Magic Tree House!

Welcome to a SPECIAL EDITION of the Piece of Advice Newsletter!

Good morning! Today we are looking into the incredible children’s book series that a lot of us grew up with, “Magic Tree House”! I first started reading these in 4th grade and it truly triggered an interest in history that never went away! I was lucky enough to ask the author and illustrator of the series; Mary Pope Osborne (author) and Salvatore Murdocca (illustrator); their best pieces of advice AND I got a bonus question with Mary!

It all began in 1992 with a treehouse, a stack of books, and a pair of curious siblings named Jack and Annie. “Magic Tree House”, the bestselling children’s book series written by Mary Pope Osborne, launched with “Dinosaurs Before Dark” and quickly became a gateway to reading for millions of kids around the world. The premise was simple yet brilliant: a magical treehouse whisks the siblings through time and space, introducing young readers to history, myth, and adventure; all while keeping them glued to the page.

Mary Pope Osborne, a former actress and world traveler, drew on her love of storytelling and exploration to bring Jack and Annie’s journeys to life. Osborne wanted to make history accessible and exciting for children, and her approachable writing style combined fact with fiction in a way that never talked down to kids. Her husband, Will Osborne, and her sister, Natalie Pope Boyce, eventually joined in to help expand the nonfiction “Fact Tracker” companion series, turning the “Magic Tree House” world into an entire educational universe.

The visual identity of the series became just as iconic, thanks to illustrator Sal Murdocca. A seasoned artist who previously worked in editorial and advertising, Murdocca joined the series from the beginning and brought a timeless charm to Jack and Annie’s world. His pencil drawings; full of motion, mystery, and expression; matched Osborne’s text in energy and clarity. Though the two lived on opposite coasts, they formed a long-distance creative partnership that lasted over two decades and helped define the series’ look and feel.

More than 30 years later, Magic Tree House books have sold over 140 million copies and been translated into dozens of languages. They’ve sparked a musical, graphic novels, and even stage adaptations, with many educators crediting them for turning reluctant readers into lifelong book lovers!

Bonus Question:

Giancarlo: How does it feel to have multiple generations of kids enjoy your books?

Mary Pope Osborne: I try not to think about it because I don’t want to get over confident. Every book I first start to write needs to feel like a challenge that I’m not sure I’m up to.

Piece Of Advice:

Giancarlo: What is this best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Mary Pope Osborne: “Rewriting is the name of the game.” Heard this at a meeting with the first editor interested in my work in 1982. I rewrote the manuscript she was interested in, and she gave me a contract.. and I’ve written over a hundred books ever since.

Salvatore Murdocca: Keep reading. It is the key to success and happiness.

Thank you for reading! Have an amazing day and we will catch you again on Monday!

-Giancarlo