Maggie's Treasure, written by Jon-Erik Lappano and illustrated by Kellen Hatanaka. Groundwood, 2020. $19.95 ages 5 and up

 

"Maggie stomped to her bedroom where she 
sat and stewed like an emperor surrounded 

by great piles of riches. 

But looking around, even Maggie could see
that something had to be done. 

     What do people do with treasure, she wondered."

Four years ago, this team created Tokyo Digs a Garden. It was a book I read a number of times, and it won the Governor General's Award for illustrated books for young people. Well deserved ... so I was very interested to see that they have once again collaborated on a new picture book. 

The focus for this story is a young girl who loves collecting treasure. Well, she calls it treasure; others would call it junk. Her travels within her neighborhood find her making new and exciting discoveries at every turn. She loves sparkle, and sees something sparkly wherever she looks. It's only a small collection in the beginning. Anyone who finds joy in treasure hunting will know exactly where Maggie's story is headed. First a box, then a drawer, then a chest. Will nothing stop her? 

Her neighbors and city workers are impressed with her willingness to rid the streets of trash. Her parents are not so enamoured of what happens in their home. Maggie realizes that there is a problem, but she is not sure what should be done with her treasure. Then, a bird provides inspiration. 

"For days, a symphony of sounds
rang out from Maggie's garden. 
The neighborhood buzzed with 

curiosity. Ms. Pimms peered between 

her rosebushes but couldn't get a 

decent look." 

With her work completed, Maggie is able to offer a new use for the many treasures she has collected. An invitation to her neighbors results in great demand for her re-purposed cache of special objects, all gathered together by a young girl with a love for found things. 

The digital artwork is filled with brilliant color and a sense of wonder for Maggie's imagination. Her collection is as different as the community she lives in, and its evolution from junk to art is brilliant.