SOLVED. Very vague memory of an adult-ish picture book with a jester who finds animals with jewels or gems for eyes, Beautiful but surreal and odd imagery. [s]

[WinterOwl]

Hi!
I'm searching for a really odd picture book that I read when I was younger, I haven't had any luck with trying to search for it so I thought I'd try my luck here. -

~I remember very little about the plot but I can describe the pictures in the book and some key plot points.

~In the book there seems to be a battle, the main character is a medieval jester. He seems to of had died? Or something odd happens to him.

~ Through out the book animals and people have jewels or gems for eyes.

~ There is a specific page I remember clearly with a fish with ruby stone eyes and it's jumping out of a river.

~ There might be time travel, as he sees a car and I remember he describes it as a dragon or beast.

~ The book might put an emphasis on death, I think there's a page
with a man with coins for eyes etc.

~It was a large hard cover book, with wordy paragraphs in it.

Thank you-

[Tab]

How many years ago did you read this?

[WinterOwl]

The book look old, maybe published in the late 90's or 00's, maybe even older since the wording in the paragraphs were long and winded. I probably read it in 2006. I would also like to add that after remembering and searching for this book I think it might of been an actual treasure hunt book for real treasure? The writing was poetical enough.

[WinterOwl]

~

[Kris]

WinterOwl, does is have about 32-48 pages (a common length for picture books)? Or is it a graphic novel?

Can you tell us more about the medieval jester (e.g., his age, where he works, who does he work for or entertain, his skills/talents/interests)?

Can you describe the illustrations - realistic/cartoony/cute, simple/detailed, painted watercolors/bold graphics, bright/dark/muted colors/black & white? Do they remind you of another illustrator or picture book author?

[Kris]

Can we eliminate The Stuff of Legend, Book 3: A Jester's Tale (2011, according to Worldcat.org) by Mike Raicht? The time period is late World War 2, I think, but the story is populated with toy animals, etc.

[Becca]

WinterOwl wrote: "I would also like to add that after remembering and searching for this book I think it might of been an actual treasure hunt book for real treasure? The writing was poetical enough."

If that's the case, then it might be on this list of Armchair Treasure Hunts, which is what that genre of book is called.

[Rainbowheart]

Masquerade?

[WinterOwl]

Thank you so much! @Becca I finally found it, the book is Treasure by Dan James, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

[Becca]

WinterOwl wrote: "Thank you so much! @Becca I finally found it, the book is Treasure by Dan James, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2..."

Yay! So glad to help.

[Rainbowheart]

Glad you found it!

Treasure for the link.