Magic Tree House Books

[tonilea]

DS got his first MTH book tonight. It is the first one "Dinosaurs Before Dark". He loved it and read it almost immediately. He was very, very excited to find there were more books.

My question, do the books get harder as the series progresses? Do they get scarier?

What is your opinion on them in general?

Thanks!

 

[dvcfamily41801]

My 9 year son still loves these and can not wait until July when the next one comes out! He would plow through several a day when he first started reading them several years ago. I believe they pretty much stay at the same level until the Merlin Missions. They also have the Research Guides which are fun to read along with the books.

Enjoy!!!

 

[Cindy B]

I don't think they get any scarier, but in some books they material may get a tad more complex (Shakespeare, Revolutionary War). Of course the book is written so the child does not need to be an expert in those topics but maybe a short explanation of those things before reading may be helpful or needed.

Forgot to add opinion... As a teacher and mom, I can say both my students and kids read them. My reluctant, ESL or just lower reading level kids still read them-- and I work in a middle school. My daughter found the whole series boring. My son enjoyed the series more.

The one thing I hated is the repeated use of the word said. I understand why the author keeps on using said instead of replied, stated, asked, etc... but when you put the book on tape and hear.. Annie said, etc.. lots of times it will drive you batty.

 

[mtemm]

my son has been obsessed with these books! he loves them! I don't think they get any scarier...he doesn't do well with really scary (loves a couple of goosebumps, but not ready for both. granted he's 7, so that may be why)

 

[The Mystery Machine]

They stay the same. My dd was into them, age 7, and then got bored with them and moved on.
It is a nice series to get kids into reading.

My dd is 12 now and reading Steven King.

 

[MickeyMomTo2]

As a PP stated, they get longer (about twice as long) in the Merlin Missions. The first MM is about book 28 or 29.

 

[Rora]

As a teacher, my students love them. I don't think they are very scary but like others have said, the books get longer and tackle more difficult topics.

It's a great series!

 

[tonilea]

I don't think they get any scarier, but in some books they material may get a tad more complex (Shakespeare, Revolutionary War). Of course the book is written so the child does not need to be an expert in those topics but maybe a short explanation of those things before reading may be helpful or needed.

Forgot to add opinion... As a teacher and mom, I can say both my students and kids read them. My reluctant, ESL or just lower reading level kids still read them-- and I work in a middle school. My daughter found the whole series boring. My son enjoyed the series more.

The one thing I hated is the repeated use of the word said. I understand why the author keeps on using said instead of replied, stated, asked, etc... but when you put the book on tape and hear.. Annie said, etc.. lots of times it will drive you batty.

Do you think they are too mature for a five year old? He turned five in May and will start K in August.

 

[eduk8r26]

If a kindergartener can read at 2nd to low 3rd grade level, he will be able to read Magic Tree House. The content is fine for them.

 

[Cindy B]

Do you think they are too mature for a five year old? He turned five in May and will start K in August.

My son read them in preschool. It wasn't too mature at all. My son was (and still is) a varicious reader.

He was reading Harry Potter at the end of K-- so I don't think to much about the maturity of Magic Tree House. And no, he didn't read all of Harry Potter (this was socerer's stone) but he did read the first chapter himself at the end of K.

 

[tonilea]

Thanks. The first one didn't seem too advanced at all, but I wanted to educate myself about the series.

I plan to allow him to read the book first. (I usually ask lots of questions to make sure he understands what he is reading.) Then we will read it together.

ETA: He loves to read and I want to encourage that, but I don't want to turn him off reading by letting him get into stuff way over his head.

 

[Cindy B]

Thanks. The first one didn't seem too advanced at all, but I wanted to educate myself about the series.

I plan to allow him to read the book first. (I usually ask lots of questions to make sure he understands what he is reading.) Then we will read it together.

ETA: He loves to read and I want to encourage that, but I don't want to turn him off reading by letting him get into stuff way over his head.

Even if you get to the Shakespeare or Revolutionary War books, it is easy to explain iit easy. For example, you could say that Shakespeare was a famous person who wrote plays in England a long time ago. The Globe Theater is where many of his plays were performed.

It's not key to understand every facet of Shakespeare's life to get this.