tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951778913748076749.post8927885048960079068..comments2023-11-13T00:21:58.684-08:00Comments on Christian Children's Book Review: The Magic Tree House SeriesProverbs Thirty One Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00061731679235511146noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951778913748076749.post-88940735078039802422017-01-06T12:07:32.957-08:002017-01-06T12:07:32.957-08:00Cathy, currently no new content is being published...Cathy, currently no new content is being published at CCBR, and I'm sorry to say I don't know the answer to your question. However, considering the secular publisher of the books, I think it's safe to assume the science is not creation or Christian based.Proverbs Thirty One Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00061731679235511146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951778913748076749.post-76528131599194186192017-01-06T09:38:43.204-08:002017-01-06T09:38:43.204-08:00I'm hoping for a reply to my question. I work...I'm hoping for a reply to my question. I work at a school as a librarian, and am a Christian. I was wondering about Magic Tree House Fact Tracker books. I have a number I'd like to add to our large collection, but I would like the facts to be Christian, vs worldly, such as Christian, not evolution. Please get back to me if anyone knows. Thank you in advance!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951778913748076749.post-85045389768435958612016-04-26T21:44:31.513-07:002016-04-26T21:44:31.513-07:00I have been going back and forth about this one. M...I have been going back and forth about this one. My first grader LOVES these books and after researching the Author Mary Pope Osborne I found this: Mary Pope Osborne initially studied drama at the University of North Carolina. In her junior year, however, she switched to a major in religion, after she discovered "an even greater realm of adventure" in the worlds of mythology and comparative religion.[3]<br /><br />So either way it does seem the author has had experiences with the dark religions and is expressing that in someway in these books.WalcraftCabinetryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09787948637504668659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951778913748076749.post-43027172335515726362015-07-29T03:53:56.836-07:002015-07-29T03:53:56.836-07:00My children are 6 and avid readers. They read so f...My children are 6 and avid readers. They read so fast, I am finding it hard to read every book before they get a chance to. I recently found this series at the thrift store and thought it was ok because it was sold on ChristianBooks.com. Well, even if you look at some of the titles and read the back a few red flags came to mind. I appreciate your willing to share your concerns. My husband stressed to me that we needed to read this series before we allowed our children to and he is right. The issue I have is that at 6 they are extremely impressionable and not be ready just yet to reason between their own beliefs and the stories they read.<br /><br />I'm also a blogger and was selected to do some of the initial reviews for the Imagination Station Series which my girls love. I think for now, we will stick to those.Cleverly Changinghttp://cleverlychanging.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951778913748076749.post-56591651099709024912014-06-27T07:58:33.281-07:002014-06-27T07:58:33.281-07:00Thank you so much for your comprehensive review of...Thank you so much for your comprehensive review of the potentially objectionable material in this series. As a children's pastor and a parent, I don't always have time to preview every single media choice. But this website helped tremendously. Thank you!Jonathan Fosterhttp://www.journeykids.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951778913748076749.post-91602937348065780602014-04-01T03:04:50.530-07:002014-04-01T03:04:50.530-07:00It sure sounds like the series presents so much re...It sure sounds like the series presents so much relativism; it disturbs me that the idea of God is being mixed with other spirits, and all are depicted as sort of being true on the same level. Add to that the magic elements, and this sounds like a lot to wade through with a child. The fun and entertaining factor make it even more difficult; we are a culture that often values entertainment above truth, and entertainment then often becomes our truth. While the Bible mentions magic and whatnot, it is not for entertainment value; it is for the purpose of showing how destructive and contrary to God's ways such things are. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951778913748076749.post-43559599184538711162014-01-15T02:33:40.835-08:002014-01-15T02:33:40.835-08:00I too have a huge problem with Jack saying, "...I too have a huge problem with Jack saying, "I'm going to kill her". It appears in more than one book and several times in book 2. When I read these books to my kids I skip over many lines, especially ones like these. There's NO NEED to teach kids one more nasty thing to say. And there's no need to teach kids how to be so exasperated that all they can think of is killing someone. (especially in this day and age when kids are seeings tragic examples of other kids bringing guns to school actually killing people!!) I also don't like Jack's eye rolling and impatience with Annie, which occur throughout the series.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951778913748076749.post-74691996300781423792013-04-24T17:57:31.859-07:002013-04-24T17:57:31.859-07:00I find it amusing that some of you are upset about...I find it amusing that some of you are upset about the "I'm going to kill her" comment, when the bible is full of infanticide, child killing, and masses of races being slaughtered in the name of god. And you're upset about a little magic that incorporates history along with fiction in order to get children interested in learning and reading. Not to mention the fact of countless acts of 'magic' in the bible. But...that's ok, suurrrre. <br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951778913748076749.post-19877418224591861452013-02-23T16:34:13.341-08:002013-02-23T16:34:13.341-08:00I would like to point out that Jack also says &quo...I would like to point out that Jack also says "I'm going to kill her" in the first book, not just the second. We would have been happy to read these aloud to our kids as we could deal with these issues (or skip a line) as they came up. But as our daughter, 5yo, would now be reading them alone, we are going to skip. We have enough trouble with sibling fighting without giving them new lines to say!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951778913748076749.post-23528355047054079172012-12-01T00:55:28.528-08:002012-12-01T00:55:28.528-08:00As a Christian and a home educator, I do not see a...As a Christian and a home educator, I do not see a problem with these books. My kids LOVE the plot and learn a lot from these stories. I use the less then Christ like words in each book As a biblical learning opportunity. When the book mentions magic, I pause and teach about what the bible says about that issue. Happy readingAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951778913748076749.post-10269739755313568432012-10-06T11:01:45.453-07:002012-10-06T11:01:45.453-07:00This week I read Thanksgiving on Thursday to deter...This week I read Thanksgiving on Thursday to determine if it was appropriate for my 5 year old. In this story, Jack and Annie lie, and Squanto lies/decieves on their behalf. What was most disturbing about this is the way it was dealt with in the story. As the reader, you are rooting for their lies to be believed, and releived when Squanto lies for them. Their lies are necessary for the story to continue, and therefore are seen as good. Squanto implies there is a distinction between deceiving and lying - that although he deceived he did not lie, and what he did is depicted as a good act. This is not a concept I want to introduce to my kids at a formative age. We can discuss similar themes - such as the ethical dilemma of Christians hiding Jews from Hitler's army - when they are older. For now, I prefer to stick with the importance of being truthful.Hollynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951778913748076749.post-78529207117026332732012-04-09T10:02:15.088-07:002012-04-09T10:02:15.088-07:00I agree with a previous post that stated AWESOME M...I agree with a previous post that stated AWESOME MINISTRY. So helpful...my 5 year old is amazing with one book and I was uncomfortable it the theme. This definitely settles it....on to more Christian based literature.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951778913748076749.post-14542752281050973162011-12-16T17:39:58.347-08:002011-12-16T17:39:58.347-08:00Anonymous: I don't think people are surprised ...Anonymous: I don't think people are surprised by there being magic in these books. Clearly there would be. I think it's more a question (for me at least) as to HOW the magic is portrayed and what worldview I want my children to subtly be picking up. For example, there is magic in The Chronicles of Narnia, but I have no problem with my children reading those. C.S. Lewis was a christian and his life glorified the Lord. An author's worldview can't help but come out in their writing, even if just subtly. I was not so sure about these books though, and now I'm glad I didn't get them.<br /><br />CCBR: THANK YOU SO MUCH for this review. My kids are avid readers and I find it difficult to stay ahead of them in finding books I feel are appropriate for their maturity level. Keep up the good work! Very much appreciated!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951778913748076749.post-59190632974683601382011-08-30T14:52:11.757-07:002011-08-30T14:52:11.757-07:00This is a series called The MAGIC Treehouse Books....This is a series called The MAGIC Treehouse Books. Obviously, one should expect the presence if magic in the series. Commenters above, why are you surprised that there are magical elements in these books?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951778913748076749.post-72398669616746294692011-08-18T08:08:37.203-07:002011-08-18T08:08:37.203-07:00Thanks. I'm going to look into the Imaginatio...Thanks. I'm going to look into the Imagination Station books. My son is an early reader, and at 6 I'm not interested in bogging him down with explanations about why what he's reading is fun but wrong.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07931940816438784297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951778913748076749.post-80062649622722625912011-07-14T14:24:33.261-07:002011-07-14T14:24:33.261-07:00While these books may have some concerns, they can...While these books may have some concerns, they can also be an awesome tool in teaching your child between right and wrong. Children need to be taught how to defend their faith on a daily basis. What better way than to teach them from a children's book series! Media puts all sorts of things out there in front of our children. (Video games, Disney movies, PBS television, computer games etc...) It is the parent's job to teach them right from wrong. Speaking from experience, I sheltered my oldest child too much and she wasn't ready to defend her faith in high school.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951778913748076749.post-69473981891438339692011-05-18T09:41:20.090-07:002011-05-18T09:41:20.090-07:00Anonymous, be sure to check out the Imagination St...Anonymous, be sure to check out the Imagination Station series; at the top of this page, there is a link to our reviews of this similar-to The Magic Treehouse set of books.Proverbs Thirty One Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00061731679235511146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951778913748076749.post-70679475258594552752011-05-18T08:56:02.599-07:002011-05-18T08:56:02.599-07:00What a wonderful blessing you are to all of the th...What a wonderful blessing you are to all of the thoughtful, concerned parents who felt uncomfortable but didnt quite know how to address it as anything legitimate! We really appreciate the time and research you put into this! My husband and I will not have these books in our home. Mysticism is rampant in this world,and though we are in this world we dont have to be of it! Ive just got to find an alternative now...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951778913748076749.post-91399392366968615782011-05-02T06:47:36.225-07:002011-05-02T06:47:36.225-07:00Wow! Thank you so much for offering this website!...Wow! Thank you so much for offering this website! My son is 7 and has been bringing these books home from the school library (a great private Christian school). I would try to read the books before my son finished them and they had to go back, but didn't always get to it. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! Now I can feel confident in helping him decide which ones in the series will be the best to buy or check out. The books are fantastic for creating an excitement for reading, which I love, but I never wanted to blindly build our library. I can't say thank you enough...and I will definitely recommend this website to friends. :o)Kathy in Rockford, ILnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951778913748076749.post-32597658357940232452011-03-18T13:25:20.241-07:002011-03-18T13:25:20.241-07:00Thank you for the great response to this post. Ple...Thank you for the great response to this post. Please keep your eyes open here at Christian Children's Book Review, because next month a new series will be released that's very much like the Magic Tree House series but with a Christian slant.Proverbs Thirty One Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00061731679235511146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951778913748076749.post-47417439593684107102011-03-18T13:00:26.981-07:002011-03-18T13:00:26.981-07:00WOW!!! I so wish I had stumbled upon this site a l...WOW!!! I so wish I had stumbled upon this site a long time ago. My 8 year old avid reader in enamoured with ANY Magic Tree house series book and this is super super helpful!!! Thank YOU!! I wonder where I can find a similar story series with less "magic" in it! I will skim your site! Thanks again!Michelle Sherlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15037394034705341040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951778913748076749.post-37422434528492362552011-03-07T12:27:00.139-08:002011-03-07T12:27:00.139-08:00Thank you SO, SO much for this. My daughter broug...Thank you SO, SO much for this. My daughter brought the book back to her teacher after checking it out from her school library and the teacher asked for a note from me explaining WHY I believe it's considered magic!!Berhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14412865623037362667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951778913748076749.post-11198224133720935102011-02-05T17:48:08.111-08:002011-02-05T17:48:08.111-08:00Thank you so much! This is really a wonderful reso...Thank you so much! This is really a wonderful resource to which I will refer often and will forward to my friends. Bless you!!Leslie Standernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951778913748076749.post-592292628979140962011-02-03T19:32:23.443-08:002011-02-03T19:32:23.443-08:00Thank you for this site. My daughter recently star...Thank you for this site. My daughter recently started reading this series for a class in a Christian co-op. I took for granted the content was reviewed and approved to be age and content appropriate. <br /><br />However, last night she read a sentence in The Knight at Dawn #2 on page 14 - which stated, "You're nuts". Tonight she started to read Chapter 4 on page 24, and the first sentence *which was noted in your review* was "I'm going to kill her". <br /><br />I am shocked by the content. I appreciate the time you have taken to forewarn us on the upcoming books.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951778913748076749.post-58348296785149192762011-01-01T18:41:52.142-08:002011-01-01T18:41:52.142-08:00Thank you so much for these reviews; I have had co...Thank you so much for these reviews; I have had concerns about these books which are mandatory reading in my children's school, but no one would believe me. I picked up one of the early books in the series and noted Annie's comment to Jack as a large rabbit runs by "...that's a sign that Morgan's nearby...". In medieval symbolism the hare running was the sign of the presence of a witch. Just that one reference showed me this author sure knows what she's doing. Our kids are being fed this symbolism in a deceptively innocent context; parents have to ask, "What is the motive here and do my kids have to be manipulated?"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com