MagicTreeHouse#37:DragonoftheRedDawn

MaryPopeOsborne

DearReader,

Formanyyears,IhaveadmiredJapansliterature

andart.IcollectbooksofJapanesepoetry,andIalso

collectbooksofoldJapaneseprintsthatshowpeople

goingabouttheireverydaylives.Japaneseartand

becauseIwantedto

live

inthescenestheartistsandpoetscreated.Iwanted

torideonafishingboat,sipteainateahouse,see

cherry-blossompetalsfloatdownariver.WhenIm

writingabook,IfeelasifIamlivinginanothertime

andplace.WorkingonthisparticularMagicTree

Houseadventure,Icouldntwaittogettomywriting

deskeveryday...tovisittheworldofmydreams.

[signed]MaryPopeOsborne

NowIshalldream,

Lulledbythepatterofrain

Andthesongofthefrogs.

-poemfromoldJapan,translatedbyLafcadioHearn

OnesummerdayinFrogCreek,Pennsylvania,a

mysterioustreehouseappearedinthewoods.A

brotherandsisternamedJackandAnniesoonlearned

thatthetreehousewasmagic-itcouldtakethemto

anytimeandanyplaceinhistory.Theyalsolearned

thatthetreehousebelongedtoMorganleFay,a

Camelot.

AfterJackandAnnietraveledonmanyadventures

forMorgan,Merlinthemagicianbegansendingthem

onMerlinMissionsinthetreehouse.Withhelp

fromtwoyoungsorcerersnamedTeddyand

Kathleen,JackandAnnievisitedfour

mythical

placesandfoundvaluableobjectstohelpsave

Camelot.

OntheirnextfourMerlinMissions,JackandAnnie

onceagaintraveledtorealtimesandrealplacesin

AftertheyprovedtoMerlinthat

13

theyknewhowtousemagicwisely,heawarded

themtheWandofDianthus,apowerfulmagicwand

thatwillhelpthemmaketheirownmagic.

JackandAnniearenowwaitingtohearfrom

Merlinagain

14

ChapterO