Ariana Treasure: The missing book by Jacqueline de Rose-Ahern. Illus. by Karen Erasmus

For those young junior primary children beginning to show more interest in reading early chapter books, this new series Ariana Treasure will provide an excellent stepping stone from classroom readers. With six novels in the series, there is an opportunity for children to become familiar with Ariana and The Treasure Chest – a thrift shop which her mother owns and manages.

In the first story The Missing Book, Alex who is a new boy in town, accidentally purchases a book from The Treasure Chest that Ariana was reading but more importantly it belonged to her beloved grandfather, the original owner of the thrift shop. Ariana and Alex did not quite hit it off when they first met and Alex refuses to part with the book. However, inside the book is a message ‘This book belongs to Mr Treasure at The Treasure Chest. If found, please return. Happy to swap this precious item with an item from The Treasure Chest, the best thrift shop in town!’. Much to Ariana’s delight the next day Alex returns the book and exchanges it for what he really wants.

The vocabulary used in this book is accessible and provides repetition. The text is large; the sentences are simple and well-spaced. This first book was a relatable read about new beginnings and problem solving. The idea of using a thrift shop as a setting will provide a unique experience for some readers or a familiar one for others who visit second hand shops.

Themes: Thrift shops, Books, Family, Friends, New Beginnings.

Kathryn Beilby