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Dinosaurs Before Dark is the first installment in the Magic Tree House series, by Mary Pope Osborne, featuring the adventures of Jack and Annie and a magical treehouse! Summary Of The Book In Magic Tree House: Dinosaurs Before Dark (Book - 1), central characters Annie and Jack encounter a magical tree filled with books. As soon as Jack opens up a book about dinosaurs, he expresses a wish to see a pteranodon. Then, as if by magic, the treehouse with the special powers transports them back to prehistoric times when dinosaurs walked the earth. Here, both children encounter several species of dinosaur including pteranodons, triceratops and anatosauruses. When Jack and Annie spot a huge tyrannosaurus rex, they panic and attempt to run back. Then suddenly, Jack realizes that he has forgotten his dinosaur book and backpack in the valley. But when Jack returns with his missing items, the T-rex blocks his path back to the treehouse. How will Jack get back to the treehouse? Will both children be able to return home? To appeal to the imagination of children ages 8 and up, Osborne has divided her novel into ten chapters with alluring titles such as ‘The Monster’ and ‘Dinosaur Valley’. Young children will delight in reading about the adventures of these two protagonists. Dinosaurs Before Dark is chock full of mystery, excitement and a little bit of magic, enough to encourage young children to read. It also contains vivid illustrations by Sal Murdocca, who also illustrated many Sesame Street books. The Magic Tree House book series continues to be a popular and widely read stories that can be found in most library collections. Osborne’s books have received many accolades from esteemed organizations such as the American Booksellers Association, Random House Sales Force and the National Council of Teachers of English. About Mary Pope Osborne Mary Pope Osborne is a popular children’s book author and the creator of the Magic Tree House series. She has authored over forty books, including Run, Run, As Fast As You Can, and Adaline Falling Star. Her writing in her stories is simple, clear and easy to read. Her stories feature small cliffhangers which appeal to younger readers. All her books contain an educational, historical and geographical component, making them a favourite among parents and teachers. She currently resides in New York with her husband Will Osborne.