Get Kids Reading with
Magic Tree House Novel Studies
Kids need books—real, physical books they can hold in their hands. They need to read every day. But more than that, they need to think about what they’re reading. They need to engage with it, reflect on it, and create something meaningful.
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That’s why I’ve designed workbook companions for the first 36 Magic Tree House books. These aren’t just busywork packets with multiple-choice questions that make kids dread reading. These are hands-on novel studies that encourage kids to slow down, process what they’ve read, and respond to it creatively.
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Before I dive into the details, if you’re ready to jump in, here’s where you can find the workbooks (samples are on Teachers Pay Teachers to see if these are a good fit for your kid):
Browse Homeschool Workbooks
Why the Magic Tree House Series?
The Magic Tree House series is unparalleled when it comes to building background knowledge in children’s literature. It introduces kids to history, science, geography, and cultural ideas in a way that sticks. Parents often tell me how these books planted seeds of knowledge that their kids carried into adulthood.
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I’ve experienced this myself. When I was a kid, the Magic Tree House series had just started coming out. One day, I was stuck in bed with a cold and picked up a book from the series. It talked about tornadoes and took place in a one-room schoolhouse. I was fascinated by the idea of one-room schoolhouses, and that tiny spark grew into something much bigger.
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Fast forward to today: I’ve written an entire free homeschool curriculum based on old one-room schoolhouse teacher manuals, and I’m even writing my doctoral dissertation on one-room schoolhouses. The books we read as kids matter.
What is Background Knowledge and Why Does It Matter?
Building background knowledge is one of the two essential building blocks of literacy, alongside phonics. While phonics teaches kids how to decode words, background knowledge gives them the context to understand and make meaning from what they read.
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Here’s an example: Anyone who understands phonics can decode these lines from Lewis Carroll’s Jabberwocky:
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"'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe..."
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You can read the words, but without background knowledge, the meaning isn’t clear. The same thing happens when kids encounter sentences filled with unfamiliar ideas, like:
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“The curators prepared the sarcophagus of the pharaoh found in the tomb, preserving the relics for future exhibitions.”
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Without some understanding of ancient Egypt, that sentence is a wall instead of a window.
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This is where Magic Tree House shines. Each book is an adventure that takes Jack and Annie to a new time or place—ancient Egypt, the Wild West, medieval times, coral reefs, Pompeii, and more. Along the way, kids learn essential background knowledge that helps them understand future texts and ideas.
But What About the Formulaic Writing?
One common criticism of the series is that it’s formulaic. Here’s the thing: That’s a feature, not a bug.
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For beginning readers, predictable structure is a huge asset. Jack and Annie are the constants, and their predictable adventures free kids’ brains to focus on the real learning—exploring new places, historical events, and scientific concepts. The formula is scaffolding, and it works.
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Is this the finest literature ever written? No. But that’s not the point. What the series does exceptionally well is:
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Build Reading Fluency: The simple sentences and straightforward plots help new readers build confidence and fluency.
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Build Background Knowledge: The stories introduce kids to essential cultural literacy topics in an engaging way.
Accuracy Concerns
Another common concern is that the books aren’t always 100% accurate. That’s true, especially since the first books were written over 30 years ago. Historical and scientific knowledge has evolved since then, and the reading level of the books limits the amount of detail they can include.
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But here’s why this isn’t a dealbreaker:
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The Goal is Foundation-Building: These books give kids a basic understanding—a starting point. If they know the general idea of ancient Egypt or the concept of a coral reef, they’ll be better prepared to dive deeper later.
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Optional Fact Checkers: Some Magic Tree House books have companion “Fact Tracker” nonfiction guides that pair well with the stories. These are great for adding depth and accuracy.
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Family Research Opportunities: If your child has questions about what’s real and what’s fictional, that’s an amazing opportunity to research together. Teaching kids to seek out accurate information is an essential skill—and it’s a fantastic way to connect as a family.
What’s in the Workbooks?
These workbooks turn reading into an active experience. Instead of passively consuming a story, kids will:
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Draw scenes or ideas from the book.
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Reflect on characters’ choices.
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Answer open-ended questions like, “What would you do in this situation?” or “What did you learn from this book?”
Think of the workbook as a travel journal for an adventure inside a book. It helps kids slow down, reflect, and retain what they’ve learned.
Start Exploring!
Below, you’ll find links to the Magic Tree House books, my unofficial companion workbooks, and optional fact-checker guides when available.
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Magic Tree House Workbooks on Gumroad, Etsy, and Teachers Pay Teachers
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Magic Tree House Fact Trackers (optional nonfiction companions)