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Magic Tree House #28
High Tide in Hawaii
Catch the wave!
That's what Jack and Annie do when the Magic Tree House whisks them back to a Hawaiian island of long ago. They learn how to surf and have a great time—until strange things start happening. Jack and Annie soon discover the cause: A tidal wave is headed their way! Can they help save their new friends in time?
That's what Jack and Annie do when the Magic Tree House whisks them back to a Hawaiian island of long ago. They learn how to surf and have a great time—until strange things start happening. Jack and Annie soon discover the cause: A tidal wave is headed their way! Can they help save their new friends in time?
96 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
559 people are currently reading
3244 people want to read
About the author
Mary Pope Osborne
555 books2,684 followersMary Pope Osborne is an American author of children's books and audiobook narrator. She is best known as the author of the Magic Tree House series, which as of 2017 sold more than 134 million copies worldwide. Both the series and Osborne have won awards, including for Osborne's charitable efforts at promoting children's literacy. One of four children, Osborne moved around in her childhood before attending the University of North Carolina. Following college, Osborne traveled before moving to New York City. She somewhat spontaneously began to write, and her first book was published in 1982. She went on to write a variety of other children's and young adult books before starting the Magic Tree House series in 1992. Osborne's sister Natalie Pope Boyce has written several compendium books to the Magic Tree House series, sometimes with Osborne's husband Will Osborne.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 318 reviews
March 20, 2018
Jack and Annie travel back in time to old Hawaii where they are supposed to build a ship. In the process, they learn about hula dancing and surfing and tsunamis. High Tide in Hawaii is sprinkled with facts about Hawaii (mostly provided by Jack’s reference book). I highly recommend this and all the Magic Tree House books to kids who have recently learned to read chapter books on their own. They are easy to read and are a little educational, too.
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March 27, 2021"In high Tide in Hawaii, I like the part when Jack helped Boka, Kama, and Annie from the tsunami. I also liked the part when Jack did the Hula dance. I also liked the part when they where surfing." -Cadee, age 8 and a half
December 7, 2010
Despite the author's claim to have been reading about Hawaii before writing this book, the place she describes in the story is hardly Hawaiian.
February 2, 2025
In my review of Stage Fright on a Summer Night, I talk about how Osborne chooses to embrace the storytelling concept that less is more for the final four-book arc of the original series. And High Tide in Hawaii really brings all of that to a close in the best way possible. Jack and Annie head back to ancient Hawaii to find the final kind of everyday magic.
For more children’s book reviews and other content, check out the blog of a children's book writer and illustrator at the Naimoli Children’s Books Blog!
For more children’s book reviews and other content, check out the blog of a children's book writer and illustrator at the Naimoli Children’s Books Blog!
April 21, 2022
In the realm of children's lit, this was on the lower end of OK. In the realm of books as a whole, it was pretty bad. They were on the beach when the ocean started to recede and yet they could escape before the tsunami?? Unlikely. I did enjoy the reveal that the "ship" they were supposed to find was friendship. Also, Jack is such a stick in the mud! Lighten up once in a while.
March 3, 2019
Boka and Kama???? seriously MPO? (Mary Pope Osborn)
December 19, 2019
fun read
October 11, 2023
It is so good I would recommend this for a kid and a binder you will like it.
April 30, 2025
I vaguely remember being terrified for the characters while reading it XD
April 26, 2021
I liked it just fine. Kinda makes me want to go to Hawaii.
(read in 1st grade, age 7)
(read in 1st grade, age 7)
July 1, 2024
The magic talked about in this book is so important!
June 2, 2025
My 4yo loved learning about hawaii and tsunamis.
September 25, 2012
I will always love this book. I saw it at my school's book fair in first grade and thought it was a picture book. I liked the bright colors and surfing kids, so I had my mom buy it for me along with another Magic Tree House: Dolphins at Daybreak, which my parents helped me read. Then I moved on to High Tide in Hawaii. Sixty pages. Ten chapters with a picture on each beginning page. It took me an entire week of reading by lamplight. Some of the words were hard. It took me a long time to figure out the Jack was laughing, not "lugging." Now, what exactly does a lug sound like? And the author's name, I discovered, was not "Mary Pop."
But I did get through it. That was the first chapter book I ever read on my own. A couple of months later, I had to pick out a take-home reading book from my teacher's learning to read shelf. I was supposed to select from my reading level. But there was Lions at Lunchtime, several levels above what I was supposed to read.
I took it anyways.
Next year, I told my mom about this wonderful series and she decided we needed to take a trip to the library. I tried to protest. The library only had kids books, I said, and grown-up books. Not these kinds of books. I was surprised to discover that the shelves to the right of the picture book area didn't house adult books. No, that's where MY books lived.
I began checking them out five at a time. There were only forty or so then, so it didn't take me long to get through them all. Except for Good Morning Gorillas. I held off on that one. I knew if I read that one, it would be all finished. And what would I do then?
I turned around. There were these other books, small, colorful, and abundant, just like the Magic Tree House books. I'd seen kids carrying them around at school. They were called Junie B. Jones.
So I mixed Junie in with Jack and Annie. And I just have to say, What kind of idiot puts a second grade series on the top shelf? I had to climb the shelves because the one stool in the library was always by the drinking fountain. I wasn't going to put my Magic Tree House books (bottom shelf, thank you very much) on the floor so I could lug that stupid stool halfway across the library.
After Junie B., I discovered the Cam Jansen series on the other side of the Magic Tree House shelf. Then the Bailey School Kids. And from there, I read "anything I can get my hands on," as Jack describes himself in Tornado on Tuesday. Why can I still remember exact lines?
At the end of second grade, we had to create a visual aid for our book reports. The girl next to me had drawn a picture of Junie B. thinking about chocolate milk in the first book.
I'd spent three hours creating a model of Harry and Voldemort dueling in the Goblet of Fire. Which is slightly bigger than Junie B. Jones. Eight years later and I'm still secretly pleased about that.
Thank you, Mary Pope Osborne, for turning me into a reader!
But I did get through it. That was the first chapter book I ever read on my own. A couple of months later, I had to pick out a take-home reading book from my teacher's learning to read shelf. I was supposed to select from my reading level. But there was Lions at Lunchtime, several levels above what I was supposed to read.
I took it anyways.
Next year, I told my mom about this wonderful series and she decided we needed to take a trip to the library. I tried to protest. The library only had kids books, I said, and grown-up books. Not these kinds of books. I was surprised to discover that the shelves to the right of the picture book area didn't house adult books. No, that's where MY books lived.
I began checking them out five at a time. There were only forty or so then, so it didn't take me long to get through them all. Except for Good Morning Gorillas. I held off on that one. I knew if I read that one, it would be all finished. And what would I do then?
I turned around. There were these other books, small, colorful, and abundant, just like the Magic Tree House books. I'd seen kids carrying them around at school. They were called Junie B. Jones.
So I mixed Junie in with Jack and Annie. And I just have to say, What kind of idiot puts a second grade series on the top shelf? I had to climb the shelves because the one stool in the library was always by the drinking fountain. I wasn't going to put my Magic Tree House books (bottom shelf, thank you very much) on the floor so I could lug that stupid stool halfway across the library.
After Junie B., I discovered the Cam Jansen series on the other side of the Magic Tree House shelf. Then the Bailey School Kids. And from there, I read "anything I can get my hands on," as Jack describes himself in Tornado on Tuesday. Why can I still remember exact lines?
At the end of second grade, we had to create a visual aid for our book reports. The girl next to me had drawn a picture of Junie B. thinking about chocolate milk in the first book.
I'd spent three hours creating a model of Harry and Voldemort dueling in the Goblet of Fire. Which is slightly bigger than Junie B. Jones. Eight years later and I'm still secretly pleased about that.
Thank you, Mary Pope Osborne, for turning me into a reader!
October 24, 2016
Personal response
I thought this was a good book. I could relate to this book, because I would have done the same thing Jack did. He could not surf like the other kids so he sat on the beach. Then when he suspected something bad was going to happen he went out and rescued the kids. He willingly sacrificed himself for the others which is what I want to do in my future job.
Plot
Jack and Annie arrive in Hawaii on a mission to build a ship. When they get there they meet Kama and Boka. Kama and Boka take Jack and Annie surfing, Jack finds out that he is not as good at surfing as the other kids. He decides to leave the others be and go do his own thing. While sitting on the beach jack finds out that a big Tidal wave is coming to hit Hawaii. He then jumps on his surfboard and gets the other kids before anything serious happen.
Characterization
Jack is a very caring character. He was willing to risk his life to save three others, two of which he barely knew. Annie and Jack both got along with the other kids right away and interacted with them. They all cared about each other in the short amount of time they were together.
Impact of Setting
The setting was in Hawaii. It was during the summer; many people were on the beach enjoying the warm weather. That affected what happen because it was on an island surrounded by water. That caused the tsunami to hit and almost harm the children.
Thematic Connection
There are a couple different themes in the story. I think one big theme that stands out is helping others, which is also a lesson. Jack did not only look out for himself but the other kids he was with. He did the right thing in that situation.
Recommendation
I would recommend this book to anyone who lives in Hawaii, because it gives some information about what could happen as far as a tsunami. Also, it would be a good book for younger children to read because it was interesting in many different ways. I think many middle school aged boys could relate to Jack, and even learn many things from him.
I thought this was a good book. I could relate to this book, because I would have done the same thing Jack did. He could not surf like the other kids so he sat on the beach. Then when he suspected something bad was going to happen he went out and rescued the kids. He willingly sacrificed himself for the others which is what I want to do in my future job.
Plot
Jack and Annie arrive in Hawaii on a mission to build a ship. When they get there they meet Kama and Boka. Kama and Boka take Jack and Annie surfing, Jack finds out that he is not as good at surfing as the other kids. He decides to leave the others be and go do his own thing. While sitting on the beach jack finds out that a big Tidal wave is coming to hit Hawaii. He then jumps on his surfboard and gets the other kids before anything serious happen.
Characterization
Jack is a very caring character. He was willing to risk his life to save three others, two of which he barely knew. Annie and Jack both got along with the other kids right away and interacted with them. They all cared about each other in the short amount of time they were together.
Impact of Setting
The setting was in Hawaii. It was during the summer; many people were on the beach enjoying the warm weather. That affected what happen because it was on an island surrounded by water. That caused the tsunami to hit and almost harm the children.
Thematic Connection
There are a couple different themes in the story. I think one big theme that stands out is helping others, which is also a lesson. Jack did not only look out for himself but the other kids he was with. He did the right thing in that situation.
Recommendation
I would recommend this book to anyone who lives in Hawaii, because it gives some information about what could happen as far as a tsunami. Also, it would be a good book for younger children to read because it was interesting in many different ways. I think many middle school aged boys could relate to Jack, and even learn many things from him.
February 25, 2019
• A synthesis (not summary) of your book WRITTEN IN YOUR OWN WORDS that includes the genre of the book and the grade-level(s) in which you would use this book
The Magic Tree House: High Tide in Hawaii is a fantasy book about Jack and Annie’s quest in Hawaii. Jack and Annie are from Frog Tree, PA and have a magic treehouse that can take them back in time. In this story, Jack and Annie used the magic treehouse to go to historic Hawaii to complete the task of finding a “special kind of magic.” Jack and Annie learn lots about Hawaii and find out the special kind of magic they are searching for is friendship. This book is perfect for third graders because of the theme of friendship and the way this book is beautifully written.
• 2-3 specific ideas for how you would use the book in your classroom or how other educators could use this book instructionally (these need to be YOUR IDEAS, not ideas that you found from another source),
This book is perfect for teaching the visualizing comprehension strategy. I could show a chart of the five senses and model how the words in the book make me model these senses. Then I could do it with them and then let them come up with the five senses they think they would experience. Students can use a visual sketch note to share their ideas by using words and pictures. Another activity that I could use to help build comprehension is the framework of a quick write. I could give students 3-5 minutes to answer a question such as “Why is friendship so magical and important in this story?” This activity would give them a change not only to write but also to think deeply about the material they read.
• An explanation (implicit or explicit) of WHY this book was a WOW book for you, and
This book was a WOW book for me because it was so visual and entertaining! I loved Magic Tree House books for this exact reason when I was younger. I will definitely make sure my future classroom is stocked with these books to provide students with an opportunity to learn about different time periods and fall in love with reading.
The Magic Tree House: High Tide in Hawaii is a fantasy book about Jack and Annie’s quest in Hawaii. Jack and Annie are from Frog Tree, PA and have a magic treehouse that can take them back in time. In this story, Jack and Annie used the magic treehouse to go to historic Hawaii to complete the task of finding a “special kind of magic.” Jack and Annie learn lots about Hawaii and find out the special kind of magic they are searching for is friendship. This book is perfect for third graders because of the theme of friendship and the way this book is beautifully written.
• 2-3 specific ideas for how you would use the book in your classroom or how other educators could use this book instructionally (these need to be YOUR IDEAS, not ideas that you found from another source),
This book is perfect for teaching the visualizing comprehension strategy. I could show a chart of the five senses and model how the words in the book make me model these senses. Then I could do it with them and then let them come up with the five senses they think they would experience. Students can use a visual sketch note to share their ideas by using words and pictures. Another activity that I could use to help build comprehension is the framework of a quick write. I could give students 3-5 minutes to answer a question such as “Why is friendship so magical and important in this story?” This activity would give them a change not only to write but also to think deeply about the material they read.
• An explanation (implicit or explicit) of WHY this book was a WOW book for you, and
This book was a WOW book for me because it was so visual and entertaining! I loved Magic Tree House books for this exact reason when I was younger. I will definitely make sure my future classroom is stocked with these books to provide students with an opportunity to learn about different time periods and fall in love with reading.
June 20, 2013
The book I red Tuesday evening was number 28 of the magic tree house . It was a brother and sister named jack and Annie. This adventure was to go to Hawaii. Jack and Annie hopped out of bed and got ready to go to the magic tree house. After that they found a letter in a book. It told them were they had to go and the letter told them what they needed to find.
When Annie wished to go there the tree house spun faster and faster until the tree house stopped. They were in Hawaii! Annie exclaimed. Then the two brother and sister heard music in the distance. Annie saw a village. And so did Jack. They both saw people dancing and playing instruments. Annie did'nt listen to Jack so Annie joined the people dancing. She did the hula. Jack whispered to Annie to come back. But she did not listen to him until a girl spotted him in a distance. She pulled jack's arm to go and dance with her but she was to strong and he refused to dance. Suddenly it was night the girl had a family. Jack and Annie met her family. She had a brother and her mom and dad. They met each other and became friends. The girls name was Kama and her brothers name was boka(I predict). Kama gave Annie a wreath as a gift. The family told them that they both can sleep over their house.
The next day their new friends showed the two brother and sister how to surf. Jack fell and his friends laughed at him even his sister. He started acting mean and hurt Annie and his new friends feelings. When they left jack felt a rumble. It was a tsunami! He went to warn his friends and went to safety. They returned to their friends family and had some thing to eat. It was time for Jack and Annie to go but before they left Jack said sorry to their friends. They went home and met Morgan. They completed their task. And you know what. The wreath was the object they needed to find.
That's the book I red on tuesday evening. The end
When Annie wished to go there the tree house spun faster and faster until the tree house stopped. They were in Hawaii! Annie exclaimed. Then the two brother and sister heard music in the distance. Annie saw a village. And so did Jack. They both saw people dancing and playing instruments. Annie did'nt listen to Jack so Annie joined the people dancing. She did the hula. Jack whispered to Annie to come back. But she did not listen to him until a girl spotted him in a distance. She pulled jack's arm to go and dance with her but she was to strong and he refused to dance. Suddenly it was night the girl had a family. Jack and Annie met her family. She had a brother and her mom and dad. They met each other and became friends. The girls name was Kama and her brothers name was boka(I predict). Kama gave Annie a wreath as a gift. The family told them that they both can sleep over their house.
The next day their new friends showed the two brother and sister how to surf. Jack fell and his friends laughed at him even his sister. He started acting mean and hurt Annie and his new friends feelings. When they left jack felt a rumble. It was a tsunami! He went to warn his friends and went to safety. They returned to their friends family and had some thing to eat. It was time for Jack and Annie to go but before they left Jack said sorry to their friends. They went home and met Morgan. They completed their task. And you know what. The wreath was the object they needed to find.
That's the book I red on tuesday evening. The end
August 31, 2011
So far so good.Finished the book.woooowhooooooo.it ws kinda scary twards the end but like in all magic tree house books the lived happly ever affter.
July 15, 2018
I enjoyed this book because I like surfing. I also enjoyed this book because I liked the part when Jack got the hang of surfing.
September 4, 2019
This was a very good book.
February 1, 2021
This week, I read High Tide in Hawaii, which is part of the magic treehouse series. In this story, Jack and Annie are whisked away to Hawaii in their magic treehouse, meet locals and learn a bit about Hawaiian culture. At the beginning, they believe that their task is to build a ship in order to return home safely. After meeting new friends and surviving pirates and a tsunami, they learn that the real ship they were to build was friendship with two new characters, Boka and Kama.
This book is a very clear formula fiction book, as are the rest of the books in this series. I think these are great chapter books for reluctant readers in upper elementary because they are very predictable and there are a wide variety of choices so students could pick a topic that is of most interest to them when looking at magic treehouse books. This book, along with most magic treehouse books, could be used as a chapter book study with a small to focus on story elements such as characters, setting and plot. Students could read together during independent reading time and work to answer text dependent questions. In meetings with the teacher, students could discuss what is happening in the story, make inferences and predictions to support comprehension development.
This book is a very clear formula fiction book, as are the rest of the books in this series. I think these are great chapter books for reluctant readers in upper elementary because they are very predictable and there are a wide variety of choices so students could pick a topic that is of most interest to them when looking at magic treehouse books. This book, along with most magic treehouse books, could be used as a chapter book study with a small to focus on story elements such as characters, setting and plot. Students could read together during independent reading time and work to answer text dependent questions. In meetings with the teacher, students could discuss what is happening in the story, make inferences and predictions to support comprehension development.
February 21, 2017
TRANSITIONAL CHAPTER BOOK
Title: High Tide in Hawaii
Author: Mary Pope Osborne
Illustrator: Sal Murdocca
Genre: Transitional Chapter Book, Fantasy, Fiction
Theme(s): Magic, Time travel, Hawaii, Friendship
Opening line/sentence: “Jack and Annie were sitting on their porch reading books.”
Brief Book Summary:
In this book, Jack and Annie travel to a Hawaiian island in search of a ship, or so they think. They discover a village of people doing the hula and join in, making friends with a brother and sister named Kama and Boka. Jack and Annie spend the night with their new friends, share in a meal with them, learn about their way of life and go surfing. Jack, who doesn’t succeed at learning to surf, feels the earth shake as the others paddle out to catch a wave. He reads in his book that tsunamis are often the result of earthquakes on the island and rushes to save his sister and friends. They get to higher ground safely and return to Frog Creek as Magicians of Everyday Magic, learning that the ship they were searching for was actually friendship.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Osborne, Mary Pope High Tide in Hawaii
76 pp. Random (Random House Children's Books) 2003. LE ISBN 0-375-90616-9 PE ISBN 0-375-80616-4
(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Sal Murdocca. Magic Tree House series. In their twenty-eighth adventure, Jack and Annie wish themselves from their magic tree house to Hawaii, where they make friends with siblings Boka and Kama, learn to surf, and narrowly escape a tsunami before returning to their family. Hawaiian details are accurate, if predictable; the plot is exciting, if quickly resolved; and the text, with black-and-white illustrations, is readable by novices.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Danielle Williams (Children's Literature)
In this continuation of the children's series the "Magic Tree House," Jack and Annie are whisked away to old Hawaii. When they arrive they are just in time to attend a Luau and meet two young Hawaiians who open their home to them for the night. The next day the four children go surfing, an activity that Jack is uncertain about. After his first failed attempt, and teasing from the other children, he waits on the beach while the other children go surfing again. While he is waiting he feels an earthquake and consults one of his books on Hawaii for more information. He reads that earthquakes at Hawaii can result in a tsunami and quickly catches the other children's attention and warns them of the danger. The children make it to safety just in time and Jack and Annie soon return to their own time. Tidbits of information about Hawaiian culture and history intersperse the text, along with illustrations of scenes occurring in the chapters. Some background information is provided concerning how the children found the Magic Tree House, and how they know where they are going and the tasks they are supposed to perform. However, the book would be more interesting if read as part of the series instead of as a stand-alone piece of fiction. A very brief Hawaiian timeline and brief facts about Hawaii appear at the end of the text, along with a list of titles in the Magic Tree House Series. High Tide in Hawaii is number 28 in the "Magic Tree House"
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
As stated in these reviews, High Tide in Hawaii is a predictable, transitional chapter book with basic illustrations, predictable plot, and few dispersed informational facts about Hawaii and the people who live there. The book, when read as a continuation of the series, would be more enjoyable than if read alone. The information provided in the book gives a quick overview into old Hawaiian culture and a message about the importance of friendship.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
This book is a good choice for a transitional chapter book. The plot is predictable while the written language is simple yet descriptive. Young readers will enjoy learning about old Hawaii through the tidbits of informational facts dispersed in the writing. The few black and white illustrations allow for readers to use their imaginations to fill in the blanks to create mental images of the scenes. Overall, this book provides informational facts, allows for imagination, has a simple plot and conflict resolution, and has a central message of friendship that is relatable to young readers.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
Instructional Applications for this book could focus on three different topics: tsunamis as natural disasters and the geography of Hawaii, historical Hawaii culture and lifestyle, or friendship. Lessons could be based on learning more about how tsunamis are created, why they are created, where they are most likely to occur, what their aftermath is and what the history of tsunamis in Hawaii is. Lessons could also be based on telling stories through hula dancing, what the daily lives of historical Hawaiian people were like, and diving deeper into cultural facts and experiences. Lastly, lessons could also be based on creating friendships and what makes a good friend and how Annie, Jack, Kama and Boka showed that.
Title: High Tide in Hawaii
Author: Mary Pope Osborne
Illustrator: Sal Murdocca
Genre: Transitional Chapter Book, Fantasy, Fiction
Theme(s): Magic, Time travel, Hawaii, Friendship
Opening line/sentence: “Jack and Annie were sitting on their porch reading books.”
Brief Book Summary:
In this book, Jack and Annie travel to a Hawaiian island in search of a ship, or so they think. They discover a village of people doing the hula and join in, making friends with a brother and sister named Kama and Boka. Jack and Annie spend the night with their new friends, share in a meal with them, learn about their way of life and go surfing. Jack, who doesn’t succeed at learning to surf, feels the earth shake as the others paddle out to catch a wave. He reads in his book that tsunamis are often the result of earthquakes on the island and rushes to save his sister and friends. They get to higher ground safely and return to Frog Creek as Magicians of Everyday Magic, learning that the ship they were searching for was actually friendship.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Osborne, Mary Pope High Tide in Hawaii
76 pp. Random (Random House Children's Books) 2003. LE ISBN 0-375-90616-9 PE ISBN 0-375-80616-4
(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Sal Murdocca. Magic Tree House series. In their twenty-eighth adventure, Jack and Annie wish themselves from their magic tree house to Hawaii, where they make friends with siblings Boka and Kama, learn to surf, and narrowly escape a tsunami before returning to their family. Hawaiian details are accurate, if predictable; the plot is exciting, if quickly resolved; and the text, with black-and-white illustrations, is readable by novices.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Danielle Williams (Children's Literature)
In this continuation of the children's series the "Magic Tree House," Jack and Annie are whisked away to old Hawaii. When they arrive they are just in time to attend a Luau and meet two young Hawaiians who open their home to them for the night. The next day the four children go surfing, an activity that Jack is uncertain about. After his first failed attempt, and teasing from the other children, he waits on the beach while the other children go surfing again. While he is waiting he feels an earthquake and consults one of his books on Hawaii for more information. He reads that earthquakes at Hawaii can result in a tsunami and quickly catches the other children's attention and warns them of the danger. The children make it to safety just in time and Jack and Annie soon return to their own time. Tidbits of information about Hawaiian culture and history intersperse the text, along with illustrations of scenes occurring in the chapters. Some background information is provided concerning how the children found the Magic Tree House, and how they know where they are going and the tasks they are supposed to perform. However, the book would be more interesting if read as part of the series instead of as a stand-alone piece of fiction. A very brief Hawaiian timeline and brief facts about Hawaii appear at the end of the text, along with a list of titles in the Magic Tree House Series. High Tide in Hawaii is number 28 in the "Magic Tree House"
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
As stated in these reviews, High Tide in Hawaii is a predictable, transitional chapter book with basic illustrations, predictable plot, and few dispersed informational facts about Hawaii and the people who live there. The book, when read as a continuation of the series, would be more enjoyable than if read alone. The information provided in the book gives a quick overview into old Hawaiian culture and a message about the importance of friendship.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
This book is a good choice for a transitional chapter book. The plot is predictable while the written language is simple yet descriptive. Young readers will enjoy learning about old Hawaii through the tidbits of informational facts dispersed in the writing. The few black and white illustrations allow for readers to use their imaginations to fill in the blanks to create mental images of the scenes. Overall, this book provides informational facts, allows for imagination, has a simple plot and conflict resolution, and has a central message of friendship that is relatable to young readers.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
Instructional Applications for this book could focus on three different topics: tsunamis as natural disasters and the geography of Hawaii, historical Hawaii culture and lifestyle, or friendship. Lessons could be based on learning more about how tsunamis are created, why they are created, where they are most likely to occur, what their aftermath is and what the history of tsunamis in Hawaii is. Lessons could also be based on telling stories through hula dancing, what the daily lives of historical Hawaiian people were like, and diving deeper into cultural facts and experiences. Lastly, lessons could also be based on creating friendships and what makes a good friend and how Annie, Jack, Kama and Boka showed that.
November 24, 2022
Healing my inner child, one stupid chapter book at a time.
Read
February 4, 2024fire novel
June 18, 2025
Cute books for kids! ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Read
January 16, 2026jack overcome your anxiety challenge: failed
January 28, 2026
Encourages minors to go surfing WITHOUT PARENTAL SUPERVISION smh
August 21, 2022
Another enjoyable and educational story from the magic tree series.
November 22, 2020
this was the best magic tree houseThat I have read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 318 reviews