en-us 2012-12-06 10:11:42 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 10:11:42 UT 2012-12-06 10:11:42 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 10:11:42 UT 2012-12-06 10:11:42 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 10:11:42 UT VHIDE4gSL1obJEo3qdY13A By: Home School Book Review Jack and Annie need to find four items to help save Merlin’s pet baby penguin named Penny. They already have an emerald rose from Mogul India and a flower from Alpine Switzerland. Now, they must go back in time to Washington, DC, in 1861, meet President Abraham Lincoln, and collect a feather to help break the spell on Penny. When they are frustrated in their attempts to see Lincoln, they take a magic potion which whisks them away from the White House to the wilderness where they meet a boy who calls himself “Sam.” Will they make it back to Washington? Will they find Lincoln? And will they get the feather that they need?__br__ We have read all the Magic Tree House books. Even though our boys are long past the targeted age, my wife still buys them because she enjoys reading them. This book gives young readers a slightly different look at Lincoln from that which is normally found in books aimed at this age group as they learn about President Lincoln’s family, the start of the Civil War, and life in a log cabin. Of course, the Civil War aspect is present, but the story focuses on Lincoln himself, rather than events. The series is a good introduction to historical fiction for children, with the fictional characters of Jack and Annie in a setting that involves real historical facts. They are long enough to challenge but short and simple enough that kids don’t get easily distracted. While I would not personally call them the absolute best books available, we have found them useful. ]]>