Have you ever wanted to help someone? In this nonfiction book Annie and Jack are trying to help break a spell that has been cased on a dog named Teddy. I really like this book, I first read this book when I was 10 years old. **SPOILER ALERT** My favorite part is when Annie went back into the burning forest ( also known as a wildfire)to save the koala because wildfires are a danger to koalas. Koalas are slow-moving and cant escape the smoke and flames. That part really touched my heart. Annie and Jack wanted to help the dog, but there where a bunch of dogs and the kangaroo jumped away and left its joey in the grass, so they the joey with them in Jacks backpack, then there was a wildfire and Annie ran into the fire to go and get the koala and they ran into a cave, they touched the painting that appeared on the wall and rain came and the fire went down. The setting of this book is in Australia. The main point in this book is that they helped uncast a spell that was casted on the dog, when the spell is lifted the dog turns into a boy. I think the authors purpose is to show that its good to help people. I couldn't understand why the mother dropped its joey I mean its her baby she should never drop it, your suppose to watch and protect it. I thought the ending of the book was good I like how to author had the dog turn into a boy that was unexpected. I was surprised when Annie went back into the wildfire to save the koala that was cute. An interesting thing that I learned in this book was wildfires where a danger to koalas. A theme for this book would be heroism because Annie risked her life to save the koala. This book is like the rest of the magic tree house books because in ever book Jack and Annie are helping someone. I noticed how the author put facts about the animals that they saw. I don't get why the author didn't put facts about where they where. I was moved when Annie went into the forest to save the koala and when Jack put the kangaroo in his bag and took the joey with him. I like how to author had the dog help Annie and Jack I thought that was nice. I can relate to this book because I always want to help my family with things. I really like this book its one of my favorite books because its short and it has a lot of information. I rate this book a 7 because I think I should be reading big book instead of little books. I would recommend this book to little kids because its fun and its exciting to read. You can learn a lot from this book. Have you ever learned a lot from just one book?
Jack and Annie are at it again in the 20th installment of this series that takes two voracious readers all over the world. This time around they need to go to Australia to find a present from a kangaroo. Once they get this present they will be able to break the spell that their puppy friend Teddy is under. So off they go to the land down under and come across some amazing animals that are indigenous to Australia suck as Emus, Koalas, Kookaburras and of course Kangaroos. While they are getting to know the kangaroo and her little joey they were attacked by some Dingoes, also indigenous to Australia, As they escaped they realized the mother kangaroo left her baby behind to Jack and Annie saved it. As if that wasn't crazy enough all of a sudden a wildfire takes hold. Needless to say the kids are in for quite an adventure as they flee the fire, try to save the little joey and get the present to help their puppy friend Teddy. I like how these books are segmented into 4 book parts. For example, this book, #20, is the last book of a smaller series of Magic Tree House books that runs from book #17-#20. It appears as though the author did this throughout the whole Magic Tree House saga. I think this is great because it gives kids the desire to continue reading. Every book contains an adventure but those smaller adventures are part of a larger adventure, so in order to find out what will happen at the end of the bigger adventure the kids need to keep reading. I would recommend this book for 1st-4th graders. Depending on their reading level they may need the story read to them but the text is easy enough to get through and the author provides special descriptions for the hard to read level 3 words. I find it funny that Morgan Le Fey is the magical librarian to Jack and Annie. She has been depicted throughout history as the evil witch in the King Author stories. Many believe that she was given a bad rap. Nevertheless, the overwhelming majority of tales of King Author have her working to destroy the king. I would love to learn more about the author's choice in making her the sage in the Magic Tree House series.
I remember reading the Magic Treehouse series during Middle School, and they were always entertaining. I loved how they went all around the world, all throughout history, and you learned about different places and time periods as you followed your favorite characters through wonderful adventures. It was really cool. I recommend these books to your little adventurer. They are sure to not disappoint. Do it! Read the book, because who knows what new world one might fall into? What interesting characters with interesting lives you might meet and fall in love with? You won't know if you like it unless you give it a try. You won't know if you love them unless you crack open the cover and say "Chapter One...." What's the worst that could happen? The universe could implode.... but that's very unlikely. Honestly, what have you got to lose?
—Brianna
I loved this book! And I love how Mrs. Osborne encourages children to do their own research. I learn a lot in these short 10 chapters, such facts as koalas don't really drink water, kangaroos may dump their babies to get away from predators faster, and even about native people named Aborigines. It was all very interesting. This time Jack and Annie rescue a baby kangaroo and finally receive their final give to break Teddy's spell. Couldn't really guess who he'd be even up until the end :)This book makes me want to learn more about Aborigine myths and Australia in general. If I'm going to go there someday, I better inform myself :)
—Rubi
-RANDOM HOUSE,MAGIC TREE HOUSE,level 2.1 -Time:10/14=65minutes-7-word summary:Australia-kangaroos-wildfire-rain-gift-dog-boy-Discussion questions:1.The main characters went to Australia in this story. Have you ever been to Australia?-No,I haven't, but I'm going to go to Australia in spring vacation. I'm looking forward to visiting Australia.2.In this story, a lot of animals appeared. Do you like animals?-Yes, I like animals, such as dogs, cats, and hamsters. Watching them relaxes me, so I want pets.I'm interested in Australia, so this book was good for me. I could learn about Australia animals from this book. I didn't know that "koala" means "no drink," because koalas rarely drink water.
—Erina Komaki
