Beginning chapter reader
Start with Dinosaurs Before Dark and continue through the original numbered adventures. The short chapters and illustrations make this the gentlest entry point.
Book Series · 40 Books
Magic Tree House Books
In order from Dinosaurs Before Dark to Sea Otter Sunrise.
Jack and Annie travel through history, science, and the natural world in short, illustrated adventures designed for children beginning chapter books. Most books work on their own, while reading in order preserves recurring characters and larger story arcs.
Reviewed by the Bookroo Editors Updated
Reading order
How to Read the Magic Tree House Books
Magic Tree House has several related lines. For the fiction series, follow the publisher’s current book numbers: the original chapter-book adventures run #1–40, while Merlin Missions run #1–27 and offer more challenging adventures for experienced readers.
The Merlin Missions were originally published as Magic Tree House #29–55 and were reissued with their current numbering in 2017. Fact Trackers are nonfiction companions that can be read alongside the adventures that inspired them, while the graphic novels adapt the corresponding prose adventures.
Sources: Magic Tree House, Merlin Missions, Fact Trackers, Graphic Novels.
Where to start
Where Should My Child Start?
Choose the line that best matches how your child likes to read. The original adventures are the usual starting point, but the companion lines make it easy to meet a reader where they are.
Ready for more challenge
Try Merlin Missions after a child is comfortable with the original books. These adventures are longer, denser, and best read in their numbered order.
Prefers visual storytelling
Choose the full-color graphic novels. They retell the original stories, so children can begin with the same characters and adventures in a more visual format.
Loves real-world facts
Pair an adventure with its Fact Tracker to explore the real history, science, animals, and places behind the story.
Where the story begins
First Book in the Series
Sale price
$574
Book #1 · Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 1992
Dinosaurs Before Dark
By Mary Pope Osborne, Sal Murdocca (Illustrator)
Two siblings travel through time to the age of the dinosaurs
68 pages· 4,717 words· Est. 53 min read
7.0/7 Bookroo
$5.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: Jack and Annie discover a mysterious tree house that transports them to the age of dinosaurs. Stranded in the prehistoric past, they must find a way back home before nightfall—or risk becoming a dinosaur's dinner. As they navigate this dangerous world, questions arise: Where did the tree house come from, and why does it hold such power? Their adventure is a race against time, filled with peril and wonder, as they uncover secrets that could change everything. Will they solve the mystery and escape, or will the prehistoric world claim them forever?
In reading order
Magic Tree House Series
40 books · Published 1992–2025
More challenging adventures
Magic Tree House: Merlin Missions Series
27 books · Published 2001–2016
Longer stories with smaller print and a higher reading level than the original adventures. A good next step for children ready for a little more challenge.
#1
Sale price
$674
Christmas in Camelot
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2001
Two siblings travel back in time to Camelot to retrieve a magical water that will save the kingdom from a terrible curse
#2
Sale price
$574
Haunted Castle on Hallows Eve
Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2003
Two siblings travel through time to the kingdom of Camelot to help the wizard Merlin and the enchantress Morgan le Fay.
#3
Sale price
$674
Summer of the Sea Serpent
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2004
Two siblings embark on a magical adventure to retrieve the Sword of Light and save King Arthur from doom.
#4
Sale price
$674
Winter of the Ice Wizard
Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2004
Two siblings travel through time to retrieve a wizard's stolen staff and encounter various magical creatures and challenges along the way.
#5
Sale price
$674
Carnival at Candlelight
Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2004
Two siblings travel back in time to Venice to save the city from a flood disaster.
#6
Sale price
$674
Season of the Sandstorms
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2005
Two siblings travel through time to ancient Baghdad to help the caliph spread wisdom to the world.
#7
Sale price
$674
Night of the New Magicians
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2006
Two siblings travel back in time to the 1889 Paris World's Fair to find four new magicians and warn them about an evil sorcerer.
#8
Sale price
$574
Blizzard of the Blue Moon
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2006
Two siblings travel through time to save a unicorn from an evil wizard.
#9
Sale price
$674
Dragon of the Red Dawn
Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2007
Two siblings travel back in time to ancient Japan to find a secret of happiness for a wizard.
#10
Sale price
$574
Monday with a Mad Genius
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2007
Two siblings travel back in time to meet Leonardo da Vinci and help him with his work.
#11
Sale price
$674
Dark Day in the Deep Sea
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2008
Two siblings travel back in time to the 19th century and find themselves on a ship in the middle of the ocean, where they encounter a giant octopus and learn a valuable lesson about compassion and understanding.
#12
Sale price
$674
Eve of the Emperor Penguin
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2008
Two siblings travel through time to find the fourth secret of happiness to save a magician in Camelot.
#13
Sale price
$674
Moonlight on the Magic Flute
Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2009
Two siblings travel back in time to 18th century Vienna to help a young Mozart find his musical voice
#14
Sale price
$674
A Good Night for Ghosts
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2009
Two siblings travel back in time to New Orleans in 1915 to help a young Louis Armstrong discover his musical talents.
#15
Sale price
$674
Leprechaun in Late Winter
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2009
Two siblings travel back in time to 19th-century Ireland to help a young girl discover her creative talents.
#16
Sale price
$674
A Ghost Tale for Christmas Time
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2010
Two siblings travel back in time to Victorian England to help Charles Dickens write his next book.
#17
Sale price
$674
A Crazy Day with Cobras
Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2010
Two siblings travel back in time to India to find an emerald rose to save a penguin from a spell.
#18
Sale price
$674
Dogs in the Dead of Night
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2011
Two siblings travel through time to the Swiss Alps to find a rare flower to break a spell that turned their friend to stone.
#19
Sale price
$674
Abe Lincoln at Last!
Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2011
Two siblings travel through time to meet Abraham Lincoln and help him during a difficult period in his life.
#20
Sale price
$674
A Perfect Time for Pandas
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2012
Two siblings travel through time to find four objects to break a spell that has turned a penguin to stone
#21
Sale price
$674
Stallion by Starlight
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2014
Two siblings travel back in time to ancient Macedonia to meet Alexander the Great.
#22
Sale price
$674
Hurry Up, Houdini!
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2013
Two siblings travel through time to meet the Great Houdini and learn a secret of greatness.
#23
Sale price
$674
High Time for Heroes
Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2014
Two siblings travel back in time to ancient Egypt to meet Florence Nightingale and learn about her life and work.
#24
Sale price
$674
Soccer on Sunday
Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2014
Two siblings travel back in time to the 1970 World Cup final in Mexico City to meet Pelé and learn the secrets of greatness from him
#25
Sale price
$574
Shadow of the Shark
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2015
Two siblings travel back in time to ancient Mexico and become embroiled in the politics of a Mayan kingdom.
#26
Sale price
$674
Balto of the Blue Dawn
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2016
Two siblings travel back in time to 1925 Alaska to help deliver medicine during a diphtheria outbreak
#27
Sale price
$674
Night of the Ninth Dragon
Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2016
Two siblings travel through time to help King Arthur and his kingdom.
Nonfiction companions
Magic Tree House: Fact Tracker Series
44 books · Published 2000–2022
Nonfiction companions that explore the history, science, people, and places behind selected adventures. Read them alongside the corresponding story or on their own.
Graphic adaptations
Magic Tree House Graphic Novels Series
8 books · Published 2021–2025
Full-color adaptations of the original adventures, retelling the same stories in a visual format with all-new artwork.
#1
#1 in Series
Graphic Nov.
Sale price
$1597
Dinosaurs Before Dark (Graphic Novel)
Chapter Book · Ages 7–11 · 2021
Two siblings travel back in time to the age of the dinosaurs
#2
#2 in Series
Graphic Nov.
Sale price
$1697
The Knight at Dawn (Graphic Novel)
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2021
Two siblings travel through time to the Middle Ages to help a knight with his quest.
#3
#3 in Series
Graphic Nov.
Sale price
$1697
Mummies in the Morning (Graphic Novel)
Chapter Book · Ages 7–11 · 2022
Solve an ancient riddle in a pyramid's maze.
#4
#4 in Series
Graphic Nov.
Sale price
$1697
Pirates Past Noon (Graphic Novel)
Chapter Book · Ages 4–8 · 2022
Two siblings travel through time to the age of pirates to find a treasure and meet the mysterious M person who has been sending them on magical adventures.
#5
#5 in Series
Graphic Nov.
Sale price
$1597
Night of the Ninjas (Graphic Novel)
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2023
Time-travel to ancient Japan. Can Jack and Annie uncover ninja secrets to save their friend?
#6
#6 in Series
Graphic Nov.
Sale price
$1697
Afternoon on the Amazon (Graphic Novel)
Chapter Book · Ages 7–11 · 2024
Lost in the Amazon, siblings face danger and mystery. Can they escape before nightfall?
#7
#7 in Series
Graphic Nov.
Sale price
$1697
Sunset of the Sabertooth (Graphic Novel)
Chapter Book · Ages 4–8 · 2024
Two kids in bathing suits face Ice Age perils. Can they survive?
#8
#8 in Series
Graphic Nov.
Sale price
$1697
Midnight on the Moon (Graphic Novel)
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2025
Siblings embark on a time-travel mission to the moon to save a friend.
Longer special edition
Magic Tree House Super Edition Series
1 book · Published 2015
Longer, more challenging Jack and Annie adventures with higher-stakes stories, plus additional facts and photographs. A good next step for readers comfortable with the original series.
#1
Sale price
$674
World at War, 1944
Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2015
Two siblings travel back in time to World War II to help a friend escape from France.
Nonfiction graphic adaptations
Magic Tree House Fact Tracker Graphic Novels Series
2 books · Published 2025
Full-color nonfiction adaptations of the Fact Trackers, combining Jack and Annie’s questions with visual explanations of real-world topics.
#1
#1 in Series
Graphic Nov.
Sale price
$1697
Magic Tree House Fact Tracker Graphic Novel: Dinosaurs
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2025
Uncover dinosaur mysteries with curious adventurers on a thrilling prehistoric journey.
#2
#2 in Series
Graphic Nov.
Sale price
$1697
Magic Tree House Fact Tracker Graphic Novel: Space
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2025
Explore the mysteries of space with curious adventurers on a cosmic journey of discovery.
From the same world
In-Universe Books
1 book · Published 2016
Sale price
$1597
Incredible Fact Book
Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2016
Discover the wildest facts from Jack and Annie's adventures beyond the tree house.
Good to know
Common Questions
How many books are in the Magic Tree House series?
There are 40 books in the Magic Tree House series. It began with Dinosaurs Before Dark in 1992, and the newest book, Sea Otter Sunrise, was published in 2025.
What order should you read the Magic Tree House books in?
Start with Dinosaurs Before Dark and follow the series order — the books above are numbered #1 through #40.
What ages are the Magic Tree House books best for?
The series is best for ages 6–9, based on the age ranges of the individual books.
Which Magic Tree House book is the longest?
Camp Time in California (Book #35) is the longest book in the series at 8,917 words (112 pages).
Which Magic Tree House book is the shortest?
Dinosaurs Before Dark (Book #1) is the shortest at 4,717 words (68 pages).
The people
The Creatives Behind the Books
The people who bring Magic Tree House to life.
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