Switch on your metal detector, grab your compass and follow the clues. It’s time for you to do some treasure hunting of your own! Because X marks the spot … or does it?

Perfect for fans of “Atlas Obscura Explorer’s Guide for the World’s Most Adventurous Kid,” this nonfiction adventure book will have 6- to 9-year-olds wanting to travel the world. Following a trail of intriguing clues, take an epic journey across the globe and discover heart-stopping true stories of treasure lost, stolen and found.

Find out which artist’s work has been stolen more than 80 times and where you can dig up the tooth of a T. rex as you become the treasure hunter. Kids will love this engaging and interactive book that’s chock-full of information and facts. They are the treasure hunter, and they get to be a map reader, code cracker and puzzle solver, searching for lost treasure and figuring out the mystery.

If you’ve ever dreamed of exploring hidden caves, diving into the deep sea or discovering ancient cities buried under the sand, The Treasure Hunt is your map to adventure. In this captivating book, author Leisa Stewart-Sharpe takes readers on a global journey to uncover real-life tales of lost treasures — some still waiting to be found!

From pirate gold to sunken ships and royal jewels, each chapter reads like an exciting expedition. But what makes this book truly shine is how it sparks curiosity about the world. Readers travel across continents and through time, visiting Egypt, the Caribbean, the Arctic and more, learning fascinating facts along the way. Gordy Wright’s vibrant illustrations bring each treasure story to life, making you feel like you’re right there with the explorers.

This isn’t just a book about gold and gems — it’s about the thrill of discovery and the wonders of history and geography. It invites kids to ask questions, look at maps and imagine the possibilities that come with exploring the unknown.

Perfect for curious minds aged 7 and up, The Treasure Hunt will inspire a love for travel, storytelling and adventure. So pack your imagination, grab your compass and get ready — the world is full of treasures waiting to be uncovered!

"The Treasure Hunt" by Lisa Stewart Sharpe is an immersive adventure that puts YOU in the shoes of a treasure hunter! With real-life stories of lost, stolen, and found treasures, this book takes you on a thrilling journey around the world. Deciphering codes and uncovering clues, you'll feel like you're part of the hunt.

I thoroughly enjoyed this interactive book, and its unique format makes it perfect for readers of all ages. The code-cracking activities are engaging and fun, and the stories are captivating. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good scavenger hunt or is looking for a exciting literacy topic for school.

Rating: 4⭐. Despite being late to review, I couldn't help but be swept away by the adventure. This book is a treasure trove of fun and learning!

An exciting and adventurous way to encourage children to explore and learn about their fascinating world. We are super thankful to the publisher for allowing us to enjoy the ebook copy. We can't wait to get the book.
This book is packed with adventure as we explore the world, follow clues and even solve mysteries. We learned so much about everything from the mysteries of Egypt to the fascinating Titanic. Your family will love this book. I love the details and that it is still easy to follow and understand. It is the perfect addition to our home school curriculum. It's great for any classroom and a great gift for the little explorer in your life.
Enjoy this adventure with your family
A Million Stars

Stolen and lost treasures wait to be discovered in an interactive, illustrated adventure based on facts. A cryptic message in a bottle—signed Captain Kidd-- propels a brown-skinned boy and girl, and an unnamed pale girl-- referred to as you--to travel the world in pursuit of a pirate-costumed plunderer. In each of the fourteen locations, on every continent except Australia, the friends--and reader-- must interpret maps, crack codes and unravel riddles. Colorful gouache, acrylic and ink illustrations highlight the action. Sidebars and cartoon panels provide historic context and spotlight dozens of other prizes--both lost and recovered. The lively illustrations, the fun of the hunt, the excitement of deciphering, and the exposure to dozens of intriguing snippets of history offer plenty of pleasure. A thin plot, some scattershot history, and the peculiar convention of using you to refer to a specific, pictured character detract. Backmatter includes descriptions of four types of child-friendly treasure hunts but no sources or additional reading. Thanks to NetGalley and Charlesbridge for an advance reader's copy in return for an unbiased review.

Book Review: The Treasure Hunt: True Stories of Treasures Lost, Stolen, and Found by Leisa Stewart-Sharpe

Rating: 5 Stars

I just had the pleasure of reviewing The Treasure Hunt by Leisa Stewart-Sharpe, and honestly, this book is like stepping into a real-life adventure where you get to be the treasure hunter. The stories are packed with mystery and excitement—from a message in a bottle that might just be from the ghost of Captain William Kidd (yes, the notorious pirate himself!) to an international chase after priceless artifacts, paintings, and gold. You follow clues left behind by this crafty thief who’s on a mission to nab some of history’s most famous treasures. The best part? You actually get to crack codes and solve puzzles along the way to turn each page and keep the adventure going. It’s like a treasure hunt within a treasure hunt!

Now, let me gush a bit about the book’s look and feel because it’s seriously stunning. The cover alone drew me in, and once you open it, you’re hooked right away. The illustrations are vibrant without being too much—there’s this perfect blend of bold colors and beautifully detailed backgrounds that bring each story to life. It's all so clean and inviting that you don’t get overwhelmed but instead feel totally immersed in each scene. Every page is basically a mini work of art, making the whole reading experience not just fun but visually thrilling too.

All in all, The Treasure Hunt is a wonderfully imaginative and interactive book that would be a fantastic addition to any home or school library. If you’re into history, mystery, or just love a good puzzle, this one’s definitely worth diving into!

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

I love a good treasure hunt story, history and travel. Put it all in an interactive children’s book, I am so reading it, even as an adult. Even my 12 year old sat next to me for a bit and looked for treasure. Such a fun book!

Thank you NetGalley & Charlesbridge #TheTreasureHunt #NetGalley

The Treasure Hunt by Leisa Stewart-Sharpe takes children (and adults) on a mystery trip around the world, finding out about lost treasures throughout history. There is an interactive element that my child and I skipped over, but we enjoyed the book none the less and learned a lot. I really enjoyed the illustrations. I received an eARC from Charlesbridge through NetGalley, All opinions are 100% my own.

From the second you open this book, you’re fully immersed. Swept away by the vibes, the visuals, and the sheer charm of the storytelling.

I had such a great time reading this on my own, but I’m even more excited to dive back in with my nephew.

The illustrations? Chef’s kiss. They strike that perfect balance: bold pops of colour, amazing backgrounds, and a clean style that brings the world to life without overwhelming the senses. Every page is a visual treat.

Leisa’s writing is warm, witty, and wonderfully accessible. It feels personal, guiding you through a magical treasure hunt layered through messages in bottles, newspaper clippings, bits of history, even security cam “footage.” It keeps things fresh and engaging, and makes you want to flip ahead and travel the world searching for those treasures.

A quick note: I read the digital ARC via NetGalley, and while the experience was smoother on the app than in-browser, I think this is better experienced as a physical copy. But I’d be curious to see how accessible the physical copy is for readers with visual or reading challenges, especially if it comes in a smaller format.

All in all, it’s a gorgeous, imaginative, interactive read that I’ll definitely be revisiting, this time with my favourite kid sidekick and a magnifying glass in hand.

Thank you Netgalley and Charlesbridge for the ARC.

It was an absolute pleasure to have the opportunity to review this book. The Treasure Hunt is an incredibly interactive and engaging adventure while educating kids about world treasures. I love how the story incorporates a wide variety of treasure histories from around the globe.

The book starts with the reader at the beach around the campfire with your friends when a message in a bottle washes up to shore. Instantly, you’re pulled into this adventure where you are solving puzzles while trying to catch the ghost of Captain Kidd (and learning throughout!). The puzzles throughout the book are cleverly designed and relate perfectly to the narrative, keeping kids entertained and challenged. I even found myself getting invested in catching the ghost of Captain Kidd lol

Each page is beautifully designed, with thoughtful illustrations that enhance both the story and the overall experience. My only disappointment about this book was that the last map page felt underwhelming. I am such a fan of illustrated maps so in a book filled with incredible attention to detail in both narrative and illustrations, I was surprised to see the book end on that note.

Besides that though, this book is a fantastic choice for any kids who love puzzles and adventure, providing hours of fun and exploration. It has quickly become one of my favorite children’s nonfiction reads this year.

Thanks to the publisher for an eARC of the book.

The Treasure Hunt: True Stories of Treasures Lost, Stolen, and Found by Leisa Stewart-Sharpe (author) and Gordy Wright (illustrated) is a globetrotting nonfiction adventure perfect for curious readers ages 6–9—though I had a blast reading it as an adult! Fans of Atlas Obscura Explorer’s Guide will love exploring real-life mysteries across countries like Scotland, Egypt, Indonesia, Madagascar, Norway, India,and Colombia while uncovering tales of lost cities, pirate gold, lost cities, shipwrecks, dinosaur fossils, and even missing masterpieces. The book also teaches kids about wide ranging topics like board games, map reading, riddles, ciphers, hieroglyphics, Morse code, and geocaching—making it as interactive as it is informative.

Thank you to NetGalley, Charlesbridge, and Leisa Stewart-Sharpe for this free, advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Treasure Hunt: True Stories of Treasures Lost, Stolen, and Found will be published June 10, 2025.

My nine-year old really enjoyed reading this book. The book easily grabbed and held her attention. She really enjoyed solving the puzzles in the book and learning real history such as the history behind the theft of the Mona Lisa. She pointed out that it was nice to see a wide variety of children represented in the book.

There were a few errors in the book where it stated to turn to a certain page but the page number was wrong. We were able to easily figure it out, and it appears the numbers were only 2 pages off.

This title engages the young reader by talking directly to them. I think that kids will very much enjoy interactive story. The illustrations are lively and I like the way that the text invites the reader to think about the hidden treasures. The reader and the kids in the book will travel while on the trail, going to Italy, France, and Scotland for example. Clues and puzzles are provided for them.

I highly recommend this entertaining book. It is clever, fun and interactive. This would make a great gift for a child.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Charlesbridge for this title. All opinions are my own.

The Treasure Hunt follows three kids on a journey around the world in pursuit of a pirate ghost and a variety of real historical treasures. The book weaves together fiction and nonfiction, including real shipwrecks, art thefts, dinosaur finds, and pirate stories. Each mini section (2-3 pages) ends with a code for readers to decipher before moving on to the next stop on the treasure hunt.
This was a fun, unique, and highly accessible book for kids! The nonfiction text was engaging - many readers are going to be inspired to go down research trails to learn more about the treasures introduced throughout the treasure hunt. The codes were user friendly - a section at the back of the book provides hints and guidance (it also helpfully reproduces the code on the same page as the hint so that readers don't have to flip back and forth). Readers who want to skip the code breaking and keep reading can simply go to the next page for the answer and the next part of the story.
This will be a great addition for elementary libraries!

This book is exciting, informative, and beautifully presented. Both the writing and the illustrations are stunning.
The book can be simplified for pupils with learning challenges, and can be developed according to individual needs.
I will certainly use it in my classroom.

This is an incredibly fun book with historical facts and problem solving throughout.
Readers are tasked with figuring out clues left by the mysterious pirate Captain Kidd.
This is a wonderful book to recommend to readers who enjoy adventure, pirates, and mystery.

Super fun read, with great visuals. I am usually anit scattered text, as a parent to dyslexic kids this can be hard to read and distracting, but it's done in a way that visual it flows well. I would say that this is maybe a little long for the age it's intended for with it's visuals, but it'll be a great fit for advanced readers or a parent/kid buddy read.

My 8-year-old LOVED going through The Treasure Hunt book. I enjoyed it as well, so don't be put off by the fact it's geared towards children! The illustrations are vibrant and eye-catching, and you'll find yourself on a journey throughout history all around the world, having fun solving mysteries along the way.

Wow. Reading this was such a fun experience!! I really enjoyed this one. I also loved the illustrations! Very vibrant and kid-friendly. Will definitely recommend!

A compendium of stories and mysteries that will be exciting for any child who enjoys solving a puzzle or who wants to play pirate. This could be appreciated like a coffee table book - an excerpt or two at a time - used as a supplement to other non-fiction materials, or used as a fun entree in the world of treasure and mysteries.

Thank you for the ARC. I will purchase for my library.

Join in the fun to search for stolen art, lost tombs, sunken treasure, Viking and Roman hoards, replica of an army underground and more. Learn how to decipher some codes, see how hard an archaeologist works, enjoy the illustrations and comics. Great fun!
The illustrations by Gordy Wright are delightful, brilliantly colorful, and FUN!
Well suited for reading WITH someone any age including ESL, and great for gifting to everyone, but especially to a school or your local public library!
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected eGalley on Adobe Digital Editions from
Charlesbridge via NetGalley. Avail Jun 10, 2025
#TheTreasureHunt by @Leisa Stewart-Sharpe and @gordyjwright @charlesbridgepublishing
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