Summer of the Sea Serpent

Magic Tree House "Merlin Missions" #3

by Mary Pope Osborne, Sal Murdocca (Illustrator)

The #1 bestselling chapter book series of all time celebrates 25 years with new covers and a new, easy-to-use numbering system!

Jack and Annie are off on another mythical mission at the request of Merlin the magician. Luckily, they have a young sorcerer, Teddy, to help them. From underwater caves to a Spider Queen, from mystical selkies to a magical sword, this is a Magic Tree House adventure kids won’t want to miss!

Formerly numbered as Magic Tree House #31, the title of this book is now Magic Tree House Merlin Mission #3: Summer of the Sea Serpent.

Did you know that there’s a Magic Tree House book for every kid?

Magic Tree House: Adventures with Jack and Annie, perfect for readers who are just beginning chapter books
Merlin Missions: More challenging adventures for the experienced reader
Super Edition: A longer and more dangerous adventure
Fact Trackers: Nonfiction companions to your favorite Magic Tree House adventures

Genres: Fantasy, Childrens, Fiction, Chapter Books, Adventure, Magic, Middle Grade

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Mary Pope Osborne is an American author of children's books and audiobook narrator. She is best known as the author of the Magic Tree House series, which as of 2017 sold more than 134 million copies worldwide. Both the series and Osborne have won awards, including for Osborne's charitable efforts at promoting children's literacy. One of four children, Osborne moved around in her childhood before attending the University of North Carolina. Following college, Osborne traveled before moving to New York City. She somewhat spontaneously began to write, and her first book was published in 1982. She went on to write a variety of other children's and young adult books before starting the Magic Tree House series in 1992. Osborne's sister Natalie Pope Boyce has written several compendium books to the Magic Tree House series, sometimes with Osborne's husband Will Osborne.

Reviews

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the mythology! What a fun way to introduce kids to selkies and King Arthur's sword and more. Plus another very exciting transformation (ravens and flying in the last book) into seals swimming in the sea. Such a great fantasy at any age, who wouldn't want to try that?

Sometimes these kids seem impossibly wise. On the other hand, sometimes things come out of my guys' mouths that are so sweet and perceptive that I am truly humbled. Maybe reading stories like this helps that along.

Jack and Annie are getting old fast, it's been a year a a half since the Merlin Missions began. I wonder how old they'll be by book 43?

The illustrations in the Merlin Missions have been really great as well. I've always liked the images in the MTH books, but the Merlin Mission books seem to have more frequent and more detailed pictures. They add so much to the stories, to see how the kids are dressed or what the fantastical creatures look like. They're just very well done and a great support to these wonderful stories.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining Merlin listening 🎶🔰

This was a kindle e-book novella from my local library book three in the series

I picked this novella series as a fan of Merlin, a book for the inner child, and break the routine.

Annie and Jack are summoned by the Magic Tree 🌳 House to travel back in time and find King 👑 Arthur's sword. They have an adventure as they search for the sword which they find leading to a happy ending.

I would recommend this series and author to 👍 readers looking for something for the inner child. 2023 👒😀☺👑

[Kristin]

I'm not going to rate this as I didn't read all of it as my mother read the first half to him. What I read was enjoyable though and my son loved it. He just brought home #37 last night and asked if I read these when I was a kid. Never heard of them. I think he might finally have the patience for Harry Potter now though :)

[Ryan Mckendry · Rating 5 out of 5]

sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo cccccccccccccccccccoooooooooooooooooooLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!

[Jenny Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Merlin Mission, with plenty of myths involved. I like how Jack and Annie grow over their adventures, and learn not to judge by appearance and how to be brave. In this one, they must recover the Sword Of Light, much as in the previous two they had to get the Water Of Memory And Imagination and the Diamond Of Destiny. As usual, lovely illustrations and a fast paced narrative. There is no Fact Tracker for this one.

[Briar's Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nostalgia time!

Sometimes, as an adult reader, I like jumping back to childhood favourites. I see some of these at used book stores and I figure, why not? I remember these being so much fun, and oh my goodness, they still are! These are little masterpieces that both children and adults alike can enjoy, so I believe these are some of the ultimate bed time stories.

Magic Tree House was one of my favourites as a kid, but our library could barely keep them in stock. I'm sure I never got to read all of them, but that's what being an adult is for... right? Going back and trying to find all of the classics from my childhood and checking off my life.

This one was a great fantasy adventure, following Jack and Annie as they tried to help Merlin the magician on his quests. Definitely a must read for middle graders or young readers just getting into chapter books.

Three out of five stars.

[Dana Salman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The mythology in this is incredible, the way it connects to Arthurian legend. Jack and Annie have the most spectacular adventures, and just when you think they've done everything anyone could possibly do, from riding tpteradacltes (don't know how to spell it), to acting in a Shakesperean play to turning into seals to surfing in Hawaii, Mary Pope Osborne dishes up even more, such things you've forgotten to consuder what could happen in a magic treehouse.

footnote: Wow, I don't know how old I was when I first wrote this but I'm guessing that was around five years ago or something. Still, I'll keep it in its original form since this is a kids book and that was my opinion as a kid. I donot of course still read this series anymore. I lost count of how many new ones there have been since this one.

[Zachary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think all kids should try reading it
















































































































































































































































(BECAUSE IT'S FUN!!!)

[Jeremiah Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just read this in one sitting with my almost six year old daughter. She was hooked from the beginning. We've only read one other Magic Tree House (Pirates at Noon). I thought this one was better--with a more complete plot, engaging peril and fun fantasy.

As an adult reader, I felt much of the plot was telegraphed ahead of time. Any surprises were revealed through exposition heavy dialogue--which wasn't very fun to read aloud.

But my daughter liked it and listened attentively. So, three stars it is!

[Bookish · Rating 4 out of 5]

once again Jack and Annie was successful in their merlin quest. The Sea serpent ask them an ancient question about the use of excalibur to bring peace. They were helped by the young selky Kathleen to swim im turning them into seals to swim deep waters. Overall the book had an easy reading format and the author provided an additional notes about selky, Selky are seals who can take the human form. It has been said that fisherman marry selkies and leave them broken hearted onve they leave to their seal form. As for the book this is my second book read on about this author. what i like about this book is the adventure the drawings and the additional notes of the author overall the book is an easy read for middle to early readers. This is my 41 book read for my challenge for 2017. The book can be read in a day. Both books are nice Christmas in Cemelot.

[Chamber Of Books and Secrets · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a child, this was my favourite adventure in this series. Each book had a magical and fantastic way of capturing me, but now (many years since my elemantary school time) I especially remember this book with so much love and the magic is still in my heart. Love this series to the moon and back.

[Vernon Area Public Library KIDS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack and Annie are off on another adventurous quest from Merlin involving a magical sword, a Spyder Queen, a sea serpent, and underwater caves! I love this series!
This book is available as an e-book through CloudLibrary.

Reviewed by Debbie Hersh, Circulation, Vernon Area Public Library

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book because Teddy and Kathleen helped Jack and Annie with their mission.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

New life goal: Be a selkie.

[Christina (Confessions of a Book Addict) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun read! My son loved this one, especially since it involved sea serpents, selkies, and more.

[Trey Auntie Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. "It was a little bit funny."

[isabella · Rating 5 out of 5]

i remember this one very clearly

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was the first merlin mission I remember reading

[Brenna]

I remember this book was so cool and made me want to be a selkie bc who doesn’t want to be a girl on land and a seal underwater??

[Emma Ruff · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is the best story I ever read. I want to read more books about serpents again soon. Okay bye.

[Amanda Kent · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter rates it 5/5 and felt that this one really kept her wanting to read.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations in this book were especially beautiful.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun little read

[Jessica Guard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last semester, I was introduced into the Magic Tree House series, but I never finished an entire tree house book with a class. I loved that at the end of each chapter, they left cliff hangers that kept me wanting to find out what would happen next. I also felt like the descriptions were vivid enough that I could imagine myself there. The few illustrations throughout the book also kept my attention. I really did enjoy reading this, and I'm sure I will find myself reading another one from the Magic Tree House series, too.

From a teaching standpoint, there are several topics that I could teach through this book:

1) figurative vs. literal meaning:
With this lesson, I could pull specific quotes out of the book where Jack and Annie thought Merlin's clues were literal, but were actually figurative. This could lead to a lesson on poetry.

2) symbolism
The story includes metaphors and symbolism. For example, the sword represents peace, and the ghost's gray cloak is actually fog. By talking about metaphors, you could easily discuss similes and other poem features. Then, the students could create their own poem, including both similes and metaphors.

3) research projects on mythological creatures
Whether it's half horse, half fish, or half seal, half human, mythological creatures are interesting to find out about. The different animals can represent different strengths or characteristics tied to the mythological creature, and it would be cool to learn about them. I would have my students research a mythological creature, stating the origin, physical characteristics, and interesting facts about these creatures. The students can present their information through a poster and include pictures. I also think it would be fun to have the students create a mythological creature. They could write a response to: "If I were a mythological creature, I would be..." and explain why. Then, they could draw a picture of their mythological creature.

I would highly recommend other books in this series as well.

[Gavin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summer of the sea serpent is the 31 book in the series. The Author is Mary Pope Osborne she is the author of all the Magic tree house books. This book has 114 pages and 11 chapters. Merlin send Jack and Annie to go to Ireland to find a girl named Agusta who is the third of five children in her rich family and she is the nicest by far she has two sisters and two brothers. Jack and Annie think that Agusta is a rotten mean girl because her family is rich but she shows them that she is nice and likes poor people by going to a lady named Mary’s house and showing them that they are good friends. Agusta does not belive in magic so Mary tells Jack and Annie to show her so they make little 8 inch people and then the people take Agusta to another world and Jack and Annie have to go get her. When they get her she talked to the people and they showed her a new language they she showed the world by making a popular book on the language and how to speak it.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is a great book for kids ages 6-10 (depending on reading level). It is about a boy & a girl (all kids can relate to one of them) that go on a quest. They must follow directions, make choices, and be careful. The descriptions are easy to understand and have just enough vocabulary words to challenge the children. As Annie & Jack move "Onward" the reader also gets to learn new things. This book I learned what a Selkie was. I have never heard of this mythical creature before so it was interesting. At the end of the book they expand a little more on a Selkie. If my children are going to enjoy reading AND learn new things I'm all for it! We will now be reading the Magic Tree House series but will be starting from #1 next. :)

[midnightfaerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 5 yr old is becoming a voracious reader and his teacher recommended this series so I picked up a few from the library. My son loves it. Magic and fun and adventure rolled into a chapter book that's easy to read, yet challenging enough that he's not bored. We just started the Pizza Hut book it challenge where he has to read 240 mins a month and then he gets a free personal pan pizza. He's loving it, and already has said these are the books he wants to read for the challenge. Overall a great step into chapter books for the advanced reader.

[Tim Seley]

These weren’t around when I could have appreciated them, but the kiddos love them, especially our five year old. Fun read aloud material.

[Eduardo Herrera-Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magic Tree House Merlin Missions: Summer of the Sea Serpent
Genre: Fantasy
Grade Level: 2-4
Synthesis: Summer of the Sea Serpent is the third book from a mini-series, Merlin Missions, within the Magic Tree House book collection. The book follows the two main characters, Jack and Annie, who are sent on a mission to find the Sword of Light by their friend Merlin. He has given them only a rhyme to guide them on a journey that will expose them to a number of fantasy creatures. They must find this sword before night falls in order to help their friend Merlin save all of Camelot. The book is an appropriate book that students can read within second to fourth grade due to its short chapters and varying levels of vocabulary. While this is not a leveled reader, the Magic Tree House books have a plethora of books in its series, and some are more challenging than others which allows for more students to enjoy the stories of Jack and Annie.

How and Why: This book could be simply used as an option for my students to read in my classroom library. I think that allowing students to read this book during independent reading time would be a good option for students that feel comfortable to read a book in small increments. As a small chapter book, students are able to introduce themselves to the structure of chapter books and understand to use new concepts of print such as the table of contents, which non chapter books may not have. Another way to use this book could be as an ongoing read aloud book with a group of students in second grade. I could see this book helping students to break down information about characters, plot line, problem-solution, and creating inferences as to what may happen next. All are important skills or concepts to know and comprehend to assist in the overall reading comprehension goal we have for our students as independent readers. This book is a good example of fantasy as it incorporates a lot of magic into its storyline and characters. In this book, Jack and Annie come across a sea knight that rides a horse with a mermaid tail, meet a huge spider queen, fight a huge ocean serpent that talks, and turn into seals to swim through the ocean. All these characters and events are not real and involve the use of magic to achieve them which can tie into a lot of fantasy characteristics. Students will fall in love with the main characters and may find interest in reading the other books of the series to further develop their understanding of other examples of fantasy novels and stories.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far in these series not just Merlin Missions, Jack and Annie found a magic treehouse. They soon discovered that in the treehouse there were many books and when they point to a picture and say “I wish we could go there” the magic treehouse will magically transport them there by spinning and spinning. Soon they discovered that this magic treehouse belongs to Morgan Le Fay. They have helped Morgan on a humongous amount of adventures by travelling to different places by the treehouse and completing missions all around the world for Morgan! However the last two adventures were different. In those last two adventures Merlin, a magician, sent them and not Morgan.

In this book it is the summer solstice! There is more sunlight that day than any other day! When Jack and Annie go to the treehouse and read the rhyme they start to think: that’s a lot to do before nightfall. They got started by pointing on the seashell Merlin wrote the rhyme on and wished to go there! Unsurprisingly, the magic treehouse magically just went where the seashell came from which is where they are supposed to go. Since the first thing on the rhyme was to call the Water Knight for help, Annie decided that the Water Knight must have been near the ocean! Luckily, because of Annie, they found the Water Knight in no time! They road on a half fish half horse across the water with the Water Knight when finally it was finally time for them to stop and figure out the rest of the mission themselves. They saw that the next thing on the rhyme was to enter the spider cave so they found it and entered. But not long after they entered, the waves were caving in! Soon the cave would be flooded with water! Jack and Annie can’t escape, and they can’t stay either! This was just one of the small troubles of their mission though. I have to admit, the mission they are preparing to complete is a very very hard one. Will they do it?