Monday with a Mad Genius (Magic Tree House, No. 38) [Hardcover]

Mary Pope Osborne (Author), Sal Murdocca (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 7 and up | Grade Level: 2 and up

JACK AND ANNIE are on a mission to save Merlin from his sorrows! Charged with finding the second of four secrets of happiness, the brother-and-sister team travel back in the magic tree house to the period known as the Renaissance. This time, Jack and Annie will need more than a research book and a magic wand. They'll need help from one of the greatest minds of all time. What will they learn from Leonardo da Vinci?

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

MARY POPE OSBORNE is the author of the New York Times number one bestselling Magic Tree House series. She and her husband, writer Will Osborne (author of Magic Tree House: The Musical), live in northwestern Connecticut with their three dogs. Ms. Osborne is also the coauthor of the companion Magic Tree House Fact Trackers series with Will, and with her sister, Natalie Pope Boyce.

SAL MURDOCCA has illustrated more than 200 children's trade and text books. He is also a librettist for children's opera, a video artist, an avid runner, hiker, and bicyclist, and a teacher of children's illustration at the Parsons School of Design. Sal lives and works in New York with his wife, Nancy.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers (August 28, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375837299
• ISBN-13: 978-0375837296
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.6 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #160,993 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

"I'm one of those very lucky people who absolutely loves what they do for a living. There is no career better suited to my eccentricities, strengths, and passions than that of a children's book author."--Mary Pope Osborne

Mary Pope Osborne is the author of the popular Magic Tree House series. She works with her husband Will and her sister Natalie on the nonfiction companion series, Magic Tree House Research Guides. Many of her books have been named to best-books lists.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Educational, but draggy, September 13, 2007

By 

Professor - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Monday with a Mad Genius (Magic Tree House, No. 38) (Hardcover)

My son has always loved the Magic Tree House books, but he had a hard time getting excited about this latest book in the series. I read it myself afterwards, and I must say I agree with his lack of enthusiasm. Monday with a Mad Genius is a very, very educational book. Mary Pope Osborne has, as always, done impeccable research, and the details about the life of Leonardo da Vinci, everyday life in Florence, and Renaissance art are all great. A child can learn a lot from this book. It's not, however, very exciting literature. The pace is very slow (for example, Jack and Annie seem to spend an extraordinary amount of time in the marketplace, being told by a series of people: "Oh, Leonardo? He just left - I think he went that way..."). Some of the best Magic Tree House books, like Christmas in Camelot, have quite exciting plots and some literary qualities as well. In Monday with a Mad Genius, the interesting questions (why did Mona Lisa smile?) seem to drown in excessive historical details.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No prior familiarity with the series is required to make this a fun, inviting read., October 7, 2007

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Monday with a Mad Genius (Magic Tree House, No. 38) (Hardcover)

ary Pope Osborne's MONDAYS WITH A MAD GENIUS offers #38 in the 'Magic Tree House: A Merlin Mission' series. Here a mysterious message from Morgan le Fay, magical librarian of Camelot, involves two children the key to helping magician Merlin discovery joy in his life again. First they must journey to the magic tree house for 1500s Italy, and meet Leonardo da Vinci no prior familiarity with the series is required to make this a fun, inviting read.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars LOVE LOVE LOVE!, July 17, 2010

By 

jimaie.marie (Sunny California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Monday with a Mad Genius (Magic Tree House, No. 38) (Hardcover)

My 7yr old adores these books, he can't get enough! I bought this particular book this afternoon and within 2 and a half hours or so he had already finished it and was asking for more! I love that he is engaging himself and fostering his love for reading AND that he is learning so much at the same time. Can't recommend this series enough!