A good book has to trigger a spark of recognition in the reader. The reader must feel that he or she has some emotional investment in the characters so that their lives, despite any obvious differences, actually parallel each other. This is especially important in children’s literature because children do not have the breadth of experience granted to grownups.

The Treasure of Health and Happiness presents a little girl named Hannah. Author Carol Goodrow’s hero is like a depressingly large number of children. She lacks confidence and vitality, having been on the receiving end of too many barbs about her lack of swimming ability.

Further, she can’t ride a bike, and though she harbors a secret wish to enter Chipmunk Chase Fun Run, she doesn’t enjoy running. This vague discontent manifests itself in sloth and junk food. Hannah needs help, and help arrives in a most intriguing and unexpected form – a dream and a dog.

Goodrow uses a framing technique to portray Hannah’s quest, and indeed it is a quest: a quest for fitness, confidence, and self discovery. Her energetic and occasionally impish dog Toby is caught chewing a book called Footprints to the Treasure of Health and Happiness, out of which falls a mystical footprint map that contains messages of health and fitness. Hannah falls asleep that night with the book on her mind and has a most fascinating dream.

The dream constitutes the bulk of the story, and Goodrow manages an intertwined array of motifs that lead Hannah through her quest. Colors abound (Goodrow presents a startling and appealing pallet of colors throughout), seasons change, characters enter and leave, things appear and disappear, and a sense of magical realism pervades the dream. The constants are Hannah and Toby, who hand in paw forge through a series of landscapes.The other constant is treasure, often portrayed as jewels of all colors and values, but actually a shorthand for the real treasures won by Hannah. As each ordeal or task is mastered, Hannah grows in confidence and happiness. The footprints on her magic map are filled in as Hannah learns that health and happiness are available to everyone, even a little girl who had given up on herself. As expected, Hannah returns from the dream transformed. Literally and figuratively, she wakes up.

Children will certainly identify with Hannah and her poor habits. Younger children will want to take bite sized segments of the book. Its chapters, though manageably small, are dense with action and movement. Those children with an especially logical cast of mind may ask “Why did that happen?” or “Where did that come from?” but most will identify with the beauty and mystery of dreams. And of course, that’s what Goodrow really gives them through her story – a chance to dream.

Rating: 5 / 5

I like it, and its thread. It is instructional without being in your face, obvious yet not onbtrusive to the facts that we should be giving to the next generation. A no-brainer that any parent should wish for this book to be on their child’s bookshelf.
Rating: 4 / 5

This is a wonderful book. It is a positive story that reinforces the joy of exercise and eating healthy. A great chapter book for boys and girls.
Rating: 5 / 5

The Treasure of Health and Happiness could not be a more apt title for a children’s book. The reader’s acquaintance with Hannah is full of capitaving illustrations; colorful vocabulary interwoven throughout the story literally making the words jump off the pages; a dash of suspense, and a wealth of knowledge subtlety cushioned in gems that Hannah discovers herself on her journey.

The irony is that the book is a gem in itself. This story is not just for children. I think as adults we can all identify with Hannah and her issues of self-esteem–issues so often kept to ourselves until they build up into insurmountable nightmares.

We can all take a lesson from Hannah, who on her own and with the help of her playful pup, Toby, discovers that winning is not the ultimate goal. It is not always the finish but the journey that inspires us to challenge ourselves to try something new.

In this book, Carol Goodrow illustrates that everyone can be a winner. “It doesn’t matter how fast you go.” (p. 80) What a perfect story for families to read together, what a fitting key to open up dialogue; what a magnificent way for adults to experience joy and growth along with their children!

Fast paced, inspiring, timeless and universal…I cannot wait for a sequel to see where Hannah’s growth takes her.
Rating: 5 / 5

Treasure follows the journey of a young, inactive girl, Hannah, as she struggles to discover her confidence and her “inner athlete” (my term, not hers). I immediately related to Hannah – she felt strongest and most loveable when she was around her best friend. When her best friend moved, Hannah’s sense of security vanished and she had to work extra hard to re-establish her sense of self. As an Air Force brat I was often on the moving end of friendships, but could identify with Hannah’s predicament. With today’s mobile society, I’m sure many youngsters will find a kinship with this kind-hearted and timid girl.

Hannah also felt that her school’s annual Chipmunk Chase fun run was out of her reach, something she surely couldn’t even attempt, let alone complete. Running scared me throughout my youth, too. I’m sure I would have taken Hannah’s initial position and avoided the event. I’m thrilled that she finds the strength and excitement to give it a shot (involving her parents in the training, no less!) – and secretly wish that I had been as strong and tenacious as young Hannah (it took me 23 years to build up the courage to run!)!

If readers can relate with her in the beginning, then I’m sure they’ll cheer as I did as Hannah faces her fears and discovers the excitement in trying new things: she gets a dog and faces the trials and pleasures of training him, finds satisfaction in tending a garden and eating its fruits, puts aside her fears and rides a two-wheel bicycle, and (this is my favorite because it is SO like my own running story) ultimately unlocks discovers the joy of running!

As an educator, I found my brain making dozens of connections for how teachers can use Treasure in their classrooms. Not only is it a great motivational book to share some simple and fun lessons in making healthy food choices (without being preachy) and making exercise fun and approachable for people at all fitness levels, but it makes great cross-curricular connections, perfect for use in a health unit in the lower elementary years. As Hannah gleans a treasure of health and happiness in her dream world (a great read-aloud!), classes can track their own progress and interests in eating and fitness with tables/graphs/charts. Heck, they could use Happy Feet, Healthy Food as personal journals throughout the unit . . . and on into the school year and beyond – is Carol smart, or what?!!

Parents/Educators who are looking for uplifting and encouraging chapter book reading experiences for their kindergarten-third grade students will find The Treasure of Health & Happiness to be a great read for adults and kids share together. It not only serves as a positive example of making life-style choices and the importance of making choices as a family or classroom, but it is certain to fuel conversations about WHY and HOW to make healthier choices (without being obsessive!).

Rating: 5 / 5