Magic Tree House: Vacation Under the Volcano
Lexile Level: 410L
This book is an early chapter book
written by Mary Pope Osborne, and illustrated by Sal Murdocca. This book is
about an adventure that Jack and Annie take through their magic treehouse. They
go back in time to try and get an ancient book for their library. They go to
ancient Roman town named Pompeii. In the story, there is a lady that can see
into the future and warns Jack and Annie to leave. They continue to try and
find the library and once they find the library Jack figures out that this day
in history the volcano erupts and destroys the town. Annie and Jack need to
hurry and get to the magic treehouse. They get stuck and a huge gladiator saves
them, who Annie thinks is Hercules. They make it safely to the treehouse. Morgan
the Librarian in the treehouse tells them briefly about their next mission. Jack
and Annie then go on their family vacation.
Is this a good story?
I think this is a great story. It involves some action and the characters overcome a problem in a great way. The story also references a historical event of a volcano erupting and destroying a city.
Did the main character overcome the problem? Did it seem natural?
The main character overcame their problem of gathering the book from the ancient library, and making it back to the treehouse before they the city was destroyed by the volcano. This is a very imaginative book, so these events could not actually occur, but this seemed natural to the nature of the book.
Are the factual and historical detail accurate?
I think this is a great story. It involves some action and the characters overcome a problem in a great way. The story also references a historical event of a volcano erupting and destroying a city.
Did the main character overcome the problem? Did it seem natural?
The main character overcame their problem of gathering the book from the ancient library, and making it back to the treehouse before they the city was destroyed by the volcano. This is a very imaginative book, so these events could not actually occur, but this seemed natural to the nature of the book.
Are the factual and historical detail accurate?
The details about Mount Vesuvius are accurate the volcano erupted
in 79 A.D., and it destroyed the city of Pompeii. It also froze the city
because the magma froze so fast, this is written in the book and there are
actually pictures online to confirm this.
Did the language throughout the book sound natural? When I read the book aloud did the characters’ sound like people talking?
The language throughout the book sounded natural. The characters felt like real kids and are relatable characters. They use language that kids would use like jack says “Oh brother” or Annie says “Yikes” these are terms that are often seen in our language”
Osborne includes foreshadowing in this book to help the reader figure out what the book is going to be about. Annie says “‘I dreamed fires were burning,’ said Annie ‘Everything was smoky and dark, and the ground was shaking. Do you think it was a warning?’” (Osborne 3). The author also includes personification, Jack and Annie are talking to the woman who can see into the future and that woman says “‘And the ground shakes and speaks’” (Osborne 31). Lastly the author includes similes in this text, “A thick black cloud was spreading over the earth like an umbrella” (Osborne 50).
There are a few illustrations. These illustrations help the readers get a picture of what an ancient Roman town looked like. They also show the characters in the clothes of this time period. I think these illustrations help the reader get a better picture of this time period.
For a mini lesson I would have students create write a diary from the perspective of a person that lived in Pompeii during the time of the Volcano eruptions in this diary they will include what it was like bore the volcano erupted and what it was like after. They should use the book to help them write. In their diary they can be a made up character, and they should include emotions that this character experienced. They should include 3 entries.
Citation:
Osborne-Pope, M., Murdocca, S. (illustrator). 1998.
Magic Tree House: Vacation Under the Volcano. Random House Inc.
Did the language throughout the book sound natural? When I read the book aloud did the characters’ sound like people talking?
The language throughout the book sounded natural. The characters felt like real kids and are relatable characters. They use language that kids would use like jack says “Oh brother” or Annie says “Yikes” these are terms that are often seen in our language”
Osborne includes foreshadowing in this book to help the reader figure out what the book is going to be about. Annie says “‘I dreamed fires were burning,’ said Annie ‘Everything was smoky and dark, and the ground was shaking. Do you think it was a warning?’” (Osborne 3). The author also includes personification, Jack and Annie are talking to the woman who can see into the future and that woman says “‘And the ground shakes and speaks’” (Osborne 31). Lastly the author includes similes in this text, “A thick black cloud was spreading over the earth like an umbrella” (Osborne 50).
There are a few illustrations. These illustrations help the readers get a picture of what an ancient Roman town looked like. They also show the characters in the clothes of this time period. I think these illustrations help the reader get a better picture of this time period.
For a mini lesson I would have students create write a diary from the perspective of a person that lived in Pompeii during the time of the Volcano eruptions in this diary they will include what it was like bore the volcano erupted and what it was like after. They should use the book to help them write. In their diary they can be a made up character, and they should include emotions that this character experienced. They should include 3 entries.
Citation:
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