Russell and the Lost Treasure

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY APR 3, 2006

The fleecy, fleet-footed insomniac introduced in Russell the Sheep returns in all his striped stocking-capped glory for another picture-book romp, this time on the trail of treasure. When Russell spies a tattered map that hints at treasure buried in his own Frogsbottom backyard, he springs into action. With his new invention, the Super-Duper Treasure Seeker, in hand, the hunt is on. Scotton's smattering of spot illustrations charts the initially exasperating results. "What's a sheep to do?" Russell cries in frustration. But the gadget doesn't let him down and the woolly hero recovers a locked treasure chest from deep underground. Now he wonders how to make the most of the only real bit of "treasure" in the trunk a flash camera he deems "older than my dad!" Readers will likely delight in the funny results as much as Russell does. Scotton's sweetly comic cast of ping-pong ball eyed sheep is still a gas to behold in these boisterous watercolors. Ever-changing perspectives make readers feel a part of the activity, and the visual antics of Russell's frog sidekick, Frankie, make for an additional source of silly amusement. The ample borders around many of the full-page illustrations make a smooth transition to photo frames, as Russell makes humorous use of his buried bounty. Ages 3-7.