Magic Tree House is a popular children's book series written by Mary Pope Osborne. The fourth book in the series, known as "Magic Tree House 4: Pirates Past Noon", continues the adventures of siblings Jack and Annie as they travel back in time using their magical tree house. In this book, Jack and Annie's tree house takes them to the time of pirates. They find themselves on a deserted island and must try to find a way back to their own time. Along the way, they encounter a famous pirate captain named Morgan and his crew. The children have to use their wits and bravery to navigate the treacherous waters and escape from the pirates.
“All Kinds of Fur,” “Frau Trude,” “The Goose Girl at the Well,” “Hansel and Gretel,” “Mother Holle,” “Rapunzel,” “Rumpelstiltskin,” “Snow White,” and “The Three Spinners.”
All Kinds of Fur, Frau Trude, The Goose Girl at the Well, Hansel and Gretel, Mother Holle, Rapunzel, Rumpelstiltskin, Snow White, and The Three Spinners. Seeking a way to become human and pursue the love of a human prince, the Little Mermaid seeks the Sea Witch s aid who offers to brew her a potion made with several disgusting ingredients and the witch s own black blood to turn her tail into legs, in return for the Little Mermaid s voice.
The children have to use their wits and bravery to navigate the treacherous waters and escape from the pirates. Throughout their journey, Jack and Annie learn about the life of pirates and what it was like to live during that time period. They also learn about the importance of friendship and teamwork as they work together to overcome obstacles and outsmart the pirates.
Witchcraft Legends
Shemus Rua (Red James) awakened from his sleep one night by noises in his kitchen. Stealing to the door, he saw half-a-dozen old women sitting round the fire, jesting and laughing, his old housekeeper, Madge, quite frisky and gay, helping her sister crones to cheering glasses of punch. He began to admire the impudence and imprudence of Madge, displayed in the invitation and the riot, but recollected on the instant her officiousness in urging him to take a comfortable posset, which she had brought to his bedside just before he fell asleep. Had he drunk it, he would have been just now deaf to the witches' glee. He heard and saw them drink his health in such a mocking style as nearly to tempt him to charge them, besom in hand, but he restrained himself. The jug being emptied, one of them cried out, "Is it time to be gone?" and at the same moment, putting on a red cap, she added --
Hie over to England.
Making use of a twig which she held in her hand as a steed, she gracefully soared up the chimney, and was rapidly followed by the rest. But when it came to the housekeeper, Shemus interposed. "By your leave, ma'am," said he, snatching twig and cap. "Ah, you desateful ould crocodile! If I find you here on my return, there'll be wigs on the green--
Hie over to England."
- Source: W. B. Yeats, Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry (London: Walter Scott, 1888), pp. 168-70.
- Yeats's source: Patrick Kennedy, Legendary Fictions of the Irish Celts (London: Macmillan and Company, 1866), pp. 166-68.
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Germany
- Source: Projekt Gutenberg, Die Fahrt nach dem Brocken.
- Projekt Gutenberg's source: Heinrich Pröhle, Unterharzische Sagen: Mit Anmerkungen und Abhandlungen (Aschersleben: Verlag von Oskar Folke, 1856), no. 314, pp. 120-21.
- The Brocken is the highest summit (elevation 3747 feet, 1142 meters) in the Harz Mountains of central Germany. Witches are said to assemble there for their yearly "Sabbath" on Walpurgis Night, the eve of May 1st.
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Germany
Once there was a wealthy peasant, whose wife -- the people said -- was a witch. This was repeated so often that the peasant himself finally heard the rumor. He wanted to get to the bottom of the matter, and thus one day before May Night he went out and got some turf from the grave of a child who had died without being baptized. He secretly hid the turf then went to bed with his wife. He closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep, although he remained awake and attentive. At the strike of twelve his wife did indeed get up and sneak out the bedroom door. The peasant, taking turf with him, followed her outside the house door, where she suddenly disappeared. He saw nothing but a troop of black horses. But the peasant did not allow himself to be deceived. Quickly placing the turf on his head, he saw -- instead of the black horses -- women and girls of his acquaintance. In their midst was his wife. He also heard them discussing their trip to Block Mountain. He recognized them, because anyone beneath the earth can see witches and spirits in their true form. Angered, the peasant jumped at his wife and swung himself onto her, just as one would climb onto an ordinary horse's back. He also knew witches' magic words and called out:
Horse of black, horse so fleet,
Do you duty with quick feet.
Then she rose up and carried him into the air. She did not tire from the mighty ride, nor did the peasant grow tired. Again and again he called out:
Horse of black, horse so fleet,
Do you duty with quick feet.
- Source: Adalbert Kuhn, "Der Hexenritt," Sagen, Gebräuche und Märchen aus Westfalen und einigen andern, besonders den angrenzenden Gegenden Norddeutschlands , Erster Theil: Sagen (Leipzig: F. A. Brockhaus, 1859), no. 419, pp. 373-74.
- Kuhn's source: written correspondence from Dr. Boegekamp, a secondary school teacher in Berlin.
- Block Mountain (Blocksberg) is another name for the Brocken, the highest summit (elevation 3747 feet, 1142 meters) in the Harz Mountains of central Germany. Witches are said to assemble there for their yearly "Sabbath" on Walpurgis Night, the eve of May 1st.
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The book provides an exciting and educational adventure for young readers. Like the previous books in the series, "Magic Tree House 4: Pirates Past Noon" combines fantasy and history to engage children's imagination and teach them about different periods in history. The book is filled with exciting and suspenseful moments that keep readers hooked until the very end. Overall, "Magic Tree House 4: Pirates Past Noon" is a thrilling addition to the Magic Tree House series that takes children on an exciting pirate adventure while educating them about history. It continues to captivate young readers and inspire their love for reading and learning..
Reviews for "Unraveling Mysteries in Magic Tree House 4: Mummies in the Morning"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Magic Tree House 4". The story felt disjointed and rushed, and the characters were one-dimensional. The book lacked the depth and complexity that I had enjoyed in the previous installments of the series. Additionally, the plot seemed predictable, and I found myself losing interest quickly. Overall, I would not recommend this book to others who are fans of the series.
2. Jake - 1 star - As a long-time fan of the "Magic Tree House" series, I was extremely let down by the fourth book. The writing felt lazy and uninspired, and the story lacked any originality. The characters' actions and motivations were questionable at best, and the overuse of cliches made the plot even more frustrating to follow. I felt as though the book was a cash-grab rather than a genuine continuation of the series. It's safe to say that I won't be reading any more from this series if the quality continues to decline.
3. Emily - 2 stars - I found "Magic Tree House 4" to be a major step back from the previous books in the series. The writing felt repetitive, and the plot was weak. It seemed like the author had run out of ideas and was relying on tired tropes to carry the story forward. I also felt that the pacing was off, with certain parts dragging on and others feeling rushed. Overall, I was disappointed with this installment and hope that future books in the series will recapture the magic that made me fall in love with it in the first place.
4. Max - 2.5 stars - While I enjoyed the previous books in the "Magic Tree House" series, the fourth book left me feeling a bit underwhelmed. The story lacked the depth and complexity that I had grown accustomed to, and the characters felt one-dimensional. Additionally, the dialogue felt stilted and unnatural, making it difficult for me to fully immerse myself in the story. While it had its moments, overall, I would not recommend this book to others who are looking for a captivating and engaging read.