What do you think?
Rate this book
Magic Tree House #31
Warriors in Winter
Travel back in time in the magic tree house with Jack and Annie in this #1 bestselling series and meet the greatest warriors of all--the Romans!
We are warriors! Jack and Annie have met knights, pirates, ninjas, and Vikings, but they have never met the most fearsome warriors of Roman soldiers. When the magic tree house whisks them back to the early 100s AD, Jack and Annie find themselves in a Roman camp. Their Be like a warrior .
That is easier said than done! The Roman soldiers are much scarier in person--and suspicious of strangers. Then a mysterious man riding a black horse gives Jack and Annie some advice to help them on their mission. But the man may not be who he seems. Will Jack and Annie be good warriors? Can they learn what makes the Roman soldiers so great? And who is the mysterious rider . . . ?
Did you know that there's a Magic Tree House book for every kid?
Magic Tree Perfect for readers who are just beginning chapter books
Merlin More challenging adventures for the experienced reader
Fact Nonfiction companions to your favorite Magic Tree House adventures
If you're looking for Merlin Mission #31: Summer of the Sea Serpent, it was renumbered as part of the rebrand in 2017 as Merlin Mission #3.
We are warriors! Jack and Annie have met knights, pirates, ninjas, and Vikings, but they have never met the most fearsome warriors of Roman soldiers. When the magic tree house whisks them back to the early 100s AD, Jack and Annie find themselves in a Roman camp. Their Be like a warrior .
That is easier said than done! The Roman soldiers are much scarier in person--and suspicious of strangers. Then a mysterious man riding a black horse gives Jack and Annie some advice to help them on their mission. But the man may not be who he seems. Will Jack and Annie be good warriors? Can they learn what makes the Roman soldiers so great? And who is the mysterious rider . . . ?
Did you know that there's a Magic Tree House book for every kid?
Magic Tree Perfect for readers who are just beginning chapter books
Merlin More challenging adventures for the experienced reader
Fact Nonfiction companions to your favorite Magic Tree House adventures
If you're looking for Merlin Mission #31: Summer of the Sea Serpent, it was renumbered as part of the rebrand in 2017 as Merlin Mission #3.
112 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2019
302 people are currently reading
1075 people want to read
About the author
Mary Pope Osborne
526 books2,636 followersMary 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
January 30, 2019
I'm disappointed in this book because I generally love the Magic Tree House books. I've been reading them since around 1998 or 1999, when there were only a few of them and I was young enough to be in their target audience. Obviously, as an adult reader, I don't find the plots quite as engaging as I did as a child, but I do consider them to be some of the best books out there at that reading level. I'm a children's librarian, and I often recommend these books to 2nd or 3rd graders.
But this book has a factual error that really bothers me. The story has Jack and Annie visiting a Roman war camp in the year 172, under Emporer Marcus Aurelius. In fact, Aurelius is a major character in the story, and he's the one who specifies the year. (He's amazed when Jack and Annie show him a Roman coin dated 173) But our system for numbering the years didn't exist until the 6th century. 2nd century Romans would have identified the year by the name of the consuls. (172 was Year of the Consulship of Scipio and Maximus and 173 was Year of the Consulship of Severus and Pompeianus) Less frequently, the Romans did use numbers for their years, but their numbering system started at the estimated year of the founding of Rome. (So 172 is 925 Ab urbe condita and 173 is 926 Ab urbe condita) And as far as the coin goes, 2nd century Roman coins didn't have the date on them anyway.
This is maybe a little nitpicky for a 2nd/3rd grade level chapter book. But one of the things that makes this series so great is that it brings history alive for kids. The stories send believable, likable, modern-day protagonists on time-travel adventures, and the settings are generally well-researched and accurate. Although the stories are unrealistic on a couple levels, (the fantasy setting, the lack of language barriers, the respect that most of the adults have for the child protagonists, etc.) the actual historical facts presented are generally reliable, and a child reader is going to unquestioningly trust them. I'm not sure whether this misuse of the date is a matter of sloppy research, or if the author and editor just didn't feel that it matters, but either way, I feel that it detracts a lot from the book's quality as a historical fiction adventure. My three-star rating is because the plot is still interesting and the overall writing quality is still decent for the relatively low reading level.
But this book has a factual error that really bothers me. The story has Jack and Annie visiting a Roman war camp in the year 172, under Emporer Marcus Aurelius. In fact, Aurelius is a major character in the story, and he's the one who specifies the year. (He's amazed when Jack and Annie show him a Roman coin dated 173) But our system for numbering the years didn't exist until the 6th century. 2nd century Romans would have identified the year by the name of the consuls. (172 was Year of the Consulship of Scipio and Maximus and 173 was Year of the Consulship of Severus and Pompeianus) Less frequently, the Romans did use numbers for their years, but their numbering system started at the estimated year of the founding of Rome. (So 172 is 925 Ab urbe condita and 173 is 926 Ab urbe condita) And as far as the coin goes, 2nd century Roman coins didn't have the date on them anyway.
This is maybe a little nitpicky for a 2nd/3rd grade level chapter book. But one of the things that makes this series so great is that it brings history alive for kids. The stories send believable, likable, modern-day protagonists on time-travel adventures, and the settings are generally well-researched and accurate. Although the stories are unrealistic on a couple levels, (the fantasy setting, the lack of language barriers, the respect that most of the adults have for the child protagonists, etc.) the actual historical facts presented are generally reliable, and a child reader is going to unquestioningly trust them. I'm not sure whether this misuse of the date is a matter of sloppy research, or if the author and editor just didn't feel that it matters, but either way, I feel that it detracts a lot from the book's quality as a historical fiction adventure. My three-star rating is because the plot is still interesting and the overall writing quality is still decent for the relatively low reading level.
February 4, 2020
Great adventure!
March 25, 2024
it was cool to learn about the roman legion
July 11, 2023
I really liked this one it was a good reminder to remember the beauty in the everyday.
December 1, 2025
4 out of 5 for a terror rating on the kids face on the cover. As usual, Annie figures things out first.
February 14, 2019
Jack and Annie go to a Roman camp.
Super cute. I love revisiting Jack and Annie and their adventures. It was so funny because I just read a book on a Centurian and my devotional book of Stoicism Quotes Marcus Aurelius all the time. It seemed like the perfect time to explore Roman times with Jack and Annie.
I loved what Marcus had to say. Like "In life, we wear many disguises... sometimes feel like I wear the disguise of a powerful emperor."
Super cute. I love revisiting Jack and Annie and their adventures. It was so funny because I just read a book on a Centurian and my devotional book of Stoicism Quotes Marcus Aurelius all the time. It seemed like the perfect time to explore Roman times with Jack and Annie.
I loved what Marcus had to say. Like "In life, we wear many disguises... sometimes feel like I wear the disguise of a powerful emperor."
September 12, 2022
One of the prompts for a reading challenge I'm participating in was to revisit a childhood favorite. I grew up around history and English lit nerds and this combined the best of both worlds for my kind of nerdy. Funnily enough, this is the book that inspired me to read Marcus Aurelius' Meditations at a very young age. For that alone, this book will always hold a special place in my heart.
February 13, 2020
Der neueste Band dieser Serie war wie immer schnell zu lesen und man hat auch wieder etwas dazugelernt. Diese Bücher sind meine Erinnerung an meine Kindheit und daher lese ich sie trotz allem noch.
3 Sterne
3 Sterne
February 5, 2019
88 pages. Good adventures with Annie and Jack as they travel to Roman times and learn about life with the Centurions. Fans of the Magic Tree House series will enjoy it. Recommended for Grades 3-4.
April 28, 2020
Feminist icon Annie and her brother go on one of the scariest adventures.
June 1, 2023
Okay this book literally ruined my day I fell asleep twice listening to it and it's half an hour
September 16, 2023
People keep noticing they're from the future... don't know how long they can keep this up.
July 15, 2024
Not that memorable...
September 17, 2022
I am always surprised by The Magic Treehouse, which is a contemporary series for kids that isn't totally horrible.
December 3, 2019
Upon reading this book I was for some time mildly puzzled as to why it was that my library suggested this book as part of my reading on Marcus Aurelius, but upon reading it I do indeed recognize the connection that this book has, although it has more to do with the Roman Empire and the immensely lax security that would allow two bumbling children to have the sort of access that they do to the Roman Emperor as well as the armor and weapons of a Roman legion on a war footing in the area of Dacia. This sort of book, of course, works best if one does not think too much about it, and probably makes more sense if one has read the first 30 volumes of the series first, as I did not and very likely will not. If this book was enjoyable enough to read on its own, it certainly is not nearly as exciting a book as it thinks it is and the author seems to rely on the reader's familiarity with the characters to account for the interest, which is a mistaken assumption in this case at least.
This book is less than 100 pages and among its various issues it is at least not too challenging of a read for its middle grade target audience. A brief prologue leads the not entirely genius protagonists to follow an eagle with a vague poem that then causes them to be transported in time to the late 2nd century AD. After this the kids encounter a mysterious lone rider on a black horse and then sneak into a Roman legionary camp with the password and a plausible excuse about why they are there. Of course, predictably they get into trouble in their investigations as they look for a hero in disguise and eventually engage in petty theft by trying on some of the Roman armor and weapons for themselves, which leads them to a dangerous spot. Because this is a children's novel and not something written by someone like myself, one knows that there will be an obvious deus ex machina ending to save the children from their own stupidity and (spoiler alert) it happens that the mysterious horsemen they had met ends up being the emperor, who takes their coin from the future and ponders on how he will defeat the Germanic tribes in the winter before the kids return home satisfied with their adventures.
Time travel stories like this one are sometimes quite difficult to create well, and this book certainly has a lot of improbabilities about it. When one examines, say, the general lack of martial ardor the main characters have or the puzzling question of why it is that they are sent back to engage in action that would highly endanger their lives with nothing more than vague hints as to what they should be doing, then it is easy to neglect larger improbabilities like the space-time paradox that the book involves or the way that the book views Marcus Aurelius as a hero. That is, at least to me, the most puzzling part of many books I have read about the Roman Empire, the tendency that many writers have of making a priggish anti-Christian bigot and bad father into some sort of hero for the ages because he happened to write some thoughtful fortune cookie material as a diary. It is baffling that so many people should find his writings so impressive when his behavior against Christians was so reprehensible. Suffice it to say that this book does not deal with the religious biases of Aurelius, or even bring them up as a negative aspect of his reign. No, this book is all hero worship and mediocre fantasy pablum.
This book is less than 100 pages and among its various issues it is at least not too challenging of a read for its middle grade target audience. A brief prologue leads the not entirely genius protagonists to follow an eagle with a vague poem that then causes them to be transported in time to the late 2nd century AD. After this the kids encounter a mysterious lone rider on a black horse and then sneak into a Roman legionary camp with the password and a plausible excuse about why they are there. Of course, predictably they get into trouble in their investigations as they look for a hero in disguise and eventually engage in petty theft by trying on some of the Roman armor and weapons for themselves, which leads them to a dangerous spot. Because this is a children's novel and not something written by someone like myself, one knows that there will be an obvious deus ex machina ending to save the children from their own stupidity and (spoiler alert) it happens that the mysterious horsemen they had met ends up being the emperor, who takes their coin from the future and ponders on how he will defeat the Germanic tribes in the winter before the kids return home satisfied with their adventures.
Time travel stories like this one are sometimes quite difficult to create well, and this book certainly has a lot of improbabilities about it. When one examines, say, the general lack of martial ardor the main characters have or the puzzling question of why it is that they are sent back to engage in action that would highly endanger their lives with nothing more than vague hints as to what they should be doing, then it is easy to neglect larger improbabilities like the space-time paradox that the book involves or the way that the book views Marcus Aurelius as a hero. That is, at least to me, the most puzzling part of many books I have read about the Roman Empire, the tendency that many writers have of making a priggish anti-Christian bigot and bad father into some sort of hero for the ages because he happened to write some thoughtful fortune cookie material as a diary. It is baffling that so many people should find his writings so impressive when his behavior against Christians was so reprehensible. Suffice it to say that this book does not deal with the religious biases of Aurelius, or even bring them up as a negative aspect of his reign. No, this book is all hero worship and mediocre fantasy pablum.
March 1, 2019
Not one of the most thrilling of Jack and Annie's adventures, but I did enjoy the Manhattan-esque "listing things that are beautiful."
April 21, 2019
Another look at a point in history and a topic kids are interested in. It will whet kids' whistle. I'll have to look for the information guide too.
July 27, 2019
I kept waiting for something to happen.
March 28, 2020
Not one of her better ones. Not much excitement.
March 18, 2021
Very cute, but also very Eurocentric. I’m wondering how this series might evolve with the times.
January 27, 2023
Warriors in Winter is a historical fiction book from the Ludington Memorial Award and Lifetime Achievement Award-winning Magic Treehouse series. The book is intended for 6-8-year-olds. The story follows two siblings, Annie, and Jack, on a mission to explore a Roman legion during the time of the Roman Empire. Their main task is to write about what they see and feel while exploring and getting into minor troubles.
I really enjoyed the book and feel like it would be enjoyable for younger children to read. The idea of traveling to different parts of history through a magical treehouse is a fun learning mechanic on its own and very engaging. I feel like it takes a portion of history that would otherwise be boring to learn about and gives it a fun and appealing sense of wonder. The aspect of reading history through the perspective of children also gives the story a youthful and humorous impact. The children themselves are interesting to follow because they are written to be very smart, dedicated, and hopeful kids having fun and learning new things.
I would use this book, as well as others in the series, when working with children because I feel like many aspects of the book are captivating and pleasant for children, especially for a first-time chapter book. Although it is primarily words, there are multiple pictures that enforce the plot and give a sense of world-building. For a first step from picture books to chapter books I think this book and the series would be perfect. I also think the lesson gained from the ending of the book is also very influential and would be beneficial for children. Strength isn't just bravery and fighting, it's also noticing the beautiful things in the world around us! I liked that a lot and would use that with children too.
I really enjoyed the book and feel like it would be enjoyable for younger children to read. The idea of traveling to different parts of history through a magical treehouse is a fun learning mechanic on its own and very engaging. I feel like it takes a portion of history that would otherwise be boring to learn about and gives it a fun and appealing sense of wonder. The aspect of reading history through the perspective of children also gives the story a youthful and humorous impact. The children themselves are interesting to follow because they are written to be very smart, dedicated, and hopeful kids having fun and learning new things.
I would use this book, as well as others in the series, when working with children because I feel like many aspects of the book are captivating and pleasant for children, especially for a first-time chapter book. Although it is primarily words, there are multiple pictures that enforce the plot and give a sense of world-building. For a first step from picture books to chapter books I think this book and the series would be perfect. I also think the lesson gained from the ending of the book is also very influential and would be beneficial for children. Strength isn't just bravery and fighting, it's also noticing the beautiful things in the world around us! I liked that a lot and would use that with children too.
July 26, 2022
A poem is all Jack and Annie have on their next adventure when they are whisked away to a Roman Legion Camp back in the early 100s AD. Their purpose is to “be like a warrior” while taking notes on how they feel about their surroundings. They have no reference book to guide them this time, but it seems like Jack has quite a bit of knowledge from his school project that’ll be just enough!
This book seemed a little all over the place in the beginning until it all ties together in the end. There was no structure but that’s the beauty of discovering new things. Jack and Annie are discovering the Roman Legion Camp and have no guide or real purpose besides taking notes. They are going with whatever seems to attract them and discovering it for themselves. This makes it feel more realistic as discovery is usually not structured and can be a lot of things put together to make one big picture.
One quote really stood out for me in this book: “In life we wear many disguises,” said the emperor. “I sometimes feel I wear the disguise of a powerful emperor.” This quote has such a deep meaning and it was well placed in the book as well. Although I would have loved if the book expanded on its meaning a little instead of noting the end of the adventure.
As always I’m not sure how historically accurate this book is, but I do find that reading them leaves the reader wanting to know about the time period or event. The author does a great job in writing the stories to garner interest and bringing out a moral lesson as a takeaway.
Overall, this was an entertaining and unique entry in this series. I like how the stories have started deviating from their usual templates and are becoming slightly different from each other. It really helps bring out the characters and the adventure.
Read more reviews @ Mystic's Review Shelf
This book seemed a little all over the place in the beginning until it all ties together in the end. There was no structure but that’s the beauty of discovering new things. Jack and Annie are discovering the Roman Legion Camp and have no guide or real purpose besides taking notes. They are going with whatever seems to attract them and discovering it for themselves. This makes it feel more realistic as discovery is usually not structured and can be a lot of things put together to make one big picture.
One quote really stood out for me in this book: “In life we wear many disguises,” said the emperor. “I sometimes feel I wear the disguise of a powerful emperor.” This quote has such a deep meaning and it was well placed in the book as well. Although I would have loved if the book expanded on its meaning a little instead of noting the end of the adventure.
As always I’m not sure how historically accurate this book is, but I do find that reading them leaves the reader wanting to know about the time period or event. The author does a great job in writing the stories to garner interest and bringing out a moral lesson as a takeaway.
Overall, this was an entertaining and unique entry in this series. I like how the stories have started deviating from their usual templates and are becoming slightly different from each other. It really helps bring out the characters and the adventure.
Read more reviews @ Mystic's Review Shelf
March 4, 2022
The Magic Tree House books are a MUST READ collection for all children. Unlike many other series for young readers, the Magic Tree House should be read in chronological order to best appreciate Jack and Annie's travels through time as they go on various missions; which are typically completed in four parts. Parents and educators will enjoy going along for the ride as much as their students!
On this adventure Jack and Anne travel back in time to Rome during the rein of Marcus Aurelius. At first this edition felt a little bit all over the place and I wasn't sure how to feel about it, however Mary Pope Osborne did a beautiful job of tying it together in the end with a fantastic message of seeing the good in everyday things.
On this adventure Jack and Anne travel back in time to Rome during the rein of Marcus Aurelius. At first this edition felt a little bit all over the place and I wasn't sure how to feel about it, however Mary Pope Osborne did a beautiful job of tying it together in the end with a fantastic message of seeing the good in everyday things.
March 31, 2021
Jack and Annie find out that their tree house is magic and they can go anywhere they want in different books. In this book of the series Jack and Annie go back in time to a roman army camp. They are told to take notes and "be like warriors" they learn all about the warriors and what they are did at the camp. They find at the beginning of the book that ends up being a very important person who actually ends up saving them when they get themselves into so trouble.
This series teaches its readers through the adventures of Jack and Annie. Students submerge themselves into these books to travel on these adventures with them.
This series teaches its readers through the adventures of Jack and Annie. Students submerge themselves into these books to travel on these adventures with them.
July 16, 2024
**TAB Reviewer**
Travel back to ancient Rome with Jack and Annie as they meet Marcus Aurelius and his son, Commodus. The story is rich in historical detail, providing a fascinating glimpse into the life of Roman soldiers. The lessons on bravery and wisdom are woven seamlessly into the adventure. This book is a must-read for young history enthusiasts and fans of the Magic Tree House series.
-Teen Volunteer Adhyyan R.
Find a Copy at Scottsdale Public Library
Travel back to ancient Rome with Jack and Annie as they meet Marcus Aurelius and his son, Commodus. The story is rich in historical detail, providing a fascinating glimpse into the life of Roman soldiers. The lessons on bravery and wisdom are woven seamlessly into the adventure. This book is a must-read for young history enthusiasts and fans of the Magic Tree House series.
-Teen Volunteer Adhyyan R.
Find a Copy at Scottsdale Public Library
June 9, 2021
This time, Jack and Annie are whisked back to ancient Rome again. There, they meet Emperor Aurelius as their third hero. The companion is Warriors: A Nonfiction Companion to Magic Tree House #31: Warriors in Winter
Read
September 23, 2025While still fitting the mold of The Magic Treehouse series, this book was not as entertaining as others. Jack and Annie meet Marcus Aurelius and learn about the Roman army. This book felt a bit disconnected and forgettable to me. My nearly 5yo daughter preferred reading other books so this took a while to get through. We borrowed it from the library and read aloud at bedtime, one chapter at a time.
January 29, 2021
Jack and Annie are sent back to old Roman times. They meet Marcus Aurelius, learn about centurions, learned to make bread, learned about blacksmithing, tried on armor and found the simplicity of everyday living.
"Dwell on the beauty of life.
Watch the stars, and see yourself
Running with them." -Marcus Aurelius
"Dwell on the beauty of life.
Watch the stars, and see yourself
Running with them." -Marcus Aurelius
November 2, 2023
I thought it was a pretty good book. I rate it a 4/5 because I loved the Roman idea but it could have been better I feel like. Warriors in Winter is a 4/5 because Roman Empire idea is amazing but I didn't really like the idea of they adventuring through mountains and kind of lying to the Romans just to get into the Empire. But, they got done what needed to get done.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews