Time of the Turtle King

Magic Tree House #38

by Mary Pope Osborne

The #1 bestselling Magic Tree House series is ready to whisk you away across the world with Jack and Annie—this time as World Turtle Experts in the Galapagos Islands!!

It's just a regular day when ordinary kids Jack and Annie are whisked away in the magic tree house to the Galapagos islands, where they must save a giant tortoise from an erupting volcano! But what do Jack and Annie know about saving turtles?! Plenty, thanks to some magic that makes them experts. A helicopter ride, rushing lava, and a whole lot of determination make this one adventure Jack and Annie will never forget!

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

Magic Tree Perfect for those who are just beginning chapter books

Merlin More challenging adventures for the experienced book explorer

Fact Nonfiction companions to your favorite Magic Tree House adventures

Graphic Relive the original adventures brought to life with art by Kelly & Nichole Matthews

If you're looking for Merlin Mission #38: Monday with a Mad Genius, it was renumbered as Merlin Mission #10 when the series was rebranded in 2017.

Genres: Fantasy, Childrens, Adventure, Chapter Books, Audiobook, Middle Grade, Animals

Audible Audio

First published September 5, 2023

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

[Jasmine from How Useful It Is]

Listened to this audiobook with my first grader while we were on the road to the swimming pool and the trip back home.

This story followed siblings Jack and Annie as they traveled to Isabela Island in Ecuador to see the Galapagos Giant Tortoise. They traveled with the magical badge that gave them the expert knowledge of turtles. They helped with the tourists by sharing the information about the Galapagos Giant Tortoises. They learned that the islands there were created by volcanoes and an active volcano was happening there while they were there.

The island and the turtles are new information to me so the story was interesting.

We listened to this audiobook via Cloud Library.

[Ashley G.]

I think my kids are too old for these, but overall this was fine

[Jenny Clark]

Another good installment in the series, this one with a bit more magic, in the form of enchanged name badges to give knowledge and make them look like adults. This is the second of this four book mini series, in which Jack and Annie help wildlife rangers and experts protect endangered species.

Check out my YouTube channel for bookish videos and monthly wrap ups!

[Kelly {SpaceOnTheBookcase]]

The Magic Treehouse series has been captivating children for decades and #38 Time of the Turtle King is a welcomed edition to the series.

Through the adventures of Jack and Annie young readers learn all about turtles and the Galápagos Islands. Tasked with an emergency mission, Jack and Annie must beat the lava clock to save the a tortoise over 150 years olds.

What I loved the most about Time of the Turtle King is the ability to teach through reading.

Thank you Random House Kids for gifting me a copy.

[Denise]

Very educational.

[Charles Reed]

This was a great book, I'm thinking about turtles, I have a soft shelter turtle in my house right now and I was thinking myself I could farm these.

You cannot farm giant tortoises however that is completely illegal karma at least harvesting them, obtaining them is also probably illegal.

So Jack and Annie go off on a cool adventure, and help to save the tortoise which was very awesome.

[Gil-or (readingbooksinisrael)]

Another Magic Tree House book! I think I prefer them more than the Merlin Missions though that might just be because I'm still towards the beginning of those.

Anyways, this was a fun adventure but was way too info-dumpy.

[Mystic DreamClouds]

It’s been a while since I read a book from this series and I hope it doesn’t end anytime soon. Though I still need to pick up the related Merlin Missions series. There is a sort of comfort to reading a story where you know that everything’s going to be all right at the end.

The kids, Jack and Annie, are back out on another adventure to the Galapagos Islands as experts on a quest to save the sea turtles from the erupting volcano. This was an informative and enjoyable read with a few strong messages at the end.

Whenever I read this series I’m looking forward to the information weaved into it. In this installment, Jack and Annie are World Turtle Experts with the help of a badge provided by Morgan Le Fay. Therefore, they know a lot of information and although they help with a tour exhibit the information seemed forced. The relaying of information felt disconnected from the story and there was a lot to absorb. I did, however like that there was a clear difference between Jack and Annie’s demeanor when they wore the badge and when they took it off. I think that clear distinction helped put into perspective not only how powerful Morgan :e Fay’s magic is but also how the kids were able to seamlessly interact with those around them.

The premise of the story was interesting. I liked how the story tells the importance of the Galapagos Islands, while also noting the dangers and what’s being done to help protect those who live there. The story does a good job with pacing and weaving in the mission related to Morgan Le Fay’s riddle while also allowing the kids to enjoy their new environment.

The artwork in this installment feels different. It’s more defined using various gradients of grey as well as more descriptive. There are a lot more backgrounds added as well which make the artwork feel more pronounced.

Overall, this was a good read and I’m still looking forward to continuing this series. I may not be the primary target audience but these books have simple writing, great pacing and information weaved throughout. I would definitely recommend this series to animal lovers or kids learning to read or expand into chapter books.

Read more reviews @ Mystic's Review Shelf

[Becky B]

Jack and Annie are transported by the Magic Treehouse to the Galapagos Islands where they must figure out a riddle and help save some endangered animals from a volcano.

A note in the back of the book says this book is based on a real event in 1998 when a volcano erupted in the Galapagos and giant tortoises had to be evacuated by helicopter to safety. I had never heard of that being done, so that was an interesting tidbit I learned. Jack and Annie arrive on the island with disguises of being "turtle experts" and they spout off a lot of facts and theories about tortoises and the Galapagos Islands as they discover their new disguise functions. Readers will likely learn a bit, and this would be a good companion read for units on the Galapagos or Ecuardor.

Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: Danger from lava, but it doesn't get serious.
Ethnic diversity: Jack and Annie are white Americans. They meet local Ecuadorians and tourists.
LGBTQ+ content: None specified
Other: Jack and Annie's turtle/tortoise information includes some evolutionary theory

[Dean]

1.5 stars

A lot of info-dumping with Jack and Annie vocalizing what they both realized they knew to each other.

One of the magical items used in this story felt like it broke one of the fundamental rules of this series. Jack and Annie were both given encyclopedic information about the focus of this book. If this was a possibility, why were they never provided something similar in all the other stories instead of struggling to work things out or learn bit by bit themselves?

Interesting information about turtles and the Galapagos Islands though.

[Aeryn C]

This book was inspired by a volcano eruption in 1988.
This time,we head to the Galapagos,where Jack and Annie head to a turtle research institute,where they have to give a tour to a group of tourists.They get interrupted,but for a good reason.The Special Forces call on Jack and Annie to rescue extremely rare turtle;the Blue Hill tortoises.Jack's badge drops,and he sees a 150 year old tortoise,who they rescue.

[Cherish Brown]

(4☆ Would recommend)
I learned about this series from my 6-year-old son. He loves these books. I liked how the books aren't super long, so emergent readers & younger kids can enjoy them. I liked how the personalities of Jack & Annie are so different. I really enjoyed how the story encompasses books & learning. I liked how the book started where the last one ended. I really enjoyed this book. I'm excited to read the rest of the series. Would recommend.

[Katie]

Another good story by Osborne.
However, just like the previous one, Jack and Annie stay in the present time and travel to the Galapagos Islands.
The volcano was fascinating but the best part was with Jack meeting a Giant Tortoise.
Still, I look forward to more of Jack and Annie's adventures.

[Mary T]

I've read a bunch in this series, but I didn't like this one as much -- the whole "world turtle expert" thing. I know the author is trying to mix it up some with that twist, but I didn't care for it. I read this to my 4 and 5yo sons.

[Kiersten]

We enjoyed this, as usual with Magic Treehouse! It was a little strange this time for Jack and Annie to have badges that automatically make them “experts” rather than using books to gain their knowledge. But overall, still fun!

[AllyP Reads Books]

I would believe anyone with a badge that said "World Turtle Expert". There's no way that could be faked. They're turtle experts. It's like how at work, I took a label maker and added "Extraordinaire" after my job title on my name tag. No one can dare argue with that.

[Mamiko]

I used to love Magic Tree House (and so did my son), but I am afraid we've outgrown them. I'd love to find a similar book/novel series that would teach children geography - if anyone has recommendations, I'd love to hear them! The ones I've found so far are just one off books that are not novels.

[Riley Lewis]

This review is for book 37-39. Love reading this series with my kids, but disappointed that the whole focus has gone to saving animal at the end of the series. I liked the historical education in the middle of the series the best. My kids are excited to start the Merlin's missions series.

[Lee C]

They saved a giant tortoise from an erupting volcano.

[Heather]

Based on a real story.

[Cara Byrne]

My first grader loved this book! She loved the scene between Jack and the Turtle King

[Lauren]

all u need to do is love turtles and they will love you

[PottWab Regional Library]

SM

[Sasha]

Read aloud to the kids. They still enjoy this series.

[AMY]

88 pgs. Great story when Jack and Annie go to the Galapagos Islands to help save some turtles during a volcanic explosion. This book has lots of action and kids will enjoy reading about the turtles and it's habitat. Highly recommended for Grades 3-5.

[Alexis]

I've always wondered why turtles are kings in mythology.

[Joseph]

A really good story in the latest book for the Magic Tree House.

[David Monroe]

A cute short story about land turtles on Isabela Island in the Galapagos. But I struggle with how Jack n Annie don’t age - this is book 38

[Danielle]

3.5

[Martine]

3.5/5