Treasure Hunt

by Allan Ahlberg, Gillian Tyler (illustrator)

Tilly loves treasure-hunting - and so does her family. Tilly's mum hides Tilly's breakfast banana in the kitchen. Tilly's dad hides Tilly's toy rabbit in the garage. On Tilly's birthday, Tilly's grandma hides chocolate money all over the house...And Tilly hunts for it. "My treasure!" she cries when she finds it. But at bedtime, it's Tilly's mum and dad who do the hunting! Allan Ahlberg's affectionate appreciation of family love and ritual finds the perfect match in Gillian Tyler's warm and delightfully detailed illustrations.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Family

24 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Allan Ahlberg was one of the UK's most acclaimed and successful authors of children's books - including the best-selling Jolly Postman series. Born in Croydon in 1938, he was educated at Sunderland Technical College. Although he dreamed of becoming a writer since the age of twelve, his route to that goal was somewhat circuitous. Other jobs along the way included postman (not an especially jolly one, he recalls), gravedigger, plumber, and teacher.

Ahlberg wrote his first book when he was thirty-seven, after a decade of teaching - a profession that he maintains is "much harder" than being a writer. He says that if he hadn't become a writer, he would have loved to be a soccer player. He was married for many years to fellow children's author Janet Ahlberg, with whom he often worked. Their daughter, Jessica Ahlberg, is also a children's author.

Reviews

[Aneesa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everly can relate to this book. She also thinks she owns a cat.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy read picture book where Tilly loves to hunt for things that people hide. In the end she ends up hiding herself. Not only does she ‘find’ her treasures, but she also calls them ‘treasures’ which the reader finds out is what her parents also call her. Illustrations drawn and coloured by Gillian Tyler in light, pastel and cheerful colours.

[Catie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little girl's family hide toys and gifts for her to find. And then in true toddler fashion, she turns the tables and hides from them. Not sure if I want to read this with my niece yet, because she's already hiding things we do not want hidden, and I don't wish to encourage her to hide from us...

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tilly is a little girl who loves hunting for things. Every hunt is a treasure hunt. It's a cute book and I think the target audience would like it.

[Sylvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sweet pick a book/hiding story book! Recommended for 1-4 yr. olds.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is SO SWEET. Because I have a child who loves to hide and loves finding things I absolutely adore this book. Now when he hides and I find him I say, “my treasure!”

[Marit]

This book was really great, and I loved the cute stories about the girl who tryed to find all kinds of things around in her house and everywhere. I used this book for an activity with two-years old children, but I think this book had a little bit too small pictures for it to be interesting for the children. So after that experience, I would recommend this book for older children. The book was great, but again, a little bit to small pictures.

[Shannon Stinnette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story describes the life in a day of a toddler named Tilly. Her parents hide various ordinary objects from her which she "seeks" and deems as her "treasure". This banter back and forth between Tilly and her parents with "hide and seek" is cute and the ending is sweet as well. Tilly's parents find her at the end of the story and deem her their treasure.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tilly does love treasure-hunting - and so does her family. I loved finding her cute blue bunny rabbit throughout the pages, but otherwise I found the illustations a little, well, 'messy' to see easily. Better for a 3-4 year old than 2.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun one for toddlers who are in the hide-and- seek stage. A little girl's parents hide her favorite things for her to find, her treasures. Dainty pastel drawings with lots of detail lead us through her wanderings.

[Leyla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the illustrations! My daughter loved the detail of each illustration once she realized it things were hidden. We had to go back and reread until she too had found each treasure. Thanks a ton goodreads!!

[Kaethe · Rating 1 out of 5]

the pictures are too small

It's not the usual criticism, I know, but if you're reading it and holding it for a young one to share, you don't want to juggle a magnifying glass as well. Go bigger!

[Heila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Real cute. I love the ordinary, daily things in the illustrations and the story. I also love that it's modern. Both the mom and dad wear cargo shorts on a picnic. (: Just gentle, loving family life, complete with messes. Nice story.

[Shelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a wonderful idea for a fun and simple way to play with your children - read it and add it's example with your day.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking for Baby Catalog, and got this instead. Still a fun read.

[571 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Preschool SLJ
Parent/ child story of treasure hunts the parents create for the toddler. Good illustrations, but not for library storytimes.

[Arminzerella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute. Tillie likes to find things, so her parents play along and hide "treasures" for her to discover. Adorable little girl.

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think Henry liked the thought of the treasure hunt but the illustrations were lacking in imagination.

[June · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't real popular and I think the appeal is more for the parent. Pictures are really too small for groups.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice choice for toddler or baby storytimes

[Sarah Stumphf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute little story about little Tilly and how she loves to treasure hunt. Full of great ideas for entertaining a toddler.

[Brielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was cute, but there was not a lot of context in the book.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is cute, I guess, although it is a little hard to see the illustrations. But it is not especially good, clever, or original.

[Ubalstecha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute little story with very sweet illustrations about a family's little hide and seek rituals.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable, sweet story, with a few things for readers to search for in the illustrations.

[Melissa McAlvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A precious book following a little girl who loves to hunt for things her family hide for her. cute, cozy ending too.