One of the reasons I wanted to interview Mary Pope Osborne is because of the number of children her Magic Tree House books have helped to become fluent, enthusiastic readers. The Magic Tree House books, both fiction and nonfiction, are popular with young independent readers, particularly those in grades 2-4. How many young readers? Well, since the publication of the first book in 1992, more than 100 million copies of Magic Tree House books have been sold.
When I asked our children's librarian about the series, she told me, "They just fly off the shelves."
When I asked Mary Pope Osborne about the Magic Tree House books, I tried to include both my own questions and questions others - adults and children - had asked me to get answered. Below are the questions and Mary's responses.
Is the relationship between siblings Jack and Annie, the main characters in The Magic Tree House series, based on you and your twin brother? If not, what was your inspiration for them?
I have two brothers that I’m very close to, so I draw on my relationship with both of them. But I also draw from my relationships with my sister, my husband and my best friends. Most of all, I draw from Jack and Annie themselves. After twenty years, they are full-blown people who have their own distinct personalities and way of relating to each other. I let them tell me what they’re feeling.Where do you get your ideas for the subject of each of the Magic Tree House books?
My own research, kids and teachers I talk to, and conversations with my sister Natalie Pope Boyce, who writes the Fact Trackers.And of course, I get ideas from my husband Will, whom I talk with endlessly about the series.
When did you start doing companion Fact Trackers/Research Guides for the series?
Around 13 years ago, Will created the format for the Fact Trackers. He wrote eight of them, and then got involved with other Magic Tree House projects, such as writing a planetarium show and a musical both based on the series. My sister Natalie Pope Boyce then took over the Fact Trackers and has written almost 20 now. I work only on the fiction books.Do you plan to have a companion research guide for every series book? If not, how do you choose which books will have one?
Ideally we would like to have a Fact Tracker for every book. For the last few years, my sister Natalie and I have worked on the same topic at the same time, so that the non-fiction book can come out simultaneously with the fiction.Do you and your co-authors always write the companion fact tracker after you have written the fictional account of Jack and Annie’s adventures?
Natalie works on the non-fiction while I’m working on the fiction. Both series are full time jobs, since both take so much research.Since the topics you cover tend to be very broad (dinosaurs, knights, etc.), how do you decide what to include in the companion fact trackers?
Natalie and her editor work tirelessly to pare down their subjects to find the most essential information to share with young readers. I think the Fact Trackers may be a harder job than the fiction actually, as it’s so difficult sometimes to explain complicated things with limited vocabulary. Much of what I have to explain can be understood through drama and dialogue.With the 29th Magic Tree House story, a lot of things changed. Jack and Annie are older, the books are longer and Merlin Missions began. Why all the changes?
After writing 28 books, it was time to expand – both for my sake, and for the sake of my readers. The Merlin Mission [books]are twice as long as the first 28 books, and are written at a higher reading level. Hopefully, readers will enjoy graduating from the first books into the more difficult ones.There are no Magic Tree House movies or Jack and Annie toys. Why is that? ?
So far we’ve refused to license the series to movies or for products -- except for an anime made only in Japanese. I feel passionate about wanting young readers to use their own imaginations – and to identify with Jack and Annie and feel as if they themselves take journeys with them. If the series became too commercial, I fear some of that special magic would be lost. I think the only time I would reconsider licensing the series is if we needed more funds for our philanthropy.I know that the series is available in print, e-books and Listening Library audio books. Why did you decide to narrate all of the Magic Tree House audio books rather than have someone else do it?
I have a background in the theater and love narrating the books and acting the parts of Jack and Annie and all the other characters, as well. It’s always fun, as I have a great relationship with the producing team and director of the audio books.What is your writing process when working on a book in the series? How long does it take to complete a story? a companion Fact Tracker?
Well right now for instance, I’m working every day on gathering information on Harry Houdini, Coney Island in the first part of the twentieth century, and old-fashioned magic tricks. I’m taking notes and making an outline. This process will go on for some time. Then I’ll buckle down and start to work on the actual story, which will be #50, Holiday with Houdini. Meanwhile Natalie is writing a book of magic tricks for a non-fiction companion book. The process from beginning to end of working on a new book takes each of us about 6 months.You have written more than 100 books. While most of them are Magic Tree House books, what are some of the other topics you’ve written about and the titles of 3 to 5 of your favorites?
I’ve written novels, picture books, mysteries, biographies, young adult novels, retellings of mythology and fairy tales, Bible stories, and a book on the world religions. But my favorite books that I’ve ever written are: Adaline Falling Star, a fictionalized tale of the daughter of Kit Carson, Spider Kane and the Mystery Under the May-Apple and Spider Kane and the Mystery at Jumbo Nightcrawlers – two wacky “bug” mysteries that I totally loved creating.What do you hear from teachers and kids about the Magic Tree House series?
Over the years I’ve gotten thousands of letters which basically say that the series has not only taught children how to read – but has given them a love for reading. Kids have also sent me their own ideas on where Jack and Annie should go. They’ve sent me art work, stories and family photographs. A couple of years ago, a five year old sent me an apple and four marshmallows to eat while I’m hard at work.(Note from Guide Elizabeth Kennedy: Because of their popularity and because they cover so many different subjects, you see the Magic Tree House books on a lot of different recommended reading lists, such as these lists from About.com Guides: Not Wild About Harry?: These five book series have a little Potter magic in a more manageable form, Recommended Children's Books About the Olympics and Third Grade Summer Reading List: Books to read the summer before third grade.)