The Magic Tree House

“Nana, I’ve been reading at night before I go to bed,” says my seven-year-old grandson.

“I’m so proud of you!” I ask what he’s reading.

“The Magic Tree House.” I glance in the rearview mirror and see him bouncing with excitement.

“What’s it about?”

“Jack and Annie find a magic tree house and when they open a book, they go there.”

The first book in the series is Dinosaurs Before Dark. My grandson recites a detailed description of the plot and dialog. Very detailed. I listen to the car radio and toss in a few “Hmms” and “That sounds exciting.”

“The second book is The Knight at Dawn.” Again, a line-by-line description.

“Do you notice every title mentions a time? Dinosaurs Before Dark? The Knight at Dawn?”

I notice it now.

We’re on our way across town, so he has a lot of time to describe his reading adventures. I can explain War and Peace in fewer words. I mumble more encouraging sounds as I navigate Tucson traffic. My ears are falling asleep.

By the time he gets to Night of the Ninjas, the fifth book, I wish Jack and Annie had stayed home.

“So, is that all of them?” I ask.

“No,” my grandson says. “Daddy bought me a set of 28 books.”

My ears won’t just fall asleep—they’ll fall off!

“But I’ve only read the first five.”

Whew!

“Have you been listening to me?” my grandson asks.

“Of course!” I lie.

“Good. Because now I’m going to give you a quiz.”

I am a bad Nana.

A salute to Mary Pope Osbourne for creating a series that captivates millions of readers.