Mummies in the Morning

In Mummies in the Morning, Osborne combines factual details about ancient Egypt with time-travel fantasy to portray learning as an exciting adventure. Throughout the Magic Tree House series, the author emphasizes the link between reading and discovery by having the books in the tree house function as portals that transport the siblings through time and space. Significantly, the siblings are brought to ancient Egypt when Jack points at an illustration in the book on the subject and says, “I wish we could go to this place” (5). The element of wishing reinforces curiosity as the guiding force of learning and emphasizes Jack and Annie’s ownership over their education. 

The book on ancient Egypt that accompanies the children throughout their adventure provides a reference for them to consult when prompted by their natural desire to learn. For example, the appearance of the mysterious figure in white leads them to read about tomb raiders, foreshadowing their discovery of the false passage: “‘What kind of person would be inside a pyramid,’ asked Annie. ‘I don’t know,’ said Jack. ‘Maybe the book can help us’” (22).