Season of the Sandstorms: A Merlin Mission by Mary Pope Osborne Read Free Book Online Page A

philosopher Aristotle. Aristotle’s teachings helped lay the foundation for modern science.
    Harun al-Rashid helped start a golden age, in which Baghdad would be an important center of learning and culture for the next four hundred years. In 1258, the city was destroyed by Mongol invaders.

Mary Pope Osborne is the award-winning author of many novels, picture books, story collections, and nonfiction books, including
Adaline Falling Star, Kate and the Beanstalk, New York’s Bravest, Favorite Medieval Tales, Favorite Greek Myths
, and
One World, Many Religions.
Her bestselling Magic Tree House series has been translated into many languages around the world. Highly recommended by parents and educators everywhere, the series introduces young readers to different cultures and times in history, as well as to the world’s legacy of ancient myth and storytelling. Mary Pope Osborne is married to Will Osborne, a co-author of many of the Magic Tree House Research Guides. They live in northwestern Connecticut with their Norfolk terriers, Joey and Mr. Bezo.

Sal Murdocca is best known for his amazing work on the Magic Tree House series. He has written and/or illustrated over two hundred children’s books, including
Dancing Granny
by Elizabeth Winthrop,
Double Trouble in Walla Walla
by Andrew Clements, and
Big Numbers
by Edward Packard. He has taught writing and illustration at the Parsons School of Design in New York. He is the librettist for a children’s opera and has recently completed his second short film. Sal Murdocca is an avid runner, hiker, and bicyclist. He has often bicycle-toured in Europe and has had many one-man shows of his paintings from these trips. He lives and works with his wife, Nancy, in New City, New York.

Here’s a special preview of
Magic Tree House #35
(A Merlin Mission)

Night of the New Magicians

    Available now!
    Excerpt copyright © 2006 by Mary Pope Osborne.
Published by Random House Children’s Books,
a division of Random House, Inc., New York.

J ack sat on the porch, reading in the summer twilight. Crickets chirped in the Frog Creek woods. The bell of an ice cream truck jingled down the street.
    Annie stepped out the front door. “Let’s go,” she said.
    “Where?” said Jack.
    “Mom gave us money for ice cream,” said Annie.
    “Cool,” said Jack. He pulled on his backpack. Then he followed Annie down the porch steps.As they headed up the sidewalk, the smell of damp leaves and moss wafted from the woods.
    Annie stopped walking. “Listen,” she said.
    Jack listened. “What?” he said. “I don’t hear anything.”
    “That’s the
point,”
said Annie. “A minute ago, the crickets were blaring away. Now everything’s super quiet.”
    Jack listened again. Annie was right. All the Frog Creek woods seemed to be holding its breath.
    “Do you think …?” said Jack.
    “Maybe,” said Annie, grinning. “Let’s go check!”
    Jack and Annie hurried across the street and into the dimly lit woods. They walked quickly between the leafy trees, until they came to the tallest oak. A rope ladder dangled from the tree-top. The magic tree house sat high in the branches, catching the last light of day.
    Jack smiled. “I guess ice cream will have to wait,” he said.
    “Yep,” said Annie. She grabbed the ladder and climbed up. Jack climbed up after her.
    Inside the tree house, dusky light filtered through the window. Lying on the wooden floor was a folded piece of paper and a slim book with a red cover.
    Annie grabbed the paper. Jack picked up the book. “This must be a research book from Morgan,” he said.
    The book’s title was written in gold letters:

    “Paris World’s Fair?” said Jack.
    “That sounds like fun!” said Annie.
    “Yeah, but I wonder why we’re going there,” said Jack.
    “This should tell us,” said Annie. She unfolded the paper. “It’s Merlin’s handwriting.” She read aloud:
    To Jack and Annie of Frog Creek:
I have discovered that an evil sorcerer