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Item Barcode | Collection | Call Number | Status | Item Holds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33607003565119 | Juvenile Books on CDs | OSBORNE | Searching... Unknown | Searching... Unavailable |
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Summary
Summary
Get whisked away through time in the magic tree house with Jack and Annie in the #1 bestselling series--and meet famous Founding Father and inventor Ben Franklin!
Jack and Annie know all about Ben Franklin. He was a Founding Father, a journalist, and a famous inventor! When the magic tree house whisks them back to meet the man himself, they're not sure what their mission is. But Ben Franklin has a mission of his own. Intrigued by Jack and Annie, he's curious to learn more about where they came from. And very curious about their tree house. . . .
Track the facts with Jack and Annie in the nonfiction companion to this book: Benjamin Franklin .
Did you know that there's a Magic Tree House book for every kid?
Magic Tree House: Perfect for readers who are just beginning chapter books
Merlin Missions: More challenging adventures for the experienced reader
Fact Trackers: Nonfiction companions to your favorite Magic Tree House adventures
If you're looking for Merlin Mission #32: Winter of the Ice Wizard , it was renumbered as part of the rebrand in 2017 as Merlin Mission #4.
Author Notes
Mary Pope Osborne was born in Fort Sill, Oklahoma on May 20, 1949. She grew up in a military family, and by the time she was 15 she had lived in Oklahoma, Austria, Florida, and four different army posts in Virginia and North Carolina. She attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she majored in religion. After graduation, she traveled around Europe and Asia. Before becoming an author, she worked as a window dresser, a medical assistant, a Russian travel consultant, a waitress, an acting teacher, a bartender, and an assistant editor for a children's magazine.
Her first book, Run, Run as Fast as You Can, was published in 1982. She is the author of the Magic Tree House series and the Merlin Missions series. Her husband, actor Will Osborne, helps her write the nonfiction companion series, Magic Tree House Research Guides. Her other books include The Deadly Power of Medusa, Jason and the Argonauts, Haunted Waters, and Moonhorse.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Excerpts
Excerpts
It was a hot summer afternoon. Jack and Annie sat in their living room. Jack was reading a book about weather. Annie was looking out the window. "Let's go do something," she said. "Too hot," said Jack. "We could ride our bikes to the lake," Annie said. "And go swimming." "No way," said Jack. "We could--" "Shh, please," said Jack. "I'm trying to read." Annie was quiet for a moment. Then she gasped. "Oh, wow, lightning! I just saw a flash of lightning out there," she said. "You're joking," said Jack. "Nice try." "No joke! I saw it!" said Annie. "There's not a single cloud," said Jack. "You need clouds to have lightning." "Then it must have been . . . magic !" said Annie. "Come on, let's go!" "No, thanks. Have fun," said Jack. "You'll be sorry," said Annie as she rushed outside. Jack waited for Annie to come back in from the heat. He waited and waited. But she didn't return. Jack put down his book. "I'd better check," he said to himself. He picked up his backpack and headed outside. Oh, man , Jack thought as he headed up the sidewalk. It must be a hundred degrees in the sun. By the time Jack reached the Frog Creek woods, he was sweaty and out of breath. He crossed the street and walked between the trees. Even in the shade, the air was muggy. Jack tramped through the woods until he came to the tallest oak. "Hey there," said Annie. She was leaning against the trunk of the tree. Next to a dangling rope ladder. "I told you it was no joke," said Annie. "Right. No joke," Jack said with a grin. Annie grabbed the ladder and started up. Jack followed. As they climbed into the magic tree house, golden sunlight slanted across the floor. The warm wood had a deep, rich smell of summer. In a shadowy corner was a piece of parchment. "A note from Morgan," said Jack. He picked up the note and read aloud: In Old Philadelphia, A paper must be signed. Help Doctor Ben Make up his mind. "Doctor Ben?" said Jack. "Is Ben his last name or first name?" Annie shrugged. "I don't know," she said. "Keep reading." Jack kept reading: To get his attention, Say "We're from the press." Then do what you can To ease his distress. Listen to his thoughts. If his fears start to grow And he loses all hope, There's a place he must go. 'Tis a land filled with things You see every day. But these everyday wonders Will show him the way. "Hmm," said Annie. "So Morgan wants us to go to Old Philadelphia. We have to find someone named Doctor Ben. Then we need to help him make up his mind to sign some kind of paper. That sounds easy." "Yeah, definitely easier than going to a Roman army camp or an island about to have one of the worst hurricanes in American history," said Jack. "Philadelphia's not that far from Frog Creek," said Annie. "They're both in Pennsylvania." "Yep, my class took a field trip there," said Jack. "It's not that far in miles . But 'old' could mean we're going far back in time." "That's okay. ' Old Philadelphia' sounds charming," said Annie. "Charming?" said Jack. "Yeah, like lovely and pleasant," said Annie. "Okay!" said Jack. "So, where's our research book?" They looked around. The only book in the tree house was their Pennsylvania book--the book that always brought them back home. "Hold on," said Jack. "I have an idea." He picked up the Pennsylvania book and checked the table of contents. "Yes! There's a chapter called 'Old Philadelphia, 1787.' " "Cool, let's go to 1787!" said Annie. "This book can take us there and bring us back home." "Exactly," said Jack. He turned to a page that showed a drawing of a cobblestone street with women in long dresses, and carts pulled by horses. "See, it does look charming!" said Annie. "Let's go!" "Right," said Jack. He pointed to the drawing. "I wish we could go there!" The wind started to blow. The tree house started to spin. It spun faster and faster. Then everything was still. Absolutely still. Excerpted from To the Future, Ben Franklin! by Mary Pope Osborne All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.