Ariana Treasure: The Perfect Day

by Jacqueline de Rose-Ahern

Illustrated by Karen Erasmus

Reviewed by Mia Macrossan

This is the fifth in a popular series featuring Ariana and her family who own a thrift shop called The Treasure Chest. Aunt Grace is getting married tomorrow and Ariana is excited, looking forward to enjoying all the wedding festivities. When a disaster happens due to Ariana trying to help, family and friends pitch in to still make it a ‘perfect day’ (if slightly different from the planned event) for everyone.

These carefully structured stories are written to appeal to beginning readers and to give them confidence in developing their reading skills. The language is simple and presented in a large font with numerous illustrations augmenting the text. Ariana, her family and friends, and her beloved Grandpa reflect warm caring family values that children will relate to.  The concepts and conflicts are domestic in scale and will be familiar to the intended audience.

As Meg Rowe said in her review of two earlier titles ‘With a different focus in each book, the Ariana Treasure series is a great choice to create opportunities for children to explore and discuss a range of social/emotional themes and skillsets,  Even though he is no longer with her, Ariana’s grandpa’s love, kindness, and wisdom weave a central thread throughout the Ariana Treasure stories, helping to guide and inspire de Rose-Ahern’s characters personal growth and creative problem solving, as well as highlighting the power of stories to connect generations.’

Ariana Treasure: The Missing Book; Ariana Treasure: The Secret Ingredient

Wombat Books 2025

Jacqueline de Rose-Ahern

Karen Erasmus