A Treasure's Trove: A Fairy Tale About Real Treasure For Parents And Children Of All Ages

Rating:
Summary: A Stunning Book For The Whole Family to Enjoy!
Review: I thought this book was a perfect'family" book because it teaches positive values like love and hope. The actual treasure hunt across the United States can entice the whole family to guess where the hidden treasures are secretly kept. The illustrator did a crafty job with this book. I thought it was a wonderful gift of Mr. Stadther to create a wonderful "family" book that will also help the earth!

Rating:
Summary: Disregard the Negative Review
Review: A certain reviewer must be too jaded and negative to realize that the greatest treasure is having a challenge to bring a parent and child together.

"As far as the quality of a children's book alone, it is not so great a story. Not one I would want a child of mine reading, especially after what happens to the dog character in the book. Absolutely horrible, and sure to make any child cry. Not something ideal for a children's book."

Obviously some great care and research took place before the purchase of this book. I get the impression that the author of this post purchased the book in hopes of finding said treasure, and posted negativley out of frustration in failure.

Any book that brings a family together and sparks the imagination of a child is a good thing, don't let the negative reviews influence your purchase (which is quite less than $20).



Rating:
Summary: A Treasure's Trove
Review: A Treasure Trove is a wonderful story for young and old, but it is even more than that. It is truly a work of art. The author/illustrator has produced a storybook that rivals those of Maurice Sendak and it is bound to become a classic.
I was fortunate enough to view all of the treasures, over a million dollars worth, at Jewelry Designs in Danbury CT and it was a most impressive collection. The workmanship of both the book and the jewels are of the highest quality and combine to create an unforgettable journey to hopefully be shared by the whole family.

Rating:
Summary: A Brilliant Idea, An Excellent Adventure!
Review: 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?

Rating:
Summary: If it seems too good to be true...
Review: Most of these "treasure hunt" books are a [...]. Just do a search on "Treasure In Search of the Golden Horse" probably the biggest of the [...] treasure hunts. Then there is the most recent David Blain Mysterious Stranger, which also was ridiculous.

I have read through A TREASURE'S TROVE, and this seems, in my opinion, another just like the other two books I mentioned. It teases you about how anyone that can read, can find the treasures, yet I can read, did read the book, and not so much a hint as to what state, let alone where in any state, one of the treasures might be hidden.

This appears to be another of the "treasure hunts" that requires sophisticated cyrptography decoding in which no one but the author could possibly figure out, because he knows what to do.

The author even writes:

"I have tried to make all the puzzles in this book solvable BUT if I have failed in my task, THEN THE TREASURES WILL BE MINE AGAIN."

As far as the quality of a children's book alone, it is not so great a story. Not one I would want a child of mine reading, especially after what happens to the dog character in the book. Absolutely horrible, and sure to make any child cry. Not something ideal for a children's book.

And $20 for a children's book?!

I tell you one thing... A book that is designed and targeted towards children, and teases them about finding real treasures, should at least have clues that a child could figure out. Not ones that intelligent adults can't even figure out.

Here is the real [...] of the book, from the OFFICIAL RULES:

"Sponsor reserves the right to REFUSE TO AWARD THE PRIZE to anyone who IN SPONSOR'S DISCRETION is in breach of these official rules or otherwise fails SATISFACTORILY to establish their eligibility to win."

In other words, just like with David Blain's "treasure hunt" they can refuse to give you the treasure just because they don't, in their personal discretion or opinion, feel you should get the treasure. (always read the fine print!)

There are some easy to find "clues" in almost every illustration in this book, however, those "clues" don't help at all, and make no mention of any locations. Even on the book's website, the author hands out another free clue. Also not any help.

What really angers me, is how each of these treasure books is promoted so much at the begining to get lots of book sales, but then at the end, everything is hush hush, no more big promotions as to who won or where the treasure was hidden. And if you do research and get an answer to where it was hidden, it ends up being a place so ridiculous that there is no way anyone would have been able to get that from the book. The solutions end up being so far fetched and ridiculous, that even Einstein would never have stumbled opon the answers.

I don't recomend this book.

Rating:
Summary: The Best Book Ever!!!!!
Review: Our family loves Stadther's outstanding creation. It is fun and exciting for the entire family and we appreciate the values that are woven into the fairytale. A Treasure Trove is truly a unique book that serves the good of the family as well as our society at large. We feel that reading this book is time well spent helping to connect each of us to one another by sharing quality time together. If you have toddlers and preschoolers in your home, we also recommend "The Pocket Parent"-- another helpful book with hundreds of quick tips that focuses on the good of the family--deftly written with values, humor and compassion.

Rating:
Summary: Counterreview
Review: Quote from the previous reviewer:
"Let me explain. Books that sell well easily make more
than a million dollars, which is the estimated value
of the treasure. Is this being done out of the
goodness of the author's heart or for profit? ......
However, I'm guessing this isn't purely a charitable
enterprise."

This reviewer is truly irresponsible of his words, it's also a
big shame that he is a so-called top reviewer.

Quotes from the author's interview with NY Times:
"...Using $2 million of his own money..."
"...Any profits over his $2 million investment will be
donated to environmental charities..."

It means he earns nothing other than happiness and
exposure, he sacrifice his times indeed.



Rating:
Summary: A fabulous fable for all ages
Review: This book is indeed a treasure. It is a fabulous fable suitable for all ages, and a marvelous stocking stuffer for the holidays. The bonus -- a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, after reading a deliciously inspirational tale, that tickles our imagination and boldly stretches our imagination to its outer limits. I love the concept, and admire the author for taking on such an awesome project!
Arlene Millman
author of BOOMERANG - A MIRACLE TRILOGY