Review - The Way to Treasure Island

The Way to Treasure Island
by Lizzy Stewart
Date: 2019
Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children's Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Matilda and her dad are very different. Matilda is fast and Dad is slow. Matilda is tidy and Dad is messy, and Matilda is quiet and Dad is very, very loud. They're off to find treasure, but Dad keeps getting distracted. Soon, they're lost and Matilda is getting crosser and crosser…

Will they ever find the way to treasure island?

This funny, adventure-packed story teaches children that even though people are different, they can still have fun together. By the author of the best-selling There's a Tiger in the Garden and Juniper Jupiter.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is actually a fairly cute story. But... I really hope there's a Mom somewhere, because Dad's a bit of a useless parent. A great friend, but I don't think I'd trust him to be the adult in most situations!

Matilda and Dad set off on a treasure hunt one day. They get into a boat, which Dad proceeds to row in the most inefficient way possible (you can see this on the cover), and go in search of the treasure. But Dad is kind of like a dog in a land of squirrels, and he can't stop getting distracted. Eventually, this leads to him getting lost. But they find each other again, and finally discover the treasure.

The treasure's not as literal as you'd expect, and I'm not sure how this is going to play with kids (adults will get it, but if you were expecting a hoard of gold or something, you're probably going to be disappointed). Still, the illustrations are engaging and fun to look at, especially on the island after Matilda and Dad go their separate ways.

So, while this isn't the best picture book I've ever read, it still entertained me. I just hope that there's another parent in the picture who can pick up some of Dad's slack; he comes across as not much older than Matilda, which isn't exactly reassuring.

Thank you to NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children's Books for providing a digital ARC.

Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.17 out of 5