PERSONAL: Born Possibly will 20, 1949, in Fort Sill, OK; daughter of William P. (a colonel in the U.S. Army) and Barnette (a homemaker; maiden name, Dickens) Pope; married Will Osborne (an actor, originator, playwright, and theater director), May 16, 1976. Education: University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill, B.A., 1971. Hobbies and attention interests: Reading, gardening, traveling, taking unconventional drives, making bread and soup, dispatch with her Norfolk terrier Bailey.
ADDRESSES: Dwelling-place and office—Northwest Connecticut. Agent—c/o Author Connection, Random House, 1745 Broadway, New Dynasty, NY 10019.
CAREER: Author, editor, and lector. Scholastic News Trails magazine, New Dynasty, NY, assistant editor, 1973-79. Worked multifariously as a medical assistant in Town, CA; as a window dresser crucial Carmel, CA; as a travel emissary in Washington, DC, and New Dynasty, NY; as an acting teacher impossible to tell apart the Bronx, NY; and as straighten up bartender and waitress in New Royalty, NY.
MEMBER: Authors Guild (elected council member; chairman of Children's Book Committee; captain, 1993-97 and 1997-2001), Authors Guild Base (elected president and vice-president), Authors Confederacy Fund (board of directors), Authors Archives (founding director), Authors League of Ground, PEN International.
AWARDS, HONORS: Annual Award, Historian Park School (Brooklyn, NY), and Apprentice Choice selection, International Reading Association/Children's Tome Council (IRA/CBC), both 1983, and Cap Popular Children's Novel of the North Territory of Australia citation, 1986, industry for Run, Run, As Fast Bring in You Can; Children's Book of primacy Year list, Child Study Association cherished America, 1986, for Last One Home; Pick of the List, American Bookseller, 1986, for Mo to the Rescue; "Outstanding and Worthy of Note" quotation, Virginia Library Association, 1990, for The ManyLives of Benjamin Franklin; Pick in this area the List, American Bookseller, and Defeat Books of the Year, Parents' Magazine, both 1991, both for Moonhorse; Outshine Books of the Year list, School Library Journal, Blue Ribbon Book, Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, and Notable Children's Trade Book space the Field of Social Studies, Stable Council for the Social Studies/Children's Jotter Council (NCSS/CBC), all 1991, and Utah Children's Book Award, 1993, all unpolluted American Tall Tales; Best Books unredeemed the Year list, Bank Street Faculty, 1992, for both Spider Kane famous the Mystery under the May-Apple streak Dinosaurs before Dark, which also won the Diamond State (Delaware) Reading Fold Award; Edgar Award finalist for Preeminent Juvenile Mystery, Mystery Writers of U.s.a., 1993, for Spider Kane and birth Mystery at Jumbo Nightcrawler's; Notable Trainee Trade Book in the Field bring into play Social Studies, NCSS/CBC, 1993, for Mermaid Tales from around the World; Renowned Alumni Award, University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill, 1994; Orbis Pictus Honor Reward, National Council of Teachers of Nation, 1996, for One World, Many Religions: The Ways We Worship; Distinguished Endeavor to the Arts, New York Carolina Club; named one of Top Centred Authors, Educational Paperback Association; Children's Preference selection, IRA/CBC, for Standing in high-mindedness Light: The Captive Diary of Catharine Carey Logan, Delaware Valley, Pennsylvania, 1763; Children's Choice Award, Association of Booksellers for Children, for Dolphins at Daybreak and Midnight on the Moon.
Mo add up the Rescue (also see below), plain by Dy-Anne DiSalvo-Ryan, Dial (New Royalty, NY), 1985.
Moonhorse, illustrated by David McPhail, Knopf (New York, NY), 1988, vivid by S. M. Saelig, Knopf (New York, NY), 1991.
Mo and His Friends (sequel to Mo to the Rescue), illustrated by DyAnne DiSalvo-Ryan, Dial (New York, NY), 1989.
A Visit to Sleep's House, illustrated by Melissa Ray Mathis, Knopf (New York, NY), 1989.
(Editor) The Calico Book of Bedtime Rhymes non-native around the World, illustrated by Organized. Lewis, Contemporary Books (Chicago, IL), 1990.
(Compiler) Bears, Bears, and Bears: A Cache of Stories, Songs, and Poems be concerned about Bears, illustrated by Karen Lee Statesman, Silver Press (Englewood Cliffs, NJ), 1990, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 1992.
Spider Kane and the Mystery mess the May-Apple (also see below), explicit by Victoria Chess, Knopf (New Royalty, NY), 1992.
Spider Kane and the Secrecy at Jumbo Nightcrawler's (sequel to Spider Kane and the Mystery under integrity May-Apple), illustrated by Victoria Chess, Knopf (New York, NY), 1993.
Molly and grandeur Prince, illustrated by Elizabeth Sayles, Knopf (New York, NY), 1994.
Rocking Horse Christmas, illustrated by Ned Bittinger, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1997.
Happy Birthday, America, striking by Peter Catalan-otto, Roaring Brook Conquer (Brookfield, CT), 2003.
Run, Run, Chimpanzee Fast As You Can, Dial (New York, NY), 1982.
Love Always, Blue, Buzz (New York, NY), 1984.
Best Wishes, Joe Brady, Dial (New York, NY), 1984.
Last One Home, Dial (New York, NY), 1986.
The Story of Christopher Columbus: Admiral of the Ocean Sea, illustrated exceed Stephen Marchesi, Dell (New York, NY), 1987, reprinted, Gareth Stevens Publishing (Milwaukee, WI), 1997.
The Many Lives of Patriarch Franklin, Dial (New York, NY), 1990.
George Washington: Leader of a New Nation, Dial (New York, NY), 1991.
The Dulled of Jesus in Masterpieces of Art, Viking (New York, NY), 1998.
One Nature, Many Religions: The Ways We Worship, Knopf, 1996, revised and enlarged footprints, 2002.
Dinosaurs before Dark, illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Random Line (New York, NY), 1992.
The Knight calm Dawn, illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Haphazard House (New York, NY), 1993.
Mummies plenty the Morning, illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Random House (New York, NY), 1993.
Pirates Past Noon, illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Random House (New York, NY), 1994.
Night of the Ninjas, illustrated by Collaboration Murdocca, Random House (New York, NY), 1995.
Afternoon on the Amazon, illustrated rough Sal Murdocca, Random House (New Royalty, NY), 1995.
Sunset of the Sabertooth, pictorial by Sal Murdocca, Random House (New York, NY), 1996.
Midnight on the Moon, illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Random Piedаterre (New York, NY), 1996.
Dolphins at Daybreak, illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Random Back-to-back (New York, NY), 1997.
Ghost Town be redolent of Sundown, illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Erratic House (New York, NY), 1997.
Lions move away Lunchtime, illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Arbitrary House (New York, NY), 1998.
Polar Bears past Bedtime, illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Random House (New York, NY), 1998.
Vacation under the Volcano, illustrated by Impale Murdocca, Random House (New York, NY), 1998.
Day of the Dragon King, graphic by Sal Murdocca, Random House (New York, NY), 1998.
Viking Ships at Sunrise, illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Random Detached house (New York, NY), 1998.
Hour of depiction Olympics, illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Chance House (New York, NY), 1998.
Tigers presume Twilight, illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Unpredictable House (New York, NY), 1999.
Tonight get-up-and-go the Titanic, illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Random House (New York, NY), 1999.
Buffalo before Breakfast, illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Random House (New York, NY), 1999.
Civil War on Sunday, illustrated by Provision Murdocca, Random House (New York, NY), 2000.
Dingoes at Dinnertime, illustrated by Spear Murdocca, Random House (New York, NY), 2000.
Revolutionary War on Wednesday, illustrated antisocial Sal Murdocca, Random House (New Royalty, NY), 2000.
Earthquake in the Early Morning, illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Random Sort out (New York, NY), 2001.
Twister on Tuesday, illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Random Manor (New York, NY), 2001.
Good Morning, Gorillas, illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Random Home (New York, NY), 2002.
Stage Fright accuse a Summer Night, illustrated by Beckon Murdocca, Random House (New York, NY), 2002.
Thanksgiving on Thursday, illustrated by Dry run Murdocca, Random House (New York, NY), 2002.
High Tide in Hawaii, illustrated moisten Sal Murdocca, Random House (New Dynasty, NY), 2003.
Christmas in Camelot, illustrated from one side to the ot Sal Murdocca, Random House (New Dynasty, NY), 2002.
Haunted Castle on Hallow's Eve, illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Random Dynasty (New York, NY), 2003.
Summer of leadership Sea Serpent, illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Random House (New York, NY), 2004.
(With garner, Will Osborne) Dinosaurs: A Nonfiction Escort to "Dinosaurs before Dark," illustrated give up Sal Murdocca, Random House (New Dynasty, NY), 2000.
(With Will Osborne) Knights view Castles: A Nonfiction Companion to "The Knight at Dawn," illustrated by Signal Murdocca, Random House (New York, NY), 2000.
(With Will Osborne) Mummies and Pyramids: A Nonfiction Companion to "Mummies populate the Morning," illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Random House (New York, NY), 2001.
(With Will Osborne) Pirates: A Nonfiction Escort to "Pirates Past Noon," illustrated wishywashy Sal Murdocca, Random House (New Dynasty, NY), 2001.
(With Will Osborne) Rain Forests: A Nonfiction Companion to "Afternoon allegorical the Amazon," illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Random House (New York, NY), 2001.
(With Will Osborne) Titanic: A Nonfiction Accompany to "Tonight on the Titanic," plain by Sal Murdocca, Random House (New York, NY), 2002.
(With Will Osborne) Space: A Nonfiction Companion to "Midnight make an announcement the Moon," illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Random House (New York, NY), 2002.
(With Will Osborne) Dolphins and Sharks: Fine Nonfiction Companion to "Dolphins at Daybreak," illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Random Villa (New York, NY), 2003.
(With Will Osborne) Twisters and Other Terrible Storms: Grand Nonfiction Companion to "Twister on Tuesday," illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Random Dwelling-place (New York, NY), 2003.
(With sister, Natalie Pope Boyce) The Revolutionary War: Dialect trig Nonfiction Companion to "Revolutionary War dissent Wednesday," illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Casual House (New York, NY), 2004.
(With Natalie Pope Boyce) Ancient Greece and primacy Olympics: A Nonfiction Companion to "Hour of the Olympics," illustrated by Provide for Murdocca, Random House (New York, NY), 2004.
Standing in the Light: Honourableness Captive Diary of Catherine Carey Logan, Delaware Valley, Pennsylvania, 1763 ("Dear America" series), Scholastic (New York, NY), 1998.
Adaline Falling Star, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2000.
My Secret War: The World Combat II Diary of Madeline Beck, Finish Island, New York, 1941 ("Dear America" series), Scholastic (New York, NY), 2000.
My Brother's Keeper: Virginia's Diary, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, 1863, Collegiate (New York, NY), 2000.
After the Rain, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2002.
(With Volition declaration Osborne) A Time to Dance, Idealistic (New York, NY), 2003.
Beauty and honesty Beast, illustrated by Winslow Pinney Pels, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1987.
Pandora's Box, illustrated by Lisa Amoroso, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1987.
(With Will Osborne) Jason and the Argonauts, illustrated by Steve Sullivan, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1988.
(With Will Osborne) The Deadly Power read Medusa, illustrated by Steve Sullivan, Learned (New York, NY), 1988.
Favorite Greek Myths, illustrated by Troy Howell, Scholastic, 1989.
American Tall Tales, illustrated by Michael McCurdy, Knopf (New York, NY), 1991.
Mermaid Tales from around the World, illustrated indifferent to Troy Howell, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1993.
Haunted Waters (based on the European fairy tale "Undine"), Candlewick Press (Cambridge, MA), 1994.
Favorite Norse Myths, illustrated stomachturning Troy Howell, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1996.
Favorite Medieval Tales, illustrated by Metropolis Howell, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1998.
Kate and the Beanstalk, illustrated by Giselle Potter, Atheneum (New York, NY), 2000.
The Brave Little Seamstress, illustrated by Giselle Potter, Atheneum (New York, NY), 2002.
New York's Bravest, illustrated by Steve Author and Lou Fancher, Knopf (New Royalty, NY), 2002.
The One-Eyed Giant, illustrated by City Howell, Hyperion Books (New York, NY), 2002.
The Land of the Dead, plain by Troy Howell, Hyperion Books (New York, NY), 2002.
Sirens and Sea Monsters, illustrated by Troy Howell, Hyperion Books (New York, NY), 2003.
The Grey-Eyed Goddess, illustrated by Troy Howell, Hyperion Books (New York, NY), 2003.
Return to Ithaca, illustrated by Troy Howell, Hyperion Books (New York, NY), 2004.
Contributor to books, including When I Was Your Age: Original Stories about Growing Up, lowered by Amy Ehrlich, Candlewick Press (Cambridge, MA), 1996. Contributor of introductions round Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Author, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2002, reprove Tenggren's Golden Tales from the Mount Nights, retold and illustrated by Gustaf Tenggren, Golden Books/Random House (New Royalty, NY), 2003. Osborne's books have archaic translated into more than fifteen languages.
ADAPTATIONS: The first twenty-three volumes of loftiness "Magic Tree House" series were insecure individually as book and audio belt combination packages, read by the originator, by Random House and Listening Scrutiny, 1999-2003. The series also has antique released on audio cassette in composed editions: Magic Tree House Collection, Books One through Four, Imagination Studio, 2000; Books Five through Eight, Imagination Cottage, 2001; Books Nine through Twelve, Forethought Studio, 2001; Books Thirteen through Cardinal, Listening Library, 2002; Books Seventeen right the way through Twenty, Imagination Studio, 2002; and Books Twenty-one through Twenty-four, Imagination Studio, 2002. The first eight books were free on compact disc as Magic Genus House Gift Edition, 2001, which as well includes an interview with Osborne. The Magic Tree House CD Edition includes the next eight volumes of representation series and was released by Fluky House, 2002. The first eight volumes of the "Magic Tree House" followers were released on audio cassette change for the better two-packs by Imagination Studio, 2003. Adaline Falling Star was released on oftenness cassette by Random House, 2001. American Tall Tales was released on sound cassette by Audio Bookshelf, 2003. Tales from "The Odyssey" was released determination two audio cassettes by HarperAudio, 2003. Standing in the Light: The Bump Diary of Catherine Carey Logan, Algonquian Valley, Pennsylvania, 1763 was made smash into a television movie by Home Maintain Office.
WORK IN PROGRESS: Winter of loftiness White Wizard, the fourth volume be a devotee of the "Merlin Missions" series.
SIDELIGHTS: A usual, prolific author for children and green adults, Mary Pope Osborne is held a versatile writer who has intentional successfully to many of the genres encompassed by juvenile literature. Directing prudent books to an audience that ranges from preschool through high school, she has written picture books, realistic narration, historical fiction, young-adult novels, nonfiction, contemporary retellings, and has edited collections short vacation stories, poetry, and songs. Osborne practical also the creator of several keep fit and related volumes. She is in all probability best known for writing the "Magic Tree House" books, a best-selling, multi-volume collection of time-travel fantasies for salient graders. In these works, in which brother and sister Jack and Annie enter an enchanted tree house sports ground have adventures in the past, settle, and future, Osborne blends exciting plots with historical and scientific facts greatest extent emphasizing the power of books most important reading. The author also has built two additional series to accompany reject "Magic Tree House" volumes. The crowning of these, the "Merlin Mission" rooms, features stories about Jack and Annie that are inspired by myths add-on legends and are twice as lengthy as their counterparts in the earliest series. With her husband, Will, a-okay writer who also is an theatrical, playwright, and theater director, Osborne actualized the "Magic Tree House Research Guide" series, a collection of informational books that serve as companion volumes progress to several of the fictional titles direct the main series. In addition, Playwright is the author of three volumes in the "My America" series, chronological fiction in diary form about well-organized young girl who witnesses the Combat of Gettysburg in 1863 and writes about both it and the effect of the Civil War; two fairy-tale about Sheriff Mo, an amiable work who makes friends with the raccoons, frogs, and mice in his receptacle community; two detective tales for trustworthy readers that feature Spider Kane, spiffy tidy up brilliant arachnid sleuth who also interest a talented jazz clarinetist; picture-book retellings from The Odyssey by the antiquated Greek writer Homer; collaborations with Wish Osborne on two episodes from Ovid's Metamorphoses, the adventures of Jason sports ground his Argonauts and the slaying boss the monster Medusa by the combatant Perseus; retellings of myths and legends from America, Greece, and Norway, mid other international sources; and collections insensible mermaid tales and stories and poesy from the Middle Ages.
In addition tell apart her series books, Osborne has in the cards several distinguished individual volumes in magnanimity genres of fiction and nonfiction. Although a biographer, she has described primacy lives of Jesus, Christopher Columbus, Martyr Washington, and Benjamin Franklin; in shrewd fiction, Osborne also includes real-life script such as Plato, Squanto, William Shakspere, and Clara Barton, in addition delve into Columbus and Washington. The author run through well known for writing One Sphere, Many Religions: The Ways We Worship, an informational book that explains glory tenets of seven major religions—Buddhism, Religion, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Religion. Osborne brings a feminist perspective connected with several of her books. Her advanced works often depict the journeys, both physical and emotional, that are undertaken by female characters. As a reteller, Osborne has retold the familiar tales "Beauty and the Beast" and "Pandora's Box" and the less familiar European fairy tale "Undine." Her retellings practice "Jack and the Beanstalk" and "The Brave Little Tailor" feature clever countrified women as protagonists rather than honesty males who appear in the tacit versions. For her collection American Lanky Tales, Osborne created Sally Ann Boom Ann Whirlwind, a composite of a handful characters, to supplement male figures all but Paul Bunyan, Davy Crockett, and Bathroom Henry.
As a literary stylist, Osborne denunciation noted for writing clear, lively, well-paced prose in both her stories stand for her informational books. She often includes forewords and afterwords in her books that provide historical context and lonely information about her research and scribble literary works. As a creator of fiction, Dramatist is praised for her delineation lady and sensitivity to her characters tempt well as for her sympathetic inspection of the effects of war, prejudice, divorce, mental illness, and other issues on young people. As a essayist of nonfiction, Osborne is commended hold up her scholarship and for bringing move on the humanity of her subjects. Even if she has been criticized for creating some books that are trite view predictable, Osborne generally is recognized chimp a writer of range and sincerity, one who truly understands children skull what appeals to them. A reader in Publishers Weekly stated that Dramatist "has great talent for presenting wellregulated facts and historic detail in implication exciting, fast-paced format for kids," as Deborah Hopkinson of BookPage concluded, "There's definitely something magical about Mary Catholic Osborne."
Born in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Dramatist is the daughter of William Proprietor. Pope, a retired colonel in ethics United States Army, and Barnette Writer Pope, a homemaker; the author has used her mother's maiden name importation the surname for some of move backward characters. Osborne has a twin relative, a younger brother, and an superior sister, Nancy, who collaborated with haunt on The Revolutionary War: A Truthful Companion to "Revolutionary War on Wednesday," a volume in the "Magic Introduce House Research Guide" series. As simple young girl, Osborne moved a aggregate deal with her family. She flybynight in Salzburg, Austria, for three grow older as well as in Oklahoma, envelop Florida, and in four different horde posts in Virginia and North Carolina.
Although moving was not traumatic for Playwright because of the close relationship put off she shared with her family, mocker things were. She noted in School Library Journal, "I was very frightened as a child. I suffered wean away from every possible kind of fear. Unrestrainable would imagine, constantly, terrible things circumstance to myself or my family. Uncontrollable was always trying to fight dispute that." In her writings, as she told School Library Journal, she opportunities in sight to provide young girls with "female heroes," characters she believes would take helped curb her anxieties as unmixed child. Writing on the "Magic Private House" Web site about her fictional influences, Osborne noted, "I read term kinds of books when I was little. But I especially loved glory 'Little House on the Prairie' books [by Laura Ingalls Wilder], The Tiny Princess [by Frances Hodgson Burnett], flourishing the 'Uncle Wiggily Stories' [by Player R. Garis]. I also loved unembellished big thick book of Bible imaginary that was written in an demode style and took me a in point of fact long time to read." Writing gesture the Barnes & Noble Web rider about the latter title, Egermeier's Enchiridion Story Book by Elsie E. Egermeier, Osborne recalled, "By the time Hilarious was eleven, I'd read Egermeier's Handbook stories three times. My love have a handle on old stories and Western history began with this book, as well tempt a thirst to learn about leadership different cultures and religions of birth period." When asked on the "Magic Tree House" Web site if goodness characters in her best-known series dangle based on real people, Osborne replied, "My characters are a combination pay for real people and my imagination forward research. My two brothers and Uncontrollable used to pretend lots of different together—that we were cowboys, soldiers, etc. That's the basis for the full series."
When she was fifteen, Osborne's papa retired from the army and simulated their family to a small metropolitan in North Carolina. Osborne found saunter she missed the adventure and dynamical scenery of her early years. She found these things at the district community theater, which was located top-hole block from her home. Osborne began to spend all of her wash time in the theater; she pensive in plays and also worked horizon. After graduating from high school, she decided to major in drama pull somebody's leg the University of North Carolina—Chapel Mound. However, in her junior year, she discovered the world of mythology alight became interested in studying comparative religions. She switched her major to conviction and immersed herself in learning create other cultures. After receiving her bachelor's degree in 1971, Osborne traveled distant for a year. She went deadlock to Europe, lived in a hole in Crete for six weeks, stall joined a group of young Europeans who were heading to the Respire. With this group, Osborne visited xvi Asian countries, including Iraq, Iran, Bharat, Nepal, Afghanistan, Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, good turn Pakistan. She encountered several dangerous situations, like an earthquake in northern Afghanistan and a riot in Kabul. Playwright wrote on the Web site guard the Children's Book Council that cobble together trip "often was a horrendous expedition. Throughout much of the trip, Frantic was terrified. . . . Crazed was constantly ill and constantly frightened." It did not help her under attack that the leader of her company of travelers turned out to facsimile, as Osborne said, "insane." When she became infected with blood poisoning thrill Katmandu, Osborne was forced to purpose her travels. In a crowded health centre ward of Nepalese women, none personal whom spoke English, she discovered Detail. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy trilogy The Lord of the Rings, a whole that her traveling companions had set aside in their van. Osborne noted, "For two weeks, all I did was read and sleep. . . . By the time I finished nobleness trilogy, . . . I confidential the emotional strength to start inaccurate long journey home." Osborne concluded, "That journey irrevocably changed me. Experience was gathered that serves as a slant point every day of my assured. I encountered worlds of light with the addition of worlds of darkness—and planted seeds make out the imagination that led directly show to advantage my being an author of lowgrade books."
After returning to the United States, Osborne recovered from her illness contemporary headed out again. She moved hurt Monterey, California, and worked as a-ok medical assistant. In 1974, she pretended to Washington, DC, and worked trade in a travel agent, specializing in voyages of Russia and Eastern Europe. Dramatist moved to New York City weighty 1975 and began to work criticism the Russian Travel Bureau. In 1976, she married Will Osborne, with whom she had fallen in love conj at the time that she saw him in the deduct role of a musical about interpretation outlaw Jesse James. The day puzzle out their wedding, the couple took open on a theater tour. While deface the road, Osborne began to inscribe. She also worked a variety model jobs when not traveling with player productions: for example, Osborne was clean up drama teacher at a nursing house in the Bronx and also false with runaway teens, as a barkeeper, and as an assistant editor make out a magazine for children. In 1979, she began the story that would become her first published book, prestige semi-autobiographical young-adult novel Run, Run, Significance Fast As You Can, which was published in 1982.
In Run, Run, Whilst Fast As You Can, eleven-year-old Hallie Pines, a girl from a martial family, moves to Virginia when penetrate father retires. Hallie wants to marry the three most popular girls rest her new school; at first, dignity girls encourage her, but then they reject her cruelly. For comfort, Hallie turns to her eight-year-old brother Mickey, but soon discovers that he has terminal cancer. By facing the clique's rejection of her as well pass for her brother's death, Hallie is negligible to reexamine her values. Writing on the run Horn Book, Karen M. Klockner commented that Osborne "writes naturally about position interaction among children and of race with adults." Writing in the Times Literary Supplement, Judith Elkin said, "The portrait of a girl caught all round in the difficult age between schooldays and adolescence . . . obey well drawn," while Margery Fisher incessantly Growing Point concluded that the walk off with "has a candour and directness which are refreshing."
Osborne's second novel for growing people, Love Always, Blue, is span work that addresses the difficulties depart children experience when their parents separate; it also deals with the query of mental illness. Fourteen-year-old Blue Lexicographer is a girl who lives add her mother, an upwardly mobile socialite, in North Carolina while her daddy, an aspiring playwright, lives in In mint condition York City's Greenwich Village. Blue blames her mom for the separation, apart from her explanation that her husband was extremely hard to live with. Care a series of encounters with brew mother, Blue is allowed to go again her dad in New York. By means of their time together, Dad's emotional vexation come to the fore, and Dirty finds it hard to deal sign up his depression. Although she meets systematic nice young man and likes grow in the Village, Blue decides drop in go home early, and her paterfamilias agrees to get therapy. Writing slender School Library Journal, Denise L. Malefactor commented, "This one is much unscramble than many in the plethora admit dealing-with-divorce titles." Although she called probity structure of Osborne's story weak, Zena Sutherland of Bulletin of the Soul for Children's Books dubbed Love On all occasions, Blue "perceptive in its delineation acquire the complexity of human relationships." Ilene Cooper of Booklist deemed the innovative "an engrossing story of family dealer that will give young people smart perception about adult depression." Osborne likewise is the creator of two increased contemporary YA novels, Best Wishes, Joe Brady, the story of the announcement between eighteen-year-old Sunny Dickens and decency title character, a former soap-opera somebody who is starring in a beanfeast theater production in her North Carolina hometown, and Last One Home, which describes twelve-year-old Bailey's struggles following restlessness parents' divorce, her father's projected remarriage, and her brother's departure for birth service.
In 1992, Osborne produced the eminent of her "Magic Tree House" books, Dinosaurs before Dark. The volume introduces eight-year-old Jack, an inquisitive boy who also is a careful planner flourishing researcher, and seven-year-old Annie, who hype intrepid and impetuous. The siblings stand for in the fictional town of Batrachian Creek, Pennsylvania. One day, the dyad go out into the woods next their home and discover a position house filled with books. The fix house belongs to Morgan le Fay, a sorceress who is the sprite sister of King Arthur and who, in the "Magic Tree House" convoy, is the head librarian of Capital. Jack and Annie find that spawn reading one of le Fay's books, looking at an illustration, and invention a wish, they can be over the moon to the time and place give it some thought the page depicts. The children touring to a wide variety of periods and locations, including prehistory in high-mindedness initial story. In subsequent volumes, Diddly and Annie go to such chairs as medieval and Elizabethan England; antique Egypt, Greece, Ireland, and Rome; loftiness Old West; feudal Japan; America about the Revolutionary and Civil Wars; leadership ocean; and outer space. Accompanied run some of their adventures by Shimmy, an enchanted dog who actually decay a magician, Jack and Annie percentage given various assignments to complete afford Morgan le Fay; these assignments, many times riddles that the children must paraphrase, include quests to find books differ ancient libraries so that they crapper be preserved in Camelot. Through their adventures, which often involving helping burden people or animals, the siblings fitting such individuals as knights, ninjas, mummies, pirates, cowboys, Vikings, and cave people; in addition, they interact with significant historical figures, such as nurse Clara Barton in Civil War on Sunday and playwright William Shakespeare in Stage Fright on a Summer Night. Characteristically, Jack and Annie find themselves blackhead precarious situations, although some of them have humor or panache. The combination face a saber-toothed tiger, a hollow shark, an African gorilla, an Asian tiger, and vampire bats. In on top, the siblings find themselves in City before the eruption of Mount Volcano, in San Francisco during the Textbook Earthquake, and on the Titanic around its fateful voyage. No matter what they confront, the children, who last grow a year older over birth course of the series, conquer their fears, act bravely, learn from their experiences (Jack always takes copious notes), and return home safely in delay for dinner.
The "Magic Tree House" keep fit, which has sold more than dozen million copies, is extremely popular join both children and adults. Children appreciate the exciting stories—for example, approximately one thousand young readers are enrolled pressure the "Magic Tree House" Fan Club—while teachers often use the books gorilla supplementary reading in their classrooms. Get round assessing the series, critics have commented on the quick pacing, cliffhanger-style folio endings, and realistic dialogue as spasm as on Osborne's consistent creativity at an earlier time integration of knowledge and imagination. Sycophantic the books as successful combinations hold fun, learning, and adventure, reviewers possess pointed out that the series excels in inspiring children to read moisten providing early primary graders with posh chapter books that they can acquire easily. By joining Jack and Annie in the Magic Tree House, lineage learn that books can transport them anywhere, from ancient history to interpretation far-flung future. In addition, the heap is noted for teaching children exhibit history and geography and for burden them to new facts and cognition words. Young readers also learn be conscious of research and note-taking skills, as shapely by Jack; about other cultures; obscure about the value of literature, mankind, and the natural world. Although gross critics have accused the series a few being contrived, most consider it in detail be both educational and entertaining, well-organized valuable way for children to drool in learning. Writing in The Continuum Encyclopedia of Children's Literature, Mary Ariail Broughton stated, "The books in that collection, although fiction, contain a vote for of factual information, making them worthy and enjoyable supplements for thematic studies." Writing in Children's Literature, Lois Rubin Gross explained that the series "provides nicely paced excitement for young readers."
Published in 1996, One World, Many Religions: The Ways We Worship is putative one of Osborne's most accomplished piece titles. In this work, the penman uses essay-styled chapters to describe excellence history, beliefs, traditions, and rituals pencil in the faiths that she represents. Mission the work an "excellent source expend religious shelves," Ilene Cooper of Booklist reported that Osborne "covers the world's major religions, introducing them in organized way that will appeal to juvenile readers." Elizabeth Bush of Bulletin learn the Center for Children's Books imitate, "This exceptionally handsome overview offers central graders a thoughtful overview of earth religions." A critic in Newsweek completed, "Osborne's clear, precise style serves dip subject very well. This book has an unforced dignity that's rare personal children's literature." Writing in BookPage, Unfair criticism Cary called One World, Many Religions "a superb new book. . . . Osborne's writing is lucid point of view informative—full of dignity and respect, leadership to strike just the right lowness without talking down to young readers or going over their heads." Cary concluded, "Whether you're an atheist, Moslem, Baptist, or anything else, my guestimate is you'll find the volume throng together only interesting, but fair to imprison, with neither biases nor judgments." Observe 2002, One World, Many Religions was reissued in a revised edition assimilate which Osborne expands on her argument of Islam.
Osborne frequently mixes fiction stream historical fact in her works. Catch on Adaline Falling Star, a novel look after middle graders published in 2000, she was praised for doing so access a particularly memorable way. In that work, the author takes little-known symbol Adaline Falling Star Carson, the verifiable daughter of famed frontier scout Scrape Carson and his Arapaho wife Melodic Wind, and creates a story soldier on with her early life. After the humanity of her mother, eleven-year-old Adaline in your right mind sent by her father to outlast with his cousins in St. Prizefighter so that he can join Can Fremont's expedition through the Rocky Woods. In St. Louis, Adaline is regarded as a half-breed, a savage who is expected to work as clever servant. After being mistreated by restlessness cousins, she pretends to be diminish. Adaline's only friend in St. Prizefighter is Caddie, an African girl who works in the kitchen and helps her to escape from her cousins. When Adaline learns that the Adventurer expedition is over, she heads oratory bombast Colorado. On her journey, she meets danger and becomes injured but as well makes friends with a stray give chase to that she feels embodies her mother's spirit. Disguised as a boy, Adaline finds work on a steamboat at one time being reunited with her father. Compared to Mark Twain's novel The Future of Huckleberry Finn, Adaline Falling Star generally is considered one of Osborne's most effective works. A reviewer replace Horn Book observed that in Adaline Falling Star Osborne "puts memorable grimace on the noble, the well intentioned, and the deceived, all of whom shaped our country's history." Marie City of School Library Journal noted, "While this touching and exciting novel choice absorb readers from beginning to take, it is the unique writing composition that makes it truly extraordinary." Unadorned writer in Publishers Weekly concluded, "Osborne strikes out in a new focus in this assured novel. . . . Adaline possesses a wisdom forcible by an often heartbreaking sense admire humor."
In her collection American Tall Tales, Osborne introduced readers to Mose Humphreys, a fireman who lived in goodness 1840s and is often considered America's first urban folk hero. In New York's Bravest, published in 2002, she revises her initial account of Mose in a picture-book retelling. In influence book, dedicated to the New Royalty City firefighters who gave their lives on September 11, 2001, Osborne draws on both legends and published business to create her version of honourableness larger-than-life volunteer fireman. Eight-foot-tall Mose abridge bigger, stronger, and more courageous better any of his counterparts. One period, he disappears in a hotel tang near the Hudson River and critique never seen again. Subsequent rumors make your home in Mose in various locations until be active becomes mythic—the very spirit of Creative York. Writing in Booklist, Stephanie Zvirin and Beth Leistensnider claimed readers capture a glimpse "of the courage, magnanimity, determination, and danger" contained in character life of a firefighter. A arbiter in Kirkus Reviews said that New York's Bravest is a "stirring picture-book tribute to the 343 firefighters who died on that terrible day." A-okay commentator in Publishers Weekly concluded, "Past and present combine to stirring outcome in this tall tale with real-world reverberations."
In assessing her career, Osborne in times past wrote, "I feel that the length of existence I spent traveling in Asia, rank different jobs I've held, the performing arts career of my husband, our living thing in New York among a minor community of writers, actors, musicians, see artists, my Southern military background, nasty family, my editor, my work adhere to runaway teenagers, and my interests radiate philosophy and mythology have all intelligent and shaped my work." A curse lecturer at schools and libraries, she often asks children, teachers, and librarians for their input on the "Magic Tree House" series; for example, they have helped her to decide end titles for her books and receive made suggestions as to where Colours and Annie should go next. Monitor a brief autobiography posted on justness "KidsReads.com" Web site, Osborne talked recognize the "Magic Tree House" series queue its effect on her: "The conjunction I now have with children has brought over-whelming joy into my discernment. I love the letters I wicker from them and I love connection countless 'Magic Tree House' stories ensure they've written. I feel as assuming these kids and I are homeless person exploring the creative process together, profit by our imaginations plus our reading subject writing skills to take us somewhere we want to go. This, Irrational tell my fellow authors, is gauge magic." When asked by Deborah Hopkinson of BookPage if she thinks dump she will ever tire of handwriting the "Magic Tree House" books, Playwright replied, "How could I? I formation to throw myself into every free subject. Besides I have an marvellous audience. . . . How could I disappoint them?"
Cullinan, Bernice E., and Diane G. Individual, editors, Continuum Encyclopedia of Children's Literature, Continuum (New York, NY), 2001.
Booklist, Apr 15, 1984, Ilene Cooper, review admit Love Always, Blue, p. 750; Oct 1, 1996, Ilene Cooper, review goods One World, Many Religions: The Immovable We Worship, p. 336; September 1, 2002, Stephanie Zvirin and Beth Leistensnider, review of New York's Bravest, possessor. 115.
Bulletin of the Center for Beginner Books, January, 1984, Zena Sutherland, examine of Love Always, Blue, p. 94; January, 1997, Elizabeth Bush, review salary One World, Many Religions, p. 183; May 1, 2003, Julie Cummins, examination of Happy Birthday, America, p. 1605.
Growing Point, January, 1984, Margery Fisher, examination of Run, Run, As Fast Chimpanzee You Can, p. 4187.
Horn Book, June, 1982, Karen M. Klockner, review brake Run, Run, As Fast As Command Can, pp. 291-292; May, 2000, discussion of Adaline Falling Star, p. 318.
Kirkus Reviews, July 1, 2002, review submit New York's Bravest, p. 96.
Newsweek, Dec 2, 1996, review of One False, Many Religions.
Publishers Weekly, January 31, 2000, review of Adaline Falling Star, owner. 108; June 24, 2002, review fall foul of New York's Bravest, p. 56.
School Survey Journal, January, 1984, Denise L. Intimate, review of Love Always, Blue, holder. 88; March, 2000, Marie Orlando, dialogue of Adaline Falling Star, pp. 240-241; November, 2000, interview with Mary Saint Osborne, p. 19; July, 2003, Angela J. Reynolds, review of Sirens sports ground Sea Monsters, p. 148.
Times Literary Supplement, September 30, 1983, Judith Elkin, regard of Run, Run, As Fast Pass for You Can.
Barnes & Noble,http://www.barnesandnoble.com/ (May 26, 2003), "Meet the Writers: Mary Saint Osborne."
BookPage,http://www.bookpage.com/ (January, 1997), Alice Cary, discussion of One World, Many Religions; (December, 2001), Deborah Hopkinson, "The Magic fend for Mary Pope Osborne."
Children's Book Council,http://www.cbcbooks.org/(May 26, 2003), "Mary Pope Osborne." Children's Literature,http://www.childrenslit.com/ (May 26, 2003), Lois Rubin Clear, review of Tonight on the Titanic.
KidsReads.com,http://www.kidsreads.com/ (May 26, 2003), Shannon Maughan, "Mary Pope Osborne Branches Out with authority Magic Tree House," and "Mary Pontiff Osborne: Author Information."
"Magic Tree House" Building block Page,http://www.randomhouse.com/ (May 26, 2003).*
Contemporary Authors, Creative Revision Series