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Magic School Bus TV Tie-Ins
The Magic School Bus In The Haunted Museum: A Book About Sound
In a companion book to the new PBS series starring Lily Tomlin, readers learn about sound and how it is made as Ms. Frizzle's class spends the night in a sounds museum that turns out to be haunted. Original. TV tie-in.
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
January 18, 2012
House full of strange sounds; books that scream, whisper and laugh; strange glasses which enable you to see sound waves...such things do not happen on the ordinary day, but may happen if you are a pupil in Ms. Frizzle’s class. This teacher takes her class on various trips in the magic school bus and these journeys are described in a series of books called “The Magic School Bus”; series that present scientific facts in an engaging and memorable way.
In this story children got to the strange house, which happened to be a sound museum and discovered lots of important facts about the sound, such as how it begins. They also explored various instruments and gave a concert. What is worth mentioning is the fact that besides the main narrative this book involves dialogue between children which make it even more enjoyable.
This story can be used during various lessons. It can constitute an introduction to the science sessions about the sound or may be implemented during music lessons as it presents a wide range of musical instruments. Moreover, it gives opportunities to involve children in creating music as they can add sound effects while the adult is reading; for example when it is written that there were "spooky sounds" around or the books were making various sounds. In addition, it can be successfully used during story time as it contains entertaining action and colourful, appealing illustrations.
In this story children got to the strange house, which happened to be a sound museum and discovered lots of important facts about the sound, such as how it begins. They also explored various instruments and gave a concert. What is worth mentioning is the fact that besides the main narrative this book involves dialogue between children which make it even more enjoyable.
This story can be used during various lessons. It can constitute an introduction to the science sessions about the sound or may be implemented during music lessons as it presents a wide range of musical instruments. Moreover, it gives opportunities to involve children in creating music as they can add sound effects while the adult is reading; for example when it is written that there were "spooky sounds" around or the books were making various sounds. In addition, it can be successfully used during story time as it contains entertaining action and colourful, appealing illustrations.
November 7, 2025
Ms. Frizzle’s class is at it again—immersing themselves in another exciting learning journey. In this expedition, however, the Magic School Bus breaks down near a creepy house, which turns out to be the Sound Museum-the place where the class is supposed to perform their music concert! The kids explore the museum and its many sounds, learning about vibration, sound waves, and what an echo is. Author Joanna Cole and illustrator Bruce Degen collaborate on an engaging book for readers aged four to six.
***I would use this book as an interactive read-aloud for grades one and two, activating students' prior knowledge or introducing them to sound and vibrations. I would read this book before demonstrating different examples for students, like snapping a thick rubber band vs. the think band; which one makes a higher sound when it snaps back? Students may make their own instruments to produce different sounds. I also like how Ms. Fizzle's class represents a diverse range of students, additionally making it an inclusive piece of literature.
***I would use this book as an interactive read-aloud for grades one and two, activating students' prior knowledge or introducing them to sound and vibrations. I would read this book before demonstrating different examples for students, like snapping a thick rubber band vs. the think band; which one makes a higher sound when it snaps back? Students may make their own instruments to produce different sounds. I also like how Ms. Fizzle's class represents a diverse range of students, additionally making it an inclusive piece of literature.
November 4, 2025
Ms. Frizzle and her class embark on a spooky field trip that gets derailed when they have to make a pit stop at a haunted museum. The class is on their way to their band/orchestra concert where they will be performing, when they have to make and unexpected stop overnight at the sound museum. Although the museum is creepy they learn all about sounds and vibrations through the museums haunted features.
This book is easy to understand for kids who are learning about sound and vibrations for the first time or hundredth. I would have this book in my classroom library in a book bin for science but also as a potential read aloud for a sound and vibration unit. If the unit happened to be in October that could align very well with the book and make some interesting projects for kids to complete.
This book is easy to understand for kids who are learning about sound and vibrations for the first time or hundredth. I would have this book in my classroom library in a book bin for science but also as a potential read aloud for a sound and vibration unit. If the unit happened to be in October that could align very well with the book and make some interesting projects for kids to complete.
October 13, 2020
The class visits a sound museum to play in an invented instrument concert. While in the (maybe) haunted museum, the students learn about sound and hearing. This follows the plot of the tv episode. I think the tv episode is a bit more fun because the sounds come to life better. The book feels like it’s lacking a little bit of detail, although there is still a sprinkling of factual information presented throughout, as well as more informational back matter.
April 1, 2025
I guess you could consider this book the Halloween Special of the Magic School Bus cartoon show. The class goes into a spooky, haunted house which turns out to be a Museum of Sounds. There they hear and learn about different sounds while investigating where a mellifluous sound was coming from.
January 22, 2024
That is Haunted Museum in MSB, because Ms. Frizzle and her classroom believes the ghost in the Haunted Museum. Then the classroom got the study of the sound within the strange glasses are seeing sound waves at even scream, clapping, music and etc. Sadly, I can't hear it because I am deaf.
October 12, 2025
The story skips a little bit but kept my 5 year old engaged. She was able to track what was being explained and remained curious as the kids and the Friz explored their haunted destination. Don’t miss reading the Fritz’s letter at the end!
October 17, 2017
It was ok
December 5, 2017
Alice's favorite episode in a suitably challenging book that she finished with enthusiasm!
October 5, 2019
it was good.
August 19, 2020
We love the Magic School Bus series. These books are so informative and visually appealing for readers of all ages.
October 30, 2023
Don't let the plant
December 3, 2018
The story is about a class that goes to a museum but while there weird things happen. Not going to get in to detail about what things because you'll have to read to find out.
Genre: Realistic
Grade: 2nd and higher
Genre: Realistic
Grade: 2nd and higher
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May 3, 2015Ms. Frizzle is taking the kids to the Sound Museum for a concert they are doing. On the way there the bus breaks down and they find this spooky house that was making different noises. Ms. Frizzle insisted they check it out and take chances. This house ended up being the museum and they were stuck inside. They go from room to room checking out all the different themes, noises, and instruments. They learned that sound comes from vibrations. Carlos had to use this information to make his instrument sound good.
Any Magic School Bus book is perfect for kids. They are so educational and fun to read. There is also a t.v. Show so kids can enjoy that as well. I think it's important for kids to enjoy what they are reading and still learn from it too. I like that it is easy to read and there isn't too much text on the pages. The illustrations are very colorful and take up the whole page. Kids can really use their imagination when they read this or any other one of these books. I think it's good to have a bunch of books with all the same characters because you get very attached to them. Then the next book you read is just another adventure you are going on with these same characters. Kids can definitely become very involved with these books. They can learn so much from them. I think these are very important books for kids to read.
Any Magic School Bus book is perfect for kids. They are so educational and fun to read. There is also a t.v. Show so kids can enjoy that as well. I think it's important for kids to enjoy what they are reading and still learn from it too. I like that it is easy to read and there isn't too much text on the pages. The illustrations are very colorful and take up the whole page. Kids can really use their imagination when they read this or any other one of these books. I think it's good to have a bunch of books with all the same characters because you get very attached to them. Then the next book you read is just another adventure you are going on with these same characters. Kids can definitely become very involved with these books. They can learn so much from them. I think these are very important books for kids to read.
November 3, 2013
This is a fun book to read to teach students about the basics of sound. When Ms. Frizzle's bus breaks down outside of a haunted museum, the students learn all about the basics of sound and how it works. Throughout the book, there are many "side notes" that have fun sound projects for the children to do so that they can learn more about sound. I would use this book from grades 1-2. The text and ideas are written in a student-friendly manner that breaks down the concept of sound so that students are able to understand. Instead of information presented in a "text-book" way, the information is provided in a story form, which is fun for children.
July 13, 2009
Another fictional field trip to learn about science, this time about sound. Our girls just love the Magic School Bus series, books and tv show, and so these tv tie-in books are great. They remember the show and it helps reinforce their learning. Fun to read aloud, too!
While it's not really a Halloween story, the haunted house theme is perfect for that time of year.
While it's not really a Halloween story, the haunted house theme is perfect for that time of year.
April 11, 2011
The Magic School Bus book series are great double duty books that work in literacy and in science! The Magic School Bus In The Haunted Museum explores the scientific concept of sound in kid friendly writing. Common reading strategies like predicting, doing a picture walk, inferring etc. can all be incorporated in this book.
April 16, 2015
The Magic School Bus is a great TV show. But reading these books aloud is torture.
In this one the kids and the Frizz travel to the Sound Museum where they are unknowingly stranded overnight. And the museum is haunted by the ghost of the museum's founder.
The kids learn about sound and fix the ploopy homemade instrument.
In this one the kids and the Frizz travel to the Sound Museum where they are unknowingly stranded overnight. And the museum is haunted by the ghost of the museum's founder.
The kids learn about sound and fix the ploopy homemade instrument.
April 25, 2015
the magic school bus goes to a haunted house.they hear weird noises.they are driving then they get a flat tire.then they walk then they find the haunted house.the doorbell opens the door by itself.you should read the book. I LOVED THE BOOK.yay.
October 4, 2016
A very mediocre book that doesn't even do a good job explaining about sound. It feels like it was put in just to keep it semi-scientific. This is a very sub-par book, and it's sad to see that the quality of these Magic School books has gone down so much. The illustrations leave a lot to be desired too.
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August 3, 2010I like that this book tackles the subject of science. Explaining concepts in a narrative and general way is really difficult. I like how they incorporate the student's dialogue as well. Students are learning from other students rather than the teacher.
May 9, 2013
This book is about sounds. How sounds are vibrations, the children are given special glasses that allows them to see the vibrations. Good for students to learn about sound waves. Written by Linda Ward Beech and illustrated by Joel Schick.
September 13, 2012
Awesome book. I think everyone should read it.
June 28, 2014
"Take chances! Make mistakes!" --Mrs. Frizzle
That quote puts this book in my first week of first grade read-alouds.
That quote puts this book in my first week of first grade read-alouds.
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October 29, 2015Very fun cute read goes into a lot of detail on how sounds work with things . But does so on a very basic children's level.
March 10, 2016
Very educational, I loved all the Magic School Bus books as a kid and my girls enjoy it now!
January 4, 2013
Good book to explain the concept of sound
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews