Have you ever wished for a tree house that could whisk you away to distant lands, ancient times, or even the depths of the ocean? If so, you’re probably already a fan of Mary Pope Osborne’s enchanting worlds. Her books, especially the beloved Magic Tree House series, have captivated young readers (and adults!) for decades with their blend of adventure, history, and a touch of magic. Whether you’re a parent looking to introduce your kids to reading or a nostalgic reader revisiting childhood favorites, this guide has you covered. We’ll dive into all of Mary Pope Osborne’s books in order, grouped by series, complete with publication years, to make it easy to follow along.
Who Is Mary Pope Osborne?
Mary Pope Osborne, born on May 20, 1949, is an American children’s book author whose stories have sold millions worldwide. Growing up in a military family, she moved frequently across the U.S. and even lived in Austria, experiences that fueled her love for storytelling, mythology, and diverse cultures. After studying drama and mythology at the University of North Carolina, she traveled the world, gathering inspiration for her work. She debuted as an author in 1982 and hit it big with the Magic Tree House series in 1992. Married to collaborator Will Osborne, she continues to create tales that educate and entertain. Her books often weave in real historical facts, making learning feel like an adventure.
Mary Pope Osborne Books In Order
Magic Tree House Series
This flagship series follows siblings Jack and Annie as they discover a magical tree house filled with books that transport them through time and space. Perfect for early readers, these stories combine excitement with educational tidbits on history, science, and geography. Here’s the complete list in publication order—note that some books have alternate titles in different editions:
- Dinosaurs Before Dark / Valley of the Dinosaurs (1992)
- The Knight at Dawn / Castle of Mystery (1993)
- Mummies in the Morning / Secret of the Pyramid (1993)
- Pirates Past Noon / Pirates’ Treasure! (1994)
- Night of the Ninjas (1995)
- Afternoon on the Amazon (1995)
- Sunset of the Sabertooth / Mammoth to the Rescue (1996)
- Midnight on the Moon / Moon Mission! (1996)
- Dolphins at Daybreak (1996)
- Ghost Town at Sundown / A Wild West Ride (1997)
- Lions at Lunchtime / Lions on the Loose (1998)
- Vacation Under the Volcano / Racing with Gladiators (1998)
- Polar Bears Past Bedtime / Icy Escape! (1998)
- Day of the Dragon King / Palace of the Dragon King (1998)
- Viking Ships at Sunrise / Voyage of the Vikings (1998)
- Hour of the Olympics / Olympic Challenge! (1998)
- Tonight on the Titanic (1999)
- Buffalo Before Breakfast (1999)
- Tigers at Twilight (1999)
- Dingoes at Dinnertime (2000)
- Civil War on Sunday (2000)
- Revolutionary War on Wednesday (2000)
- Twister on Tuesday (2001)
- Earthquake in the Early Morning (2001)
- Stage Fright on a Summer Night (2002)
- Good Morning, Gorillas (2002)
- Thanksgiving on Thursday (2002)
- High Tide in Hawaii (2003)
- A Big Day for Baseball (2017)
- Hurricane Heroes in Texas (2018)
- Warriors in Winter (2019)
- To the Future, Ben Franklin! (2019)
- Narwhal on a Sunny Night (2020)
- Late Lunch with Llamas (2020)
- Camp Time in California (2021)
- Sunlight on the Snow Leopard (2022)
- Rhinos at Recess (2023)
- Time of the Turtle King (2023)
- Windy Night with Wild Horses (2024)
- Sea Otter Sunrise (2025)
What makes this series so addictive? Each book is a quick, thrilling read that sparks curiosity—imagine learning about dinosaurs while dodging a T. rex!
Magic Tree House Merlin Missions
- Christmas in Camelot (2001)
- Haunted Castle on Hallows Eve (2003)
- Summer of the Sea Serpent (2004)
- Winter of the Ice Wizard (2004)
- Carnival at Candlelight (2004)
- Season of the Sandstorms (2005)
- Night of the New Magicians (2006)
- Blizzard of the Blue Moon (2006)
- Dragon of the Red Dawn (2007)
- Monday with a Mad Genius (2007)
- Dark Day in the Deep Sea (2008)
- Eve of the Emperor Penguin (2008)
- Moonlight on the Magic Flute (2009)
- A Good Night for Ghosts (2009)
- Leprechaun in Late Winter (2010)
- A Ghost Tale for Christmas Time (2010)
- A Crazy Day with Cobras (2010)
- Dogs in the Dead of Night (2011)
- Abe Lincoln At Last! (2011)
- A Perfect Time for Pandas (2012)
- Stallion by Starlight (2013)
- Hurry Up, Houdini! (2013)
- High Time for Heroes (2014)
- Soccer on Sunday (2014)
- Shadow of the Shark (2015)
- Balto of the Blue Dawn (2016)
- Night of the Ninth Dragon (2016)
These tales add a layer of fantasy, like meeting Leonardo da Vinci or exploring ancient myths—pure magic for budding historians.
This special edition offers longer, more in-depth stories:
- Danger in the Darkest Hour / World at War, 1944 (2015)
It’s a gripping WWII adventure that stands out for its historical depth.
Magic Tree House Fact Trackers (Non-Fiction Companions)
Co-authored with her sister Natalie Pope Boyce, these books provide real facts tied to the fiction series. They’re great for curious kids wanting to dive deeper:
- Dinosaurs (2000)
- Knights and Castles (2000)
- Mummies and Pyramids (2001)
- Pirates (2001)
- Rain Forests (2001)
- Space (2002)
- Titanic (2002)
- Twisters and Other Terrible Storms (2003)
- Dolphins and Sharks (2003)
- Ancient Greece and the Olympics (2004)
- American Revolution (2004)
- Sabertooths and the Ice Age (2005)
- Pilgrims (2005)
- Ancient Rome and Pompeii (2006)
- Tsunamis and Other Natural Disasters (2007)
- Polar Bears and the Arctic (2007)
- Sea Monsters (2008)
- Penguins and Antarctica (2008)
- Leonardo da Vinci (2009)
- Ghosts (2009)
- Leprechauns and Irish Folklore (2010)
- Kids in Hard Times (2010)
- Snakes and Other Reptiles (2011)
- Dog Heroes (2011)
- Abraham Lincoln (2011)
- Pandas and Other Endangered Species (2012)
- Horse Heroes (2013)
- Magic Tricks from the Tree House (2013)
- Heroes for All Times (2013)
- Soccer (2014)
- Ninjas and Samurai (2014)
- China (2014)
- Sharks and Other Predators (2015)
- Vikings (2015)
- Dogsledding and Extreme Sports (2016)
- Dragons and Mythical Creatures (2016)
- World War II (2017)
- Baseball (2017)
- Wild West (2018)
- Texas (2018)
- Warriors (2019)
- Benjamin Franklin (2019)
- Narwhals and Other Whales (2020)
- Llamas and the Andes (2020)
Pair these with the novels for an educational boost!
Additional fun extras for fans:
- Games and Puzzles from the Tree House (With Natalie Pope Boyce) (2010)
- My Magic Tree House Journal (2014)
- Magic Tree House Survival Guide (2014)
- Animal Games and Puzzles (2015)
- Magic Tree House Incredible Fact Book (2016)
These are interactive and perfect for rainy days.
Spider Kane Mystery Series
A fun detective series featuring a spider sleuth:
- Spider Kane and the Mystery Under the May-Apple (1992)
- Spider Kane and the Mystery at Jumbo Nightcrawler’s (1993)
Short and whimsical, ideal for mystery lovers.
Tales from the Odyssey Series
Retellings of Homer’s epic, adapted for kids:
- The One-Eyed Giant (2002)
- The Land of the Dead (2002)
- Sirens and Sea Monsters (2003)
- The Gray-Eyed Goddess (2003)
- Return to Ithaca (2004)
- The Final Battle (2004)
These bring ancient myths to life in an accessible way.
Standalone Novels
Osborne’s standalone works showcase her versatility:
- Run, Run, As Fast As You Can (1982)
- Love Always, Blue (1983)
- Best Wishes, Joe Brady (1984)
- Last One Home (1986)
- The Deadly Power of Medusa (1988)
- Moonhorse (1988)
- Jason and the Argonauts (With: Will Osborne) (1988)
- Molly and the Prince (1994)
- Haunted Waters (1994)
- Rocking Horse Christmas (1997)
- Adaline Falling Star (2000)
- Kate and the Beanstalk (2000)
- The Brave Little Seamstress (2002)
- New York’s Bravest (2002)
From heartfelt coming-of-age stories to fairy tale retellings, there’s something for every mood.
Short Story Collections
- American Tall Tales (1991)
A collection of folklore that’s quintessentially American.
Picture Books
Vibrant and illustrated for younger audiences:
- Mo to the Rescue (1985)
- Pandora’s Box (1987)
- A Visit to Sleep’s House (1989)
- Mo and His Friends (1989)
- Beauty and the Beast (1991)
- The Life of Jesus in Masterpieces of Art (1998)
- Sleeping Bobby (2005)
- Pompeii: Lost & Found (2006)
These are beautifully crafted introductions to stories and art.
Non-Fiction Books
Straightforward and informative:
- The Story of Christopher Columbus (1987)
- George Washington (1991)
- One World, Many Religions (1996)
- Happy Birthday America (2003)
- Memories and Life Lessons from the Magic Tree House (2022)
Great for learning about history and culture without the fiction.
Graphic Novels (Adapted with Jenny Laird)
Modern adaptations of the Magic Tree House classics in comic form:
- Dinosaurs Before Dark (With: Jenny Laird) (2021)
- Dinosaurs Before Dark Graphic Novel (2021)
- The Knight at Dawn (With: Jenny Laird) (2021)
- Mummies in the Morning (With: Jenny Laird) (2022)
- Pirates Past Noon (With: Jenny Laird) (2022)
- Night of the Ninjas Graphic Novel (With: Jenny Laird) (2023)
- Afternoon on the Amazon Graphic Novel (With: Jenny Laird) (2024)
- Sunset of the Sabertooth Graphic Novel (With: Jenny Laird) (2024)
- Midnight on the Moon Graphic Novel (With: Jenny Laird) (2025)
These are fantastic for visual learners or reluctant readers.
Whether you’re starting with the first Magic Tree House book or exploring her standalone gems, Mary Pope Osborne’s works promise endless wonder. Which adventure will you embark on next? Grab a copy from your local library or bookstore and let the magic begin! If you’ve got a favorite, share it in the comments below.
