"Winslow led the way up the trail
and along the creek. Rosie followed
closely behind.
"That's it!" said Winslow, pointing to
a giant gemstone. The jewel certainly
was extraordinary, but it was ...
TOO HEAVY!"
Together, Rosie and Winslow are a remarkably intrepid team. They love collecting items from the natural world; each girl brings a special skill to their teamwork. Winslow's expertise comes from her keen sight and daring. She will go anywhere she needs to go to find the treasures the two seek. Rosie is a field journal specialist. She catalogs and carefully sketches each of their finds. Their extensive collection is nearly complete.
Their hearts are set on one more thing ... something extraordinary! That wish is what it takes to get them outfitted with the gear they will need in their final search. They will not fail. Young readers will be aghast at what they are willing to leave behind as they investigate ... a huge gem, a dinosaur fossil, a rainbow, a rare woodpecker, a gold nugget. None is exactly what they have in mind.
When the trail ends with a mountain climb and the discovery of the entrance to a dark cave, they are sure they have found the perfect spot. They have not; instead, they find a huge, angry, frightening surprise that causes them to run for their lives.
"Winslow and Rosie ran as fast as
they could down the mountain,
along the lake, through the spruce
grove, past the overlook, up the
valley, across the creek and into
their tree house."
Once back home, they are dismayed by their failure. Should they be?
Cut-paper collage images fill the double page spreads with details that are not always part of the book's text. That works to make it an even more satisfying read for all. The story offers up a pair of girls whose bravery, imagination, adventurous spirit, and dogged determination show readers what nature has to offer.
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