Leprechaun in Late Winter

Magic Tree House "Merlin Missions" #15

by Mary Pope Osborne, Salvatore Murdocca (Illustrator)

Jack and Annie are on a mission to find (and inspire!) creative people. This time, Jack and Annie meet an Irish girl and go on a magical adventure that changes the girl’s life—she grows up to be Lady Gregory, who helped bring back the Irish legends, started a theater, and helped the Irish people regain both their heritage and their pride.

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

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

Have more fun with Jack and Annie at MagicTreeHouse.com!

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Childrens, Chapter Books, Historical Fiction, Adventure, Magic

128 pages, Hardcover

First published December 15, 2009

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

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. The thought of Jack and Annie traveling a long time ago in Ireland inspired me to believe in fairies. They met Lady Gregory (a real person), who didn't believe in fairies. At first Lady Gregory thought Jack and Annie were good for nothing. If you read it, you'll find out how their friendship with Lady Gregory came to be. You'll also find out whether fairies are real. This book is one of the greatest Magic Tree House books yet!

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just realized I read my first series because of this book. We used to read these in class (but I never paid attention) and then my mom bought me this one. I think this was more than five years ago. There was something so magical about this story and I get so nostalgic thinking about it. I lost it since then but I'm actually going to buy this book just so I can have it on my bookshelf.

[Book2Dragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this one out of order, but didn't really have any problems with the storyline, except maybe spoilers for places and people the brother and sister had seen. There are some fun facts about Ireland here, not so much suspense as the others, although there is a scene where things could go very wrong.
Love this series. Wish I had had it as a child. Children love it.

[Sarah Sloane · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorites! I reread almost every year for my birthday. So magical and fun! It's filled with Irish history and folklore. Highly recommend for all ages!

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting tale in the Magic Tree House series. Jack and Annie travel to Ireland to inspire a girl to share her gifts. For the first time, I'd never heard of the famous person they were going to meet, so it was a big learning experience for me as well. As is fairly common in these books, the story drifts into magical realms, which adds a bit of excitement and fantasy to the tale. We are caught up with all the stories, just waiting for the next one to come out in September. Now, I suppose, we need to get caught up with the Research Guides!

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet little story about the kids helping a girl in 1862's Galway discover her inspiration. She grows up to become Lady Agusta Gregory, a playwrite and poet most famous for collecting many traditional Irish stories and teaching them to the world. Those of us who still read many stories about the Shee (Sidhe) owe her a debt of gratitude. It's fun to imagine all of the times that "my" little guy will read about fairies and elves in the future and know that this was his first introduction.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Send me to Ireland, Morgan!

[Jenny Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this one, jack and Annie travel to mid 1800's Ireland, there to inspire Lady Augusta Gregory to collect Irish folk tales, with the help of a magic Irish Tin Whistle. I really love how much magic is in this one, it really leans into the fantasy element. The Fact Tracker is Leprechauns and Irish Folklore: A Nonfiction Companion to Magic Tree House #43: Leprechaun in Late Winter

[ناني ماكفي · Rating 3 out of 5]

بدأت بمكتبتي وكتبها الورقية
قصص يافعين
حلوة وتصلح فيلم مثل أليس و ساحر اوز
احببت كيف ان ماري اوزبرن ادخلت نفسها في الحكاية كشخصية دون ان تقول انها هي الكاتبة
او ان تقول انها موجودة في الحكاية اصلا احببت كيف شاركت الابطال البطولة و شاركتهم الاحداث وكيف كانت الناصحة لهم

[Pamela Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the intertwine of Irish folklore & historical figures....great literary imagination.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*

[Mary Beth Dye · Rating 3 out of 5]

My son and I are reading these and he loves this series!

[Blake Maggio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Willy the leprechaun
Happy st Patrick’s day

[Lover of books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved how magical this one was!!! Now I am going to up my reading goal to 100 we shall see if I can make it!!

[Malia Drennan · Rating 4 out of 5]

My kids love these books so much. We normally fly through them in a day or two, reading them in the morning, over lunch, before bed, or on long car rides. Everyone is entertained by them and this one takes place in Ireland which is where my husband is from.

[Maya Orama · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was about a brother and sister named Jack and Annie, and they are going on a magical adventure. It was late in the morning when Jack and Annie woke up and went into the frog creek woods. When they got to the frog creek woods, they climbed up the tree house ladder. When they went inside the tree house, they found a letter that was from Morgan. On the letter, Morgan said to look for a leprechaun in a fairytale book that was found on the book shelf. When Annie found the book, Jack and Annie wished that they where there. Then, the tree house spun and spun until it stopped. When Jack and Annie got there, they where in a magic forest. In the magic forest, they saw fairys, other magical creatures, and a leprechaun. They went to the leprechaun and asked for a piece of gold for Morgan. The leprechaun agreed and then waved good bye to Jack and Annie. Then, they went back in the tree house, then returned home. THE END

[Meagan Grauel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh.
I really enjoy reading the Magic Treehouse stories to my students for the most part. But my 2nd grade class had a hard time staying interested in this one. And if I'm being honest, so did I. We were hoping for a story that revolved around Leprechauns for our February story and based on the title, thought we were along the right vein. The story actually revolves around Jack and Annie helping Augusta find her creativity or "spark" and eventually allows her to become a gatherer of stories and recording past histories. While there are some fairy like creatures called "Shee," and a Leprechaun like character named Willy, the title is definitely misleading. I for one, was a little disappointed.
Because of the lack of interest that it held for my 2nd graders and the overall lack of Leprechauns, I won't be reading this one again for future younger grades.

[Norberto Leyva · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Leprachaun in Late Winter” is about Jack and Annie who are sent to Ireland. They try to get Lady Gregory to realize that she does have gifts. Through a lot of frustrating times of helping her, they get her to realize her “gift” is in helping people and bringing back the Irish legends to help them understand their heritage and have pride in it. I would recommend this book to high school students because the vocabulary is a little more difficult compared to Osborne’s other books in the series.

[3a Student · Rating 1 out of 5]

My book is called Leprechaun in Late Winter. Jack and Annie help a girl in Ireland have more fun instead of work all the time. I did not enjoy Leprechaun in Late Winter. There was not a lot of detail. They always stay in the same setting most of the time. They always do work in the beginning. It was a slow read. Not a ton of excitement. In the beginning the girl was mean to Jack and Annie. There is really only one exciting part. I did not enjoy it. Those are some reasons that I think you should not read Leprechaun in Late Winter.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Magic Tree House series keeps going strong with book number 43. In this adventure, Jack and Annie travel to Galway, Ireland in the late 1800s to help a girl discover her talent and to help preserve Irish folklore about the Shee and other magical characters. I liked the story because of its vivid description of the Irish countryside and the way you can tell that the author did research on Ireland and its tales. The story was interesting and would be good for 2nd and 3rd grade readers.

[Dree · Rating 3 out of 5]

For once, a Magic Treehouse book I liked more than my son did!

Being #43, I had never read this before, since my older son outgrew these books before this one came out.

It was nice to find one of these books about something I knew absolutely nothing about! But, once the word "fairies" came in, the boy lost interest. But he stayed in the room. And built legos while I finished reading. So I know he retained something :)

[Joy Gerbode · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although definitely a children's book, this was quite interesting, with some history of where some of the Irish folk tales and beliefs came from. A very short, easy read for me, but I was fascinated.

A second reading was very interesting, with some mostly accurate things abut Ireland and her history, folklore, and magic ... yet told with a delicacy fit for younger readers. I really enjoyed it!

[Larry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Using the series’ magic tree house, Jack and Annie visit Galway, Ireland, in 1862 on a mission to ‘inspire’ a girl, “Augusta”. (As I tried to keep up with my fellow children readers, I must admit that I had no idea where the story was headed.) Interacting with Willy the Leprechaun and in spite of the ‘Shee’, the hero and heroine complete their task. (Hint: Google Irish playwright and author Lady Augusta Gregory.)

[Mrs. Hahn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jack and Annie are sent to Galway, Ireland, in 1862 to inspire a girl named Augusta. They later learn that she became Lady Gregory, who learned Irish Gaelic and collected traditional Irish tales in books. She also founded a theatre and wrote plays. This was a quick, light read.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the magic treehouse series, not only in Merlin Missions, Jack and Annie found a magic treehouse. They soon discovered that in the magic treehouse there were lots of books and when they point to a picture in the book and make a wish to go there the magic treehouse just magically transports them there! They soon learned that the treehouse belongs to Morgan Le Fay from Camelot. Jack and Annie have helped Morgan with a humongous amount of missions in all places and time periods with the help of the magic treehouse. However in Merlin Missions it is not however Morgan that sends them on these missions. It is Merlin, a fantastic magician. During Merlin Missions, Jack and Annie make two friends named Teddy and Kathleen. They soon completed four missions that showed they could properly handle magic. On those missions, they were given a book of ten magic rhymes to use on four missions. Each rhyme can only be used once. Since they succeeded in those four missions, they were given the Wand of Dianthus. A magic wand that could create magic. Soon Merlin was not well, and not cheerful at all. Jack and Annie found four secrets of happiness for him, and now he is happy again. However the biggest thing that cheered him up was a little penguin Jack and Annie had gotten from their last mission to find the last secret of happiness for Merlin. That mission had taken place in Antarctica. In the last two missions they helped Louis Armstrong and Mozart. In this mission they are going to help a girl named Augusta.

In this book Jack is doing homework when suddenly on his notebook appeared T K. That stands for Teddy and Kathleen! The magic treehouse is back! Jack called Annie and they went to the magic treehouse. It is back! They climbed into the treehouse, and greeted their friends Teddy and Kathleen. Then Teddy and Kathleen said that on this mission they will inspire a girl named Augusta to share her creativity with the world. Teddy handed the magic trumpet from their last mission, and gave it to Kathleen. Kathleen threw it up in the air, and it turned to a magic whistle. When danger arrives somebody needs to blow on the whistle, and the other person sings. Whatever that person sings will come true. Teddy and Kathleen also said that Augusta lives in The Big House. Finding her would be easy. Just ask directions to The Big House where Augusta lives. By the way, Jack has been taking notes about what they were going to do in the mission. Since they did not have a research book, Teddy and Kathleen said to just point at Jack’s notes. Since Jack and Annie wanted to help Augusta, Teddy and Kathleen left and Jack and Annie pointed at Jack’s notes and made a wish to go there. Then they magically appeared at the place their mission was taking place! They climbed out the treehouse, and did as they were told. They asked someone the directions to The Big House. Soon, they arrived there. Soon, they also figured out a way to get in The Big House. Augusta was not home, but they were lucky that she soon arrived. By the way, a wagon splashed Jack and Annie with dirty water, and now they were really dirty. Augusta and everyone thought they were poor. Everyone treated them badly except Augusta, since she treated poor people nicely. Augusta took them to the parlour to eat. They already figured out that they had to be polite to Augusta, and call her Ms. Augusta. Soon, Augusta’s mother arrived and said Jack and Annie couldn’t stay in the Big House because they were poor and dirty. Augusta was sad, but she took them out of the Big House. Augusta was very snobby. Soon Jack thought this was too much. So he had to do something. He didn’t want to call Augusta Ms. Augusta anymore. He accidentally blurted out that Augusta was just pretending that she helped poor people, and that she was very snobby. He made Augusta very mad. Soon he realized that the mission was to help Augusta, not say she is snobby and annoy her. How will Jack and Annie inspire her when they are tired of her snobbiness? How will Jack and Annie cooperate with her? How will they complete their mission?

[Ariel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leprechaun in Late Winter by the amazing author Mary Pope Osborne. It's a super cool adventure from the Magic Tree House series, and this time it's a Merlin mission!

So, Jack and Annie are on a special mission to find a girl named Augusta. They use the Magic Tree House, which is like a magical tree with a house inside, to travel through time and space. But guess what? When they arrive, it's raining cats and dogs! The Magic Tree House must have been in a grumpy mood that day.

Anyway, poor Jack and Annie find themselves with holes in their boots and all wet and muddy. Not a great start, huh? But they're determined to find Augusta and help her share her special storytelling gifts with the world. She's like someone who saves myths and legends just by believing in them. Isn't that amazing?

Now, about Augusta's world – it's like a late winter day, all chilly and snowy. And there's this magical tune they play that takes Augusta to a whole new incredible world! But I won't spoil it for you. You'll have to read the book to find out where they go and what the tune is. It's a big surprise!

The book teaches us a really important lesson. You know how when you really want something, like passing a test or having something good happen, you have to believe it will come true? That's exactly what the characters in the book learn. They teach us always to have hope and believe in things, just like believing in the spirit of Christmas.

So, if you wanna know all the exciting details and discover the awesome adventures of Jack and Annie in Leprechaun in Late Winter, you gotta read the book yourself! I promise you'll love it and learn something cool too! Happy reading!

If you're a fan of this book, you won't want to miss my full review on my YouTube channel.
https://youtu.be/xRaIzftkM-k

[Rileigh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Set in Ireland, Jack and Annie meet an Irish girl and go on a magical adventure that changes the girl's life. She grows up to be Lady Gregory, who helped bring back the Irish's legends, started a theater, and helped the Irish people regain both their heritage and their pride. So, obviously I'm an adult and this is a children's book. I didn't like it as much as I thought I would. The plot was a little too easy for me and I was just bored. I can't remember if I enjoyed the magic tree house series as a child or not. I think I remember liking some of the other books more than this one because this book was just boring. It's definitely being given away after this read but I have to say, I don't remember the other books in this series having the plot move so quickly with barely any action or adversity. For those reasons, I did not enjoy reading this book and will be giving it away.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, I knew that Jack & Annie books were popular with kids and knew that they were a safe recommendation for young readers that wanted an adventure book with a bit of historical fiction added in; but, I wasn't sure how much I would like them when I started a Magic Tree House Book Club. I LOVE them! They are so fun to read and I look forward to the book club I host every month. It's so fun to read part of the book to the kids, share a bit of history, and have fun while doing it.

This book was really fun to do for book club because I showed the kids pictures of Ireland (a place where I've always wanted to visit), specifically County Galway, pictures of Lady Gregory, and the Abbey Theater. They thought it was awesome and the ooo's and awww's kept coming. I can't wait to read more.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Also, timely, this book landed in my hands on St. Patrick's Day! This is my first Magic Tree House book and I can see why kids like these so much. The magic, the mission to accomplish, and the control that Jack and Annie have all make for a good story. The person who they time travel to meet is based on a real person. From p. 113: "When she was a child, Lady Gregory's full name was Isabella Augusta Persse, though everyone called her Augusta. After she grew up, she married Sir William Henry Gregory. As the wife of a knight, she was called Lady Gregory."

[Libby Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter enjoys the audio versions of this series and I usually tune out halfway through them. This Magic Treehouse addition was noteworthy, however. Definitely one I’ll be happy to listen to every March with my kids.

The character development with Augusta (an influential Irish playwright who is a disheartened 10 year old in this book) was more apparent and gripping compared to other books in the series. This was a great way to peak some interest in Irish history and folklore with my daughter and rekindle my own interest.

Highly recommended for 7 and up.