MagicTreeHouse#33:CarnivalatCandlelight

MaryPopeOsborne

ForGailHochman,ofcourse

DearReader,

CarnivalatCandlelight

isthefifthbookinagroupofMagicTreeHouse

bookscalledtheMerlinMissions.Ontheirfirstfour

MerlinMissions,JackandAnnietraveledtomythical

lands,wheremanymagicalthingstookplace.Ilove

writingbooksthattakeplaceinfantasyworlds,butI

alsolovewritingbooksaboutreallife.Sothenext

MerlinMissionswillcombinethetwo

--JackandAnniewillhavefantasy

adventuresinrealplacesinrealtimes.

OneofthemostamazingplacesIveeverbeen

islandsinalagoonbetweentheItalianmainlandand

theatmosphere

--allmakeVeniceoneofthemostbeautifulcitiesin

theworld.WritingaMagicTreeHouseadventureset

inVenicemeantthatIcouldreturnthereinmy

imaginationeverydayformanymonths.Working

onthisbookwasaveryexcitingjourney.Iinviteyou

nowtosharemyjourneyanddiscoverthemystery

andmagicofVeniceforyourself

IstoodinVenice,ontheBridgeofSighs;

Apalaceandaprisononeachhand:

Isawfromoutthewaveherstructuresrise

Asfromthestrokeoftheenchanterswand...

-LordByron,

ChildeHaroldsPilgrimage

Chapter

ChapterONEABookofMagic

DawnwasbreakingintheFrogCreekwoods.Jack

sawalightshiningupahead.Herantowardit.He

ransofast,hecouldnthearhisfeethittingthe

ground.Hecouldntfeelthefrostywinterair.

AsJackgotclosertothelight,hecouldseethe

magictreehouseatthetopofthetallestoak.Agirl

andboywerelookingoutthewindow.Thegirlhad

dark,wavyhairandsea-blueeyes.Theboyhad

tousledredhairandabiggrinonhisface.Asthetwo

kidswavedathim,Jackfeltincrediblyhappy.

Jack,wakeup!

18

Jackopenedhiseyes.Hissister,Anni