This is a fun 'treasure hunt' mystery for young people. My Rating 4.5.
Leila is a third grader who, with her small dog Nugget, likes to visit neighbor, Mrs. Crenshaw, who used to be a teacher at Englewood Elementary where Leila attends. Leila likes mysteries and is excited when Mrs. Crenshaw tells her that the first principal of the school, Mr. McGee, created a treasure hunt for the students seventy years ago. The special event never took place and the treasure has never been found.
Leila and Nugget set out to look for clues. The search distracts her from even her best friend, and Leila begins to be disappointed after months with little progress. Finally, she gets a breakthrough and it isn’t long before her friend and other students are looking too. Can they solve the case and find the treasure?
The clues are wonderful riddles and the author takes Leila (and the reader) on a search up and down halls in the school, through a Hall of Presidents, and finding a “zoo” of critters with the help of some older teachers and the elderly janitor. There is history of the school, and, along the way, Leila learns a few lessons on friendship and working together. The story is sweet, and I enjoyed the treasure hunt. I do think that my grandchildren (4th and 1st graders) would enjoy this story. The images that are available at the Amazon link are very cute too so I would recommend the print version as well as the audio.
Audio Notes: Emily Eiden does a very nice job of narrating this children’s audiobook. The voice fits Leila and she provides distinct voices for the other characters too. I enjoyed the audio experience.
Source: 4/1/2023 NetGalley Title.