How to Find Gold
Viviane Schwarz
Walker Books
Viviane Schwarz has definitely struck gold with her latest offering. It stars a pair of adorable characters, Anna, a small girl with a wonderfully fertile imagination, and her pal Crocodile – an all round down-to-earth good guy – who acts as a kind of steadying influence in the relationship, proffering such wise words as “That would be dangerous and difficult,” to Anna’s opening suggestion, “LET’S FIND GOLD,”. Indeed it’s the quality of the deadpan exchanges between the two, as much as the quest itself that make this book such a winner.
Once the plans have been made, maps duly drawn …

and location possibilities weighed up …

the next consideration is transport: that one is easily dealt with …

and the adventure is then truly under way
There follows another priceless exchange: “Where are the ship-sinking mountains?” Anna asked. “Where are the monsters?”
“Underwater, “ said Crocodile.
“How about holes?”
“They are sunk with the ship,” said Crocodile.
“Ah,” said Anna. “Finding gold is difficult.”
“Very,” said Crocodile.
“Not dangerous though,” said Anna.
“Ha!” said Crocodile. “How about over there, where the sea is boiling and the clouds are like a tower and the fish are in the air?”
“A great storm!” said Anna. “There will be gold!”
“Hold on tight,” said Crocodile.
Anna is duly rewarded for her confidence. They do find gold, at the bottom of the deepest, darkest ocean imaginable …

and what do they do with the spoils? Telling would ruin the wonderful finale which rounds this off in stupendous style, in a superb demonstration of what early years educators, parents of many young children (and this book’s creator) know: it’s the process, not the product that is most important in an undertaking such as this.
Like all good picture books, this one leaves readers with possibilities to entertain: “Is Crocodile ‘real’ or an imaginary friend?” being one. Your young audiences will doubtless come up with others.
The author provided further episodes to her wonderful There Are Cats In This Book. If anything calls for a follow up (or two), this brilliant book assuredly does.

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