The magic tree house is a children's book series written by Mary Pope Osborne. It follows the adventures of Jack and Annie, two siblings who discover a magical tree house filled with books that can transport them to different places and time periods. Each book in the series takes Jack and Annie on a new adventure, whether it be meeting historical figures, exploring different cultures, or solving mysteries. The magic tree house itself is a small, simple structure nestled in the woods near Jack and Annie's home. The tree house is enchanted, and only Jack and Annie can see and enter it. Inside the tree house, the walls are lined with books that contain the stories of different places and time periods.
Magic Tree House
When my youngest son was in Kindergarten his teacher often read Magic Tree House books to the class. He really became a fan. I tried a couple and found them rather tedious because of the overly simple writing. However, the summer between Kindergarten and 1st grade I decided I should really take more of an interest in these books that he was so enamored with. They became like baseball cards to him - tell you a number and he' d tell you the title. So, that summer we started at #1 and read together through the series. He also checked every library book sale rack in order to build the entire collection. The next summer, between 1st and 2nd grade I told him if he read the book to me I would make it come alive through themed play dates. We didn't make every book - but ideas are included below in case you want to do something similar or different. These books can be educational tools in such a number of ways. There are fact trackers that go along with many of the books but we've never used them. To encourage reading you could replicate a souvenir from each book. Or if you travel a lot, you could coordinate the books with your travel itinerary.
General Observations
The main characters are an 8 1/2 year old boy named Jack and his sister Annie, who is 7 when the first book begins. Apparently Mary Pope Osborne is utilizing the Bart Simpson theory of aging because otherwise if you do the math Jack is about to graduate high school and still playing make believe with his sister by the time you get to book number 50. Both children love books. Jack wears glasses, likes facts, is more cautious and says "oh man" a lot. Annie is intuitive, charges ahead, communicates with animals and says "oh wow" a lot.
Each book has a Prologue and are usually ten chapters (except some of the later books or special holiday themes). The early books change the wording slightly but Ms. Osborne soon settled into repeating word for word the action of the tree house spinning and starting the adventure. The tree house transports Jack and Annie through time and space; time freezes while they are gone. A pre-selected book takes them away and the Frog Creek, Pennsylvania book brings them home. The magic words "I wish we could go there" start the magic. There are a lot of arcs across four books. Wikipedia groups them by arc if you like.
Title Listing and Timeline
1. Dinosaurs Before Dark (1992) - a summer day when Jack is 8 1/2 and Annie is 7
2. The Knight at Dawn (1993) - the next day
3. Mummies in the Morning (1993) - the next day
4. Pirates Past Noon (1994) - the next day
5. Night of the Ninjas (1995) - weeks later
6. Afternoon on the Amazon (1995) - the next day
7. Sunset of the Sabertooth (1996) - probably the next day
8. Midnight on the Moon (1996) - later that day or the next
9. Dolphins at Daybreak (1997) - at least a few days later
10. Ghost Town at Sundown (1997) - probably a few days later
11. Lions at Lunchtime (1998) - probably a few days later
12. Polar Bears Past Bedtime (1998) - probably a few days later
13. Vacation Under the Volcano (1998) - "soon", after checking the woods "every morning"
14. Day of the Dragon King (1998) - two weeks later
15. Viking Ships at Sunrise (1998) - two weeks later
16. Hour of the Olympics (1998) - two weeks later
17. Tonight on the Titanic (1999) - probably within a week or so
18. Buffalo Before Breakfast (1999) - the next week
19. Tigers at Twilight (1999) - two days later
20. Dingoes at Dinnertime (2000) - soon
21. Civil War on Sunday (2000) - soon, a Sunday
22. Revolutionary War on Wednesday (2000) - Wednesday
23. Twister on Tuesday (2001) - Tuesday
24. Earthquake in the Early Morning (2001) - Wednesday, the next day
25. Stage Fright on a Summer Night (2002) - summer
26. Good Morning, Gorillas (2002) - next day
27. Thanksgiving on Thursday (2002) - Thanksgiving day
28. High Tide in Hawaii (2003) -
29. Christmas in Camelot (2001) - Christmas vacation 9 & 7 1/2
30. Haunted Castle on Hallows Eve (2003) - Halloween 10 & 8 1/2
31. Summer of the Sea Serpent (2004) - Summer Solstice 10 1/2 & 9
32. Winter of the Ice Wizard (2004) - Winter Solstice 11 & 9 1/2
33. Carnival at Candlelight (2005) - February
34. Season of the Sandstorms (2005) - weeks later, early Spring
35. Night of the New Magicians (2006) - summer 11 1/2 & 10
36. Blizzard of the Blue Moon (2006) - November 12 & 10 1/2
37. Dragon of the Red Dawn (2007) - early March
38. Monday with a Mad Genius (2007) - Monday, the first day of school 13 & 11 1/2
39. Dark Day in the Deep sea (2008) - summer 13 1/2 & 12
40. Eve of the Emperor Penguin (2008) - November 14 & 12 1/2
41. Moonlight on the Magic Flute (2009) - spring 14 1/2 & 13
42. A Good Night for Ghosts (2009) - rain and dead leaves could indicate fall
43. Leprechaun in Late Winter (2010) - late winter 15 & 13 1/2
44. A Ghost Tale for Christmas Time (2010) - November 16 & 14 1/2
45. A Crazy Day with Cobras (2011) - May 16 1/2 & 15
46. Dogs in the Dead of Night (2011) - spring 17 1/2 & 16
47. Abe Lincoln at Last! (2011) - spring
48. A Perfect Time for Pandas (2012) - spring
49. Stallion by Starlight (2013) - June
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly about Magic Tree House
Please don’t shoot the messenger. I’m going to try to provide a picky review of the Magic Tree House series. It feels impossible to provide an accurate Magic Tree House critique because the books are almost universally loved, but I’m going to try.
Do y’all have a thing that everyone seems to love, and you’re the only one who just doesn’t get it? For example, maybe you don’t like Nutella. That’s insane, because Nutella is amazing, but you Nutella-haters will definitely understand what I’m talking about.
People just go on and on about how good Nutella is, and when you ask for a recommendation about what to spread on toast, they keep saying, “Oh, Nutella is the greatest!”
And all you can do is smile and nod while in your head you think, “What are they thinking. I’ve tried it, it’s not that great.”
Well, that’s me and the Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne. Everyone loves these books…except me.
I know, what am I thinking offering a Magic Tree House review to the internet? Magic Tree House books have been around for generations. Their popularity has never wavered over the years. Countless kids have discovered a love of reading because of these books. This series is an American institution, for crying out loud.
I know all of this. And I’m so thankful that it is a clean series that has introduced so many children to reading. That is a beautiful gift that Osborne has given to so many children! But I still wouldn’t personally recommend Magic Tree House books to read aloud to your family, and I’ll tell you why.
Inside the tree house, the walls are lined with books that contain the stories of different places and time periods. When Jack and Annie open a book and make a wish, the tree house spins around and magically transports them to the time and place depicted in the book. Throughout their adventures, Jack and Annie encounter various challenges and obstacles.
The Good in Magic Tree House
There are some really great things about the Magic Tree House series. The books are the perfect length to break up over several days. However, the chapters are short enough to read several in one sitting. The story lines are told from a single point of view. The plot is linear and clear. There are only a few characters in each book. These are all things I look for when choosing a book to read aloud to young kids.
The main characters are a brother and sister named Jack and Annie who are in elementary school. One of the things I like about the books is that they are so nice to each other. It can be tough to find books that model a consistently positive sibling relationship.
The characters in the stories are brave. They know the power of books and knowledge. The kids are good problem solvers. They frequently defend the weak. Jack and Annie have a lot of characteristics I would like my kids to have, too.
They must rely on their intelligence, bravery, and resourcefulness to overcome these challenges and complete their missions. From helping a lost lion cub in Africa to decoding secret messages during World War II, Jack and Annie use their knowledge and skills to make a positive impact in each new place they visit. In addition to the thrilling adventures and engaging storylines, the magic tree house series also incorporates educational elements. Each book is carefully researched and includes factual information about the time period or culture being explored. This helps children learn about history, science, geography, and other subjects in a fun and accessible way. The series also encourages a love for reading, as Jack and Annie's adventures inspire curiosity and exploration. Overall, the magic tree house series is beloved by children around the world. It combines the excitement of magic and adventure with educational content, making it a valuable tool for learning and imagination. Through the eyes of Jack and Annie, young readers can embark on countless journeys to distant places and time periods, sparking their curiosity and inspiring them to learn more about the world around them..
Reviews for "Exploring ancient civilizations with the magic tree house"
1. John - 2/5 - I was really excited to read "The Magic Tree House" after hearing so many positive reviews, but I was left disappointed. The writing felt very simplistic and lacked depth, and the characters were one-dimensional. Additionally, the plot seemed predictable and didn't hold my interest. I struggled to connect with the story and found myself feeling bored throughout the book. Overall, it just didn't live up to the hype for me.
2. Emily - 3/5 - I had high expectations for "The Magic Tree House" based on its popularity, but unfortunately, it fell short for me. While the concept of a magical tree house is intriguing, I felt that the execution was lacking. The writing felt rushed and underdeveloped, leaving little room for character growth and world-building. The time-travel aspect also felt confusing and inconsistent. While it may appeal to younger readers, I found it to be a mediocre read with missed potential.
3. Sarah - 2/5 - "The Magic Tree House" was a major letdown for me. The writing style felt overly simplistic, which made it difficult to become fully engaged in the story. The characters were not compelling or relatable, and their actions and decisions often felt illogical. The plot lacked coherence and didn't offer any surprises or twists. I was expecting a magical and captivating adventure, but instead, I found it to be dull and uninspiring. I wouldn't recommend it to those looking for a well-crafted and imaginative story.
4. Mike - 2/5 - I'm not sure what all the fuss is about with "The Magic Tree House." The writing style felt juvenile, and the story seemed more like a series of disconnected events rather than a cohesive narrative. The dialogue also felt unrealistic and forced. As an adult reader, I was hoping for a more sophisticated and engaging read, but unfortunately, this book didn't deliver. Perhaps younger readers would find it more enjoyable, but it just wasn't for me.
5. Rebecca - 3/5 - While "The Magic Tree House" had an interesting premise, I found the execution to be lacking. The writing style felt too simplistic, and I didn't feel a connection to the characters. The pacing also felt off, with some parts dragging on and others feeling rushed. However, I did appreciate the educational elements incorporated into the story, which may make it a more engaging read for younger audiences. Overall, I found it to be an average book that didn't leave a lasting impression.