Talya Rotbart brings an Italian treasure hunt to young readers

Award-winning children’s author Talya Rotbart has released Lorenzo’s Treasure or the Gold of Vicenza, an illustrated children’s book inspired by Parco Querini in Vicenza, Italy. The story uses a treasure hunt led by animal characters to teach lessons about kindness, honesty, friendship and the value of things money cannot buy.

Why it matters: - Lorenzo’s Treasure or the Gold of Vicenza blends a playful adventure with practical lessons for children about generosity, honesty, responsibility and family. - The book is designed for parents and grandparents who want a story that entertains young readers while opening conversations about values. - The story also turns a real Italian park into a fictional setting, linking children’s literature to a place with an actual history and landscape.

What happened: - Award-winning children’s author Talya Rotbart published Lorenzo’s Treasure or the Gold of Vicenza through TJFR Press, Inc. - The illustrated book follows Biscotti, a curious young rabbit searching for a chest of gold hidden centuries earlier by Lorenzo, a courageous Italian horseman fleeing robbers. - Biscotti uses a metal detector given to him by his grandparents and gathers a group of animal helpers for the search. - The story is inspired by Parco Querini in Vicenza, Italy.

The details: - Biscotti’s team includes Bianca, a sensible white rabbit; Gelato, whose imagination runs wild; Gatto, a shy orange tabby cat; and Tartaruga, a friendly turtle familiar with the park’s waterways. - The story also includes boisterous roosters, a greyhound puppy who walks his human, and a grumpy rodent whose cries sound like a cow. - The characters turn ordinary afternoons into make-believe mountain climbs, musketeer adventures and ocean voyages. - The central question in the book is whether finding something valuable means it belongs to you. - As the search continues, Biscotti learns that family affection, friendship and shared experiences can matter more than gold coins. - Rotbart based the book’s setting on Parco Querini, which she found filled with rabbits and other animals, along with ancient trees, winding paths, classical statues and waterways. - The book pairs colorful illustrations with photographs that show the real park behind the story. - The project is presented as the first in a series of future installments set in Parco Querini.

Between the lines: - Rotbart is using a real-world location to ground a fantasy narrative, which can give the story extra appeal for children and adults who enjoy place-based storytelling. - The treasure-hunt premise gives the book an easy entry point for young readers, while the moral question at the center keeps the message from feeling preachy. - The emphasis on animals, nature and community suggests the series is being built around a gentle, recurring world rather than a one-off plot.

What's next: - Future Lorenzo’s Treasure installments are planned to continue in Parco Querini. - More information or purchase details are available here.

The bottom line: - Rotbart’s new book aims to entertain children with a whimsical Italian adventure while reinforcing the idea that the most important treasures are often nonmaterial.