FIVE STARS of enthusiasm for this adorable, deeply spiritual, book.

[Angela De Groot · Rating 3 out of 5]

About kindness and friendship.

[Kathi Adams]

Very cute.

[Mrs Mommy Booknerd http://mrsmommybooknerd.blogspot.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this board book. It was so fun to see mole helping out other animals during his quest to find treasures. This book focuses on the fact that ones man's trash is another man's treasure. In the end, mole found the best treasure of all, a new friend!!! This book has so much potential for fun art projects in the classroom. I cannot wait to use it. This book is certain to keep the kids attention and capture the creativity that is within them.

[Casandria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mole finds different things that are truly treasures to someone else. This would work for a pirate story time if you focused on the treasure.
Digging
Pirates

[zapkode · Rating 5 out of 5]

{My Thoughts} – A small mole gets a shovel as a gift. He decides to use the shovel to dig for treasure. Soon Mole finds another mole while he is digging holes. The new mole and him soon become friends. The new friend becomes his best found treasure.

I love this book. The illustrations go hand and hand nicely with the book. The story is nicely written. I love how he is digging and digging and finally after finding many different things he finds a new friend. It’s always enlightening to read stories about friendships. Friendships are an every day occurrence in children’s lives and children can use all the help they can get in understanding the basics of how to make a new friend.

I think this book is ideal for children just starting Daycare, Pre-School and or Kindergarten. It helps to show children it isn’t as hard as they think it may be to make a new friend and when a child is starting at a new school or in a new grade that helps to ease some of the nervous tension that they may be experiencing.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This board book version of an earlier publication features a sweet story of friendship as a treasure. Mole is excited to try out his new shovel and immediately begins digging for treasure. While his parents encourage him, his brother is nowhere near as supportive. Still, he digs on. As he goes deeper into the earth, he finds objects that the other animals find useful and generously shares what he's found with them. But when he finds another mole, the two become fast friends and quickly head underground to engage in their favorite shared pursuit-digging. Although the story itself is short and fun, it also contains a great message for young readers. I also liked the colorful illustrations and Mole's family. This book makes a quick read aloud for youngsters who might change their minds about moles after hearing it. After all, even moles need a buddy or two.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mole gets a new shovel and when he digs, finds treasure for all his friends: a twig for bird, an acorn for squirrel, and finally another hole . . . with another mole, and so finds another friend. I love the little twist on the meaning of treasure. Children are often better at appreciating this type of treasure than adults, and it's a great book for understanding another's point of view. For storytimes on treasure, digging (mud), friendship, etc.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute story. Mole is digging for treasure and all he seems able to find are treasures that all the other animals around him would like. That is, he finds gifts for other animals until he finds the best possible treasure of all, another mole to be his friend. It was a cute story. In later books, Mole is always with his friend, Bear. In this one, there is no Bear character. Mole ends up with a second mole as a friend. Still, it's nicely done.

[Lara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really a huge fan of this one; partly I wasn't crazy about the illustrations, but I also thought the story could have worked a little better. Something about it felt...incomplete, or maybe just too simplistic. It's cute, I suppose, but I think there are much better ones out there about the value of friends.

[Cindy Dobrez · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not a fan of moles digging in my yard, but I liked this board book with a mole whose digging unearths treasures for his friends, and finally a treasure for himself...a mole friend to share the fun of digging. Bright illustrations with heavy black outlines will help the target audience enjoy the pictures.

[Becky H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suzie read this! This book reminds me of the saying "No man knows my treasure" Mole is digging for treasure each treasure he finds he gives away until the end when he finds the best treasure ever...a friend. Cute book for boys and girls.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A twig, shell, or acorn might not seem like a treasure to you, but they are to a bird, snail and squirrel. Mole goes for a treasure dig and finds his own treasure, which is a new friend. This is a cute read with very colorful illustrations.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

The colorful illustrations and short sentences make this a delightful picture book for young children. It is a wonderful book to use to engage a child by asking questions about treasures, friends, animals, and digging.

[Cassie]

Mole is digging. He is looking for treasure. Mole's brother does not think there is any treasure to find. But Mole is sure that he will turn up something. Sure enough, treasures of many kinds fill this endearing picture book for curious young readers.

[Teresa Bateman · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this delightful board book Mole is digging for treasure. Each item he finds is useful to someone else. Then he happens on the best treasure of all--a friend. This simple, but heart-warming story has delightful illustrations, and will be read again and again to the target audience.

[Marcie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the illustrations and how the treasure's were all about friendship.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good for storytimes about treasures and friendship.

[Edna · Rating 4 out of 5]

As Mole digs, he keeps finding small treasure that he shares with his neighbors until he finds a very special live treasure or, at least, it finds him.

[Emily Storytime · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cuuuuute.

09/22/22 - Not a standout at storytime. Still, worked well enough, and I mostly used it as an introduction to today's sensory bin: sand and magnetic wands and "treasures."

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hillenbrand, Jane. What a Treasure! BOARD BOOK. Holiday House, 2006. $7.99.

Mole gets a new shovel and decides to dig for treasure. With each thing that he finds, he ends up giving it away to someone else who could really use it. He finds an awesome twig perfect for Bird’s nest, a delectable acorn for Squirrel’s dinner, and a beautiful shell for Snail’s new home. Mole keeps digging and finds more “treasure” when another mole pops up from below. This is one treasure he wants to keep for himself.

This has a really cute ending and I liked how Mole gives away most of the things that he finds so that others who really need them can benefit. I was a little annoyed by an unnecessary snarky comment from the older mole brother, but the book was decent enough besides that.

PRE-K - OPTIONAL. Reviewed by Shay, School Librarian
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