Expedition Down Under

The Magic School Bus Science Chapter Books #10

by Eva Moore

Ms. Frizzle and the kids go all out in the outback. Catch up on all the amazing facts about the animals Down Under!

Hi, I'm Dorothy Ann. Ms. Frizzle's class ended up on the other side of the world when we went searching for the cackling kookaburra. It was a wild walk-about to Australia. We had a hopping good time racing a herd of kangaroos and survived a run-in with the terrible Tasmanian devil. Things got pretty hairy in the outback, but there's never been a field trip quite like the Expedition Down Under.

Genres: Science, Childrens, Chapter Books, Australia, Nonfiction, Travel, Adventure

92 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2002

Reviews

[Chance Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's what you would expect nothing more or less. Well maybe a touch less?

Cover
Pretty standard. Almost would have been disappointed if they didn't have a kangaroo on the cover. It's pretty true to the interior designs as well.
I don't quite understand what direction the back cover was going for. It looks nick even if I don't completely understand it.

Interior
Story
It's basically like a television episode. Go Australia and learn about some of the local animals.
It didn't get too obnoxious but if they mentioned their hunt for the Kookaburra more it would have gotten annoying.
They do have the bus transform, Liz makes a few cameos, and it has a bit of playfulness imagination using pogo sticks to keep up with kangaroos.
It's also nice that each student has a report done for each of the animals even if each student doesn't get that gets much attention through the book. They do balance that decently, (I think.)

The data for each animal is pretty uneven. Focusing on some a little longer than others. This isn't exactly a book of information about Australia but more like a summery about some animals you'll find.
I guess Tiki is considered a professional but I do find it hilarious how casually she walks up to crocodile and challenges a kangaroo for dominance. I may be from Canada but that sounds beyond reckless. I do find it interesting that after leaning on a croc the book does note they've only eaten people for getting too close. Interesting and ironic.
I love the detail of how Tiki ends up leaving to meet a new school bus tour waiting for her creating the illusion this is her career taking students around Australia. It also creates the notice that Ms. Frizzle is a friend since they met off the beaten path in Tasmania for a special tour rather than meeting at general place.


Illustration
The illustrations are pretty half and half. The effort and detail in the animals are really nice but the students are lacking. Hands down the book illustrations ended on a high note. I think the last drawing of the Kookaburra is the best the book has.

After Thought
I had to point it out. I love the nod to Warner Brothers Taz while being in Tasmania. It's slick nod. Obviously they had to do it.

It might ruin the story book but I'll point out the timeline problem.
When the leave on the field during school hours. Somewhere in US or Canada. With that clearly it's midnight when they arrive. Unless... they were gone for two days. Clearly the parents know where the kids are going considering every field trip is a surprise and appears to be spontaneous to the students. Am I looking too much into it? Yes... Yes I am.

[Amber]

Lunch read aloud per request by my first grader who loves Magic School Bus books. He realized he had the perfect chapter book to go along with our Australia social studies unit and he was right, it was a fun fit to include within our school day. The book follows the Magic School Bus kids as they head to Australia in search of a kookaburra. Along the way they meet many animals native to Australia as well as briefly explore some of the different biomes within the country. I would not use this as a stand-alone book for a unit because most of the information is intentionally designed to be brief as they have many places to explore but it is a great supplement and it was fun to see even my preschooler recognize many of the animals mentioned that we had studied the previous six weeks in school.

[Sarah Bodaly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like these books. They're fun; engage kids in the information that is enjoyable and not at all seeming like a boring list of facts shoved down the readers' throats. A little bit of imagination, and you, too, can be in the Land Down Under.

[Maximilian Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title is called expedition "down under" (down under is Australia) and the book takes place in Australia Ha Ha so funny. I leaned that koalas are marsupials.

[Aneesa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Typical Frizz

[Allison Hibbs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Exactly what it says on the tin. A light-hearted romp with some solid animal facts and all the characters my 2 and 4 year old love from other Magic School Bus books.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

While our girls seem to prefer the colorful illustrated books that mirror the television episodes, this is an interesting tale about the creatures in Australia. We've learned quite a bit about the various unique animals that are indigenous only to Australis, but it seems like every time we read about the continent, we learn of a few more. So many different species of marsupials...who knew? In any case, it's an interesting tale and I think our youngest will appreciate the Magic School Bus chapter books in this series more in time.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this was rather bleh. It moved very quickly and gave minimal information about the animals we met. You could possibly use it as a spine and when you read about a particular animal choose a book specifically about that animal, read it and then go back to the MSB book.

Overall I prefer the shorter picture books because they actually have more information than the chapter books seem to. They boys were pretty fidgety during this book and I had to keep calling them back into the room. I don't think I'll use again.

[Tam Tam · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far it's interesting. Gives a lot of facts about animals from Australia. I found this more interesting than the Magnetism book...at least easier to follow. But still keeps you wondering about that kookaburra they're trying to find.

Finished it and I really liked the book. It was fun to learn facts about different animals and also some slang the Aussie's use.

Great book for kids!

[Daniel Ho · Rating 5 out of 5]

it is well made.

[Teri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another magic school bus Christmas gift my girls LOVE!

[Connie Gunderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

We like these a lot for the most part. Some of this one got up my nose and I had the narration style but the content is mostly A+

[Lila Olsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked it.

[Suki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review by 5yo: I like if because they thought they would never get to the kookaburra but they did.

[Corinne Lomax]

the magike sch

[Hillvan]

630L

[Yajur jayaprakash · Rating 3 out of 5]

nice boook! learnt about many animalsz!

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

explore the land down under with social studies and science supplements for the classroom