Magic Tree House 3: Mummies in the Morning

Osborne, Mary Pope. Magic Tree House 3: Mummies in the Morning. Random House, Inc., 1993. ISBN 0-679-82424-3

Plot

Jack and Annie climb into the mysterious magic tree house for another adventure. The tree house is filled with books. Each time they visit the tree house, they choose a book which magically transports them to another place and time. In this adventure the children choose a book about ancient Egypt. They remember to bring the book about their home town of Frog Creek, Pennsylvania so they can return home when it is time. A black cat appears in the tree house window just as the children are magically whisked off to Egypt. The cat is still with them when they arrive at a pyramid, then leads them inside. The ghost Hutepi, Queen of the Nile, appears and asks the children to help her find her Book of the Dead so that she can go on to the Next Life. Hieroglyphs lead them to the Book of the Dead, but the ghost queen disappears. The children find her mummy and place her book and scepter next to her. But now the children are lost in the pyramid. The black cat leads them out just in time to see Hutepi's ghostly funeral entourage leaving the pyramid. The children return to Frog Creek and find an "M" on the floor of the tree house.

Critical Evaluation

This story is a fast read, and the action is fun to follow. Kids learn about ancient Egypt as Jack reads his book about it and writes notes in his notebook. Hieroglyphs are included and explained within the text so the reader can follow the clues along with Jack and Annie. This makes the reading experience immersive and engaging.

Annotations

Jack and Annie are off to Egypt when they enter the magic tree house and open a book to an illustration of a pyramid and a funeral procession. They help a mummy queen find her lost Book of the Dead.

Author

Mary Pope Osborne has written dozens of well-loved magic tree house stories starring Jack and Annie. Companion non-fiction research guides have been published by the author as well.

Genre

Fiction - history

Curriculum Ties

Language arts

Social Studies – ancient Egypt

Science – desiccation (mummification)

Booktalk Ideas

Open with, "If you could open a book and magically transport to another time and place, where would you like to go? In Mummies in the Morning, Jack and Annie read a book about Egypt then go there." Then read aloud from the first chapter.

Reading Level/Interest Age

Grade 2 (age 7) and up.

Challenge Issues and Defense

None.

Why is it here?

Here is something for the youngest tweens to love and for slightly older tweens to look back on to remember their first chapter books.