Lost Treasure of the Emerald Eye (Geronimo Stilton Series #1) by Geronimo Stilton, Matt Wolf (Illustrator), Larry Keys (Illustrator)

From Barnes & Noble

The Barnes & Noble Review
Geronimo Stilton, a reporter mouse with a taste for adventure (and an even bigger taste for cheese), stars in this action-packed first installment of the internationally acclaimed series.

With Geronimo himself labeled as the author, the book is set in New Mouse City, Mouse Island, where the author runs The Rodent's Gazette. Readers are quickly introduced to him and his sister, Thea, who whisks a surprised Geronimo on a sailing trip to locate a buried treasure called The Emerald Eye. The two also recruit their jokester cousin, Trap Stilton, to help sail the boat, and after a long trip that involves Geronimo getting sick from frozen clams, the discovery of a stowaway on board, and plenty of other dramatic events, they arrive on Treasure Island -- only to find that the island is not as deserted as they thought. To their chagrin, Geronimo and family don't quite get the treasure they'd hoped for, but as they leave Treasure Island, the secret behind The Emerald Eye becomes crystal clear.

An inventive first book marked with likable characters, full-color illustrations, and fast-moving text that uses various fonts and design elements to make reading a blast, Lost Treasure will have kids hooked on Geronimo Stilton. This mousy hero is no pipsqueak, and with other books featuring these and even more characters -- including the editorial staff of The Rodent's Gazette -- he's set to become the big cheese with readers young and old. Matt Warner

From the Publisher

It all started when my sister, Thea, discovered an old, mysterious map. In no time at all, my sister dragged me and my cousin Trap into her treasure hunt. It was an adventure I’d never forget.

Publishers Weekly

Holey Cheese! Imported from Italy, this snazzy series debut about a globetrotting mouse journalist spreads the cheesy puns nice and thick. On an average day, Geronimo Stilton edits The Rodent's Gazette, the newspaper of New Mouse City, capital of Mouse Island. But at the coaxing of his sister, Thea, and various relatives, Stilton sates his yen for adventure-and adventure writing-by embarking on various excursions and recording and illustrating his exploits in a diary that serves as source material for his books. Stilton, Thea, cousin Trap and nephew Benjamin board a ship in search of buried treasure on a secret deserted island. The trip is filled with peril and plenty of humor, though the treasure isn't what anyone expected. The book's lightning pace and its numerous chapters, as well as a full-color design that displays key words in color type and fun fonts, will hook kids in a flash. And those with a taste for Stilton's breezy style will surely want to devour future "whisker-licking-good stories," as the author calls them. The first four book in the Geronimo Stilton series will be released simultaneously, followed by one book per month thereafter. Ages 7-10. (Feb.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Phyllis Kennemer, Ph.D. - Children's Literature

Geronimo Stilton is the editor of the newspaper in New Mouse City, the capital of Mouse Island, but his real passion is writing tales of adventure. In this one, his sister Thea entices him to go on a treasure hunt using a mysterious map. Geronimo's cousin Trap and his young nephew Benjamin accompany them on their perilous journey. After several mishaps they reach the island and maneuver their way to the spot marked by the X on the map. They discover that the treasure is not at all what they expected. The illustrations are numerous and colorful, appearing throughout the story. The graphics in the text seem to shout at the reader. Many words are printed in bright colors and font size is used to emphasize exciting aspects of the tale. The mice characters are endearing, although a bit zany. The introductory picture features 33 members of the editorial staff of the Rodent's Gazette and implies that all of these mice characters will be showing up as the series develops. Translated from the Italian, this story has universal appeal for young children. This book is in the "Geronimo Stilton" series. 2004 (orig. 2000), Scholastic, Ages 6 to 9.

School Library Journal

Gr 2-4-Geronimo Stilton earns his bread and cheese as editor of The Rodent's Gazette, but his true joy is writing adventure yarns. As a globe-trotting newsmouse, he finds plenty of material for his tales-although his exploits never quite work out the way he anticipates. In Curse, Geronimo heads to Egypt to interview eccentric archaeologist Professor Spitfur. The professor claims that the pyramid of Cheops contains the ancient Egyptians' secret method for creating unlimited energy, but legend says the pharaoh's curse awaits anyone who enters the tomb. In the second title, a pirate map sends Geronimo and his intrepid companions from the Gazette on a voyage to find the Emerald Eye. Shipwrecked on the treasure island, the comrades follow the dangerous trail through traps and quicksand to locate the booty. Geronimo's adventures resemble old Saturday morning cartoons with broad humor, stock characters, frenetic action, and comic-book-style illustrations. Even the text is incorporated into the comic motif. Words and phrases are highlighted with a wild miscellany of type fonts, graphics, and colors-often several on a single page. They curve across the pages, slant up or down or twist into odd shapes. While this device is amusing at first, it quickly becomes overwhelming. Transitional readers may be attracted by the flashy design, but for a better-written and funnier adventures series, steer them to Jon Scieszka's "Time Warp Trio" (Viking) instead.-Elaine E. Knight, Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Product Details

• Interviews & Essays

Interviews & Essays

How do you feel about your success around the world? Are you excited to meet American children?

GS: Holey cheese! I'm always pinching my tail because I can't believe all the success I've had. I'm just so amazed that children want to read about ME -- I'm just a mild-mannered editor after all. I just happen to always get my nose into the most unusual predicaments. And America! I've always read many wonderful stories that take place in America and I just couldn't wait to get here. I've had the most fabumouse time meeting all the children.

Why do you think kids love your stories?

GS: My stories are full of adventure and excitement, but they also are entertaining and make children laugh. I'm always getting into trouble and for some reason my readers seem to find that amusing. And my stories are about things that children deal with on a daily basis, such as friendship, sincerity, respect, love, and peace. My books give each young reader a message of hope that will help them grow.

What do you want to convey to your readers?

GS: A love of reading. I love writing my stories and nothing delights me more than if a child enjoys reading them!

Do you prefer being the editor-in-chief of your newspaper, The Rodent's Gazette, or writing your adventures?

GS: I love running the newspaper -- that is my job, after all. But writing stories is my passion and I hope to be sharing my adventures with children for many more years.

How do you spend your time when you are not busy writing or editing?

GS: Holey cheese! I'm just your average mouse...although I am afraid of a few things and I don't like to travel because I get carsick, seasick, and just plain dizzy most of the time. I prefer to stay at home in my nice, cozy mouse hole. I'm a very traditional mouse, I like classical music, good books and old-fashioned cooking -- no meal is complete without a nice chunk of cheese! But what I love to do most is write, so I always make sure there is plenty of time for that. And of course, no day is complete unless I get to read a story to my favorite nephew, Benjamin.