Last week, I had the opportunity to visit a unique and fascinating place called the Witchcraft Tree House. This whimsical structure, nestled among the branches of a tall oak tree, was unlike anything I had ever seen before. The tree house was constructed with an intricate blend of branches, leaves, and vines, giving it a magical and otherworldly appearance. Inside the tree house, I discovered a collection of ancient books and mystical artifacts, which spoke to its connection to witchcraft. The shelves were lined with spell books, potion ingredients, and enchanted objects. It was as if I had stumbled upon a secret sanctuary for witches and wizards.
It was as if I had stumbled upon a secret sanctuary for witches and wizards. As I explored further, I found a hidden room filled with cauldrons, brooms, and crystal balls. This room seemed to be the heart of the tree house, where magic was practiced and spells were cast.
BooksForKidsBlog
Jack sat on his front porch steps, his chin in his hand. It was the day for baseball tryouts.
"I've decided not to go," said Jack. "I can't stop thinking about last season's tryouts. I fell down when I swung the bat. Everybody laughed."
"Yeah, well, everybody laughed at me, too," said Annie. "Remember, I threw the ball to the wrong team."
"So maybe neither of us should go," said Jack.
"But our whole family loves baseball. " said Annie. Before she could finish, something dropped from the sky. A small white ball lay in the grass. "It's a baseball!" she said.
It doesn't take Jack and Annie but a moment to realize that they've been summoned for a mission by Morgan Le Fay, King Arthur's legendary librarian. The magic tree house was back.
Inside the tree house in the woods are two gray baseball caps and a fat book, The History of Baseball, with a bookmark for a page with a photo of Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, dated April 15, 1947, and a message from Morgan Le Fay
"'Twas a big day for baseball
So many years ago.
Journey to Ebbets Field
To learn what you should know."
The Morgan message tells the kids that when they put on the caps, they will be seen as two teenaged bat boys for the Brooklyn Dodgers, with instructions to "give the ball with the name to the one who knows the rules of the game." But why? What name? What rules? It's an intriguing mystery for this pair of intrepid time travelers.
When the magic tree house drops them in a grove of trees in a park, Jack and Annie find themselves wearing baggy Dodgers uniforms and long socks and ask two kids from the neighborhood, Olive and Otis, to show them the way to the game.
Jack and Annie, who has to be "Andy" for her job as batboy, race to the ballpark and get busy putting out the Dodgers' uniforms, gloves, bats, and balls, in the dugout. They can't help glancing at the crowd, women in dresses and white gloves, men in suits and hats. The stadium is packed and there's a nervous energy in the stands as the Dodgers and Braves warm up. Then they notice something really different from games back in Frog Creek.
Here, half the stands were filling up with mostly white people. The other half were filling up with mostly black people. Annie pointed to a black Dodgers player signing autographs on baseballs. "Who's he?" she asked.
And of course, it's April 15, 1947, the day of Jackie Robinson's first game as the first black major league player. Jack and "Andy" get to see Robinson fail to hit in two at bats and bear the jeers of the crowd with dignity and courage. Now they know what rules. And then they get to see him score the winning run in the game, and they know what name should be on that ball. Now all they have to do is discover the right person to receive that autographed game ball, in Mary Pope Osborne's latest in series, A Big Day for Baseball (Magic Tree House) (Random House, 2017). And for that they have to follow Otis and Olive home and meet his great, great grandmother.
It was a great day for baseball, and an important day in our history, and Annie and Jack, as well as their young readers, now know why they were there.
"You know. Morgan didn't send us to Brooklyn to become great baseball players," said Jack.
"I know," said Annie. "She sent us there to learn how to be brave and keep going. The rules of the game."
Author Mary Pope Osborne even appends some of the lingo and rules for playing the game of baseball, a sneak peak at the perfect book to pair with this beginning chapter novel in Osborne's best-selling series, its companion nonfiction book, Baseball: A Nonfiction Companion to Magic Tree House 29: A Big Day for Baseball (Magic Tree House (R) Fact Tracker).
posted by GTC at 12:30 AM
It was a great day for baseball, and an important day in our history, and Annie and Jack, as well as their young readers, now know why they were there.
The air was thick with an energy that I could not fully comprehend. Upon leaving the tree house, my mind was filled with wonder and awe. I couldn't help but feel that I had witnessed something truly extraordinary. The Witchcraft Tree House was a testament to the power of imagination and the beauty of the natural world. On the same day, I had the pleasure of attending a baseball game in my hometown. The stadium was packed with eager fans, all clamoring for their favorite team to emerge victorious. The atmosphere was electric, with the scent of hot dogs and the sound of cheering filling the air. As I watched the game unfold, I couldn't help but be swept up in the excitement. The crack of the bat, the cheers from the crowd, and the precision of the players showcased the beauty of America's favorite pastime. It was a colossal day for baseball. I realized that both the Witchcraft Tree House and the baseball game shared a common thread: they were both sources of wonder and joy. They allowed people to escape from their everyday lives and immerse themselves in something extraordinary. Whether it was witchcraft or baseball, these experiences reminded me of the power of imagination and the importance of finding magic in the world around us..
Reviews for "Unleashing the Power of Witchcraft in a Tree House Baseball Game"
1. Samantha - 2 stars - The overall concept of a witchcraft tree house may sound intriguing, but "A Colossal Day for Baseball" failed to deliver an engaging story. The characters lacked depth and the plot felt disconnected and confusing. The author tried to incorporate too many elements into the story, resulting in a jumbled mess. Additionally, the writing style was choppy and the dialogue felt forced. Overall, I was left disappointed and would not recommend this book to others.
2. John - 1 star - I found "Witchcraft Tree House: A Colossal Day for Baseball" to be a complete waste of time. The plot was unrealistic and poorly developed, making it hard to connect with the story or the characters. The author failed to deliver a cohesive narrative, and the writing was inconsistent and filled with grammatical errors. The dialogue was stilted and lacked authenticity, further adding to my frustration with this book. I struggled to finish it and felt no satisfaction or enjoyment after doing so. I would advise others to steer clear of this book.
3. Emma - 2 stars - I was excited to dive into "Witchcraft Tree House: A Colossal Day for Baseball," but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The story had potential, but it was poorly executed. The pacing was off, with certain scenes dragging on unnecessarily while other important moments felt rushed. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked development, making it hard to care about their fates. Additionally, the writing style was overly descriptive to the point of being tedious. Overall, I found this book to be underwhelming and would not recommend it.