Imagine that you climb into a tree house, open a book, point to a picture, and you're magically transported to that place. Pretty spectacular, right? Travel to China and care for pandas, or take a walk on the moon. It's all possible in the Magic Tree House books by Mary Pope Osborne.
This bestselling series has captured the imaginations of countless beginning chapter book readers and supported their reading and learning journey. Since the first book (Dinosaurs Before Dark) was published in 1992, the Magic Tree House has spawned more than 50 volumes — a testament to its powerful appeal to kids and parents alike. (You can browse our Magic Treehouse Book List here.)
Why Kids Can't Resist the Series
My boys have listened to me or the author (via audiobook) read countless Magic Tree House books. They often scour the library shelves in search of the most exciting book cover to read aloud next.
The stars of the Magic Tree House series are siblings Jack and Annie, who discover a magical tree house filled with books. Tapping on a book sends them on mystery missions (often involving time travel) throughout the world. On each trip, Jack and Annie have to navigate suspenseful (but not too scary) situations to gather a collectible object or achieve a historically important goal. Kids get a dose of adventure, while also learning some history and factual information along the way.
Kids can explore endless topics and interests via Magic Tree House books — like rainforests in South America, polar bears in the Arctic, and what it was like aboard the Titanic. One of my boys' favorites is book #20, Perfect Time for Pandas in the Magic Tree House Merlin Missions Boxed Set 1-25. In that story, Jack and Annie get to work with pandas in a Chinese panda reserve. They just happen to arrive on a day there is an earthquake, making their work even more crucial.
Not only do the books make great picks for new chapter book readers, but they also do well as a read-aloud for kids as young as three. The chapters are short and full of simple dialogue and illustrations, making them very appealing for both pre-readers and early readers.
From about age three, my kids have enjoyed listening to the Magic Tree House audiobooks the car. We can listen to an entire book in just about an hour and be transported together.
Tips for Navigating the Magic Tree House Books
With so many options, it can feel a little overwhelming when it comes to diving into the expansive Magic Tree House series. Here are a few pointers to help:
- There are three lines of books: 1) Magic Tree House for beginning chapter book readers, 2) Merlin Missions for more advanced chapter book readers, and 3) Fact Trackers for fans of straight non-fiction. (You can learn more about our Magic Tree House collection here.)
- The books do not need to be read in any particular order; most of them can stand-alone, however, are a few books that fit nicely together because a particular mission takes place over several books. The first chapter of each book gives an overview of what your reader needs to know to help understand the book she's about to begin. I recommend starting with book number one, Dinosaurs Before Dark from Magic Tree House Boxed Set 1-4, as an introduction to the series. (Fun fact: The collectible box actually looks like the magic tree house!)
- If your child needs more support while reading, listen to the audio version of the story read by the author while following along in the book.
And, here are a few fun learning activities I've done with my boys while making our way through the series:
- Find Jack and Annie's destinations on a world map or globe.
- Pull up some pictures or videos online to give your kids visual support about the topic of each book.
- Read an informational book alongside the title you are enjoying. For example, while reading Revolutionary War on Wednesday in Magic Tree House Volumes 21–24 Boxed Set: American History Quartet, you can also refer to Magic Tree House Research Guide: American Revolution.
Most of all, help your kids enjoy falling in love with a series that whisks them off to places far and away.
Connect with Jodie at her site Growing Book by Book.
