Clementine Rose and the treasure box by Jacqueline Harvey

Random House Australia Children's, 2014. ISBN 9781742757537.
(Age: 7+) There is something so delightfully Milly-Molly-Mandy-ish about the Clementine Rose books! In this new episode Clementine Rose is thrilled when the old house at the end of the lane is refurbished and an exciting new family move in. She has friends to play with - Mintie and twins Tilda and Teddy plus their pet tortoise, Flash. Lady Clarissa, Clementine Rose's adopted mother, enjoys meeting the children's parents, Basil and Anastasia but Aunt Violet is rather snooty (as she always is). That is until she realises that Anastasia is THE Anastasia Barkov, retired Prima Ballerina of the Royal Ballet. After all, Aunt Violet is the ultimate snob!
Clementine Rose is more than excited about her new playmates, she is looking forward to beginning ballet classes with Ana, who is opening a ballet school in the village hall. And to add to that excitement, Basil is a documentary filmmaker and wants to film Penberthy House. It's all happening in this little village!
Then disaster strikes - the village hall burns down due to faulty wiring. How can the ballet classes go ahead, not to mention all the usual village activities centred on the hall?
A meeting of the village residents sees a fund raising fete planned for the grounds of Penberthy Hall, along with guided tours. When Clementine Rose, her new friends and Lady Clarissa start clearing out the attic with all its accumulated discarded 'junk' a real surprise is in store.
Along with the usual cast additions of Uncle Digby, Lavendar the teacup pig and Pharoah the Sphynx cat, there are various villagers to meet in this community spirited story.
Girls from 7 and up will adore this and others in the series.
Visit Jacqueline Harvey's website for more information, trailers, teacher notes and fun stuff and find a sample reading here at Random House.
Sue Warren