A Treasure's Trove: A Fairy Tale about Real Treasure for Parents and Children of All Ages

This book is not for everyone, and some people hate it. For example, I was in an independent bookstore the other day near City Hall here in San Francisco, and a well-dressed little toddler was sitting there crying, on the floor, while his nanny was trying to interest him in reading this book. "But I don't wanna! I don't like Pook!" cried the little rich boy. So it just shows you that there's no accounting for tastes. Speaking for myself, I can't see how anyone, no matter how young, could despise such a cute story. Zac the woodcarver is your ideal folk hero. Not too handsome, in fact he looks a bit like Nate, the hero of HBO's SIX FEET UNDER, in other words, just adequate, but children will like the way he stands tall in the forest and cares about even the littlest of the forest creatures. Even the wood he carves receives his loving attention. In a way, he's like Gary Snyder but without the poetry. Instead, what he has is an inquiring mind and a sweet dedication to the welfare of his little "doth" Pook. Yes, "doth" is correct. Don't try looking it up in your Funk and Wagnalls, for you won't find it, but I predict that one day Pook will be just as famous an animal in children's literature as the immortal Wilbur the Pig, or Aslan, or Freddy the Pig, or Puss in Boots. "Uff, uff," says the little "doth." Yes, he's part dog and the rest--well, that's for your inner child to find out. If Disney had any business sense they would secure the film right to Michael Stadther's haunting fable, and film it on the big screen with live action and combined CGI effects. They could hire just about any big star, for all of them would want to make a family oriented film. Look at Johnny Depp--he used to do edgy work, then came a family and now he's all Pirates of the Caribbean and Willy Wonka. When Zac and Pook get more involved in the mysteries of the Great Forest you will be on fire with suspense. Yes, there's an ecological twist to this tale, and so I was not surprised to read in our local paper, the Chronicle, that the very first treasure was discovered in a national park! Open to everyone, our national parks are indeed America's greatest treasure. And this book ranks a close second.

The previous reviewer has it all wrong. The misspellings are part of the clues. They alert readers to the use of code and anarams. Sorry you missed that, buddy...you'll never find the treasure!!! As for the drawings, they contain the code too...distortions are intentional and even the "blockishness" is part of the puzzle (didn't you read about the 5x5 box?). I don't understand people who rush to criticise something that is supposed to be FUN!!!

I know all the "publishing professionals" out there who give this book negative feedback say that the plot line is shallow, the characters lack depth, and the illustrations are high school like. But I got some news for everybody, the people who buy this book ARE NOT publishers and can appreciate and enjoy the book for what it is worth. It is a story parents and children can enjoy TOGETHER. It is a story that is bringing people across the country together. For example two huge online forums(12gems and Tweleve) have been created for the sole purpose of finding the treasures. For all of those people that say the clues are too hard for a child to find. Well I have a hunch that if the clues were made so easy that a child could solve them, it would take an adult maybe a few days to solve the clues. What kind of treasure hunt lasts a few days? And yes there are easy clues that lead to no exact locations(maybe if you put all those easy clues together you might understand it more though......). But those clues are there to keep the kids interested in the treasure hunt, but other clues are hard enough that adults have trouble with them. That is the beauty of this book. An adult and child can work on the clues together and each see things that the other may not. Either way people are going to complain, "oh the clues are too hard" well if the treasure was found in a matter of days those people would be saying "the clues were too easy." The purpose of this book was not shock and impress the literary world. It was not written to win awards. It was not written to achieve fame(although it may have happened). It was not written for the literary world. It was written for families and everyday people who can see past the grammatical flaws(did you ever think the flaws may just be clues???), see past the "high school" illustrations, and see what is really important in life. Spending quality time with your family and friends. It is something that can not happen enough in anyone's lifetime. So thank you Michael Stadther for providing everybody a story and treasure hunt that will impact families nation wide and give a child and parent a memory that will never be forgotten.

I am a grandmother who purchesed 2 of these for grandsons. When I read it I got so into the fantasy that I completely forgot to look for the clues!

Michael Stadther has hit gold with not only an amazing educational children's book with its heart in the right place, but set off a national treasure hunt not seen nor heard of since the fictional quest for the gold chocolate bars in 'Willy Wonka and Chocolate Factory'. This book has already spawned national interest, catalyzing an adventurous real quest for the 12GEMS (online and in the real world!)- over $1 Million dollars in hidden jewels created in the image of his book's missing characters. Just what we all needed, a pleasant exciting hope filled distraction from the problems plaguing our world today. Thanks Michael! Hmmm.. Wonder where they are? Did you hide one of them in Pacific NorthWest?