It is unusual to find Cartier Panthères, Ghanaian gold rings and a 1970s-era Rolex glinting from the pages of children’s books. But three recently published titles suggest that gems, fine jewelry and even collectible watches can interest young readers, from toddlers to tweens.
As Sylvana Ward Durrett, the co-founder and chief executive of Maisonette, an online retailer of upscale children’s toys and apparel, said in a phone interview: “The crown jewels and royalty and princesses are fun things for kids to fantasize about and always have been.”
And it may be quite natural for a parent who has a specific interest in, say, Audemars Piguet timepieces or ancient Egyptian accessories, to want to share that particular passion with their children. “Shiny things put into context why we care about and value these types of things,” Ms. Durrett said.
But even so, she added, “I don’t think you have to be a JAR fan” — the prestigious Parisian jeweler Joel Arthur Rosenthal — “to understand the joy they can bring.”
A Rainbow of Gems
“Super Smalls Super Book of Gems: Birthstone Magic, Science, Facts, and Fun” by Maria Dueñas Jacobs and Bianca Gottesman (Union Square & Co., $25)
As the co-founders of Super Smalls, a brand of sparkly accessories and crafts for children, Ms. Dueñas Jacobs and Ms. Gottesman envisioned a book that took what Ms. Dueñas Jacobs described as a fun “science-lab-meets-jewelry-box” approach to the characteristics, history and symbolism of gems.
The authors, who are sisters, organized the book by birthstones specifically to draw in young readers. “Kids want to understand how something personally applies to them,” she said.
Neon-colored graphics and whimsical bubblelike fonts also brought the subject matter to life, while photographs of creations such as cocktail rings, brooches and cuff bracelets by Bulgari, David Webb and Verdura showcased gems.
When a child spots a cool-looking panther ring with peridot eyes that a parent recognizes as unmistakably Cartier, Ms. Gottesman added, it can spark conversations about artistry, craftsmanship and family heirlooms.
And discovering gems through the lens of jewelry would inspire endless curiosity about “the transformation of these beautiful, natural things over time,” she said.
Shiny and New
“The Story of Gold: A Glittering History of the World” (Thames & Hudson, $21.95)
Highlighting 30 gold objects from museums around the world, this book was produced by Thames & Hudson, a British publisher specializing in art, style and design. It has no author listed, but the company’s head of children’s publishing, Anna Ridley, initiated the project.
“Starting with subjects that can deliver something visually rich and satisfying is quite an important thing for us,” she said. “And booksellers love a bit of glitz.”
The young reader’s journey begins with the gleaming metallic cover — a hint about the treasures within — and moves on to Egyptian artifacts; pirate hoards; the legend of the mythical city of gold, El Dorado; and crown jewels from several countries.
Color illustrations and photography help convey that “the histories of different cultures and religions are embedded in these beautiful, glittering objects,” Ms. Ridley said. “We are really keen to fly the banner for cultural understanding, global unity, all those lovely things.”
Tick, Tick, Tick
“V is for Vintage: ABCs of Vintage Watches” by James Lamdin (Diaper Book Club, $24.95)
The chief purpose of this alphabetical board book, according to Mr. Lamdin, was to provide watch-collecting adults with a fun idea for a baby gift. (He is vice president of the vintage and pre-owned watches division of Watches of Switzerland, which in 2020 acquired his vintage watch business, Analog:Shift.)
The book, the latest in a series that includes the 2019 title “R is for Rolex,” highlights a wide variety of brands, styles and eras.
And, Mr. Lamdin said, it includes a few watch-related terms: “So instead of doing Cartier or Chopard for ‘C,’ I did ‘crazing,’ which is what happens to an old acrylic crystal as it ages.”
Can 2-year-olds really appreciate such a sophisticated premise?
Maybe when they are a bit older, he said. “There’s something to be appreciated about mechanical complications, which were answers to problems that couldn’t be solved digitally, because digital wasn’t an option yet.
“It’s very easy to be fearful of each new young generation coming in with their Candy Crush and their sneakers, but I think that there’s going to be a return to analog thinking. And if this is my little way of planting a seed in the mind of a young person, then that would be amazing.”
The post Storytelling With a Bit of Sparkle appeared first on New York Times.
