A Perfect Time for Pandas

If you have a child in the 7-10 year old age range, chances are you’re familiar with the wildly popular Magic Tree House books, written by Mary Pope Osborne. Children love this educational and entertaining series that follows brother and sister duo Jack and Annie on adventures through time and around the world via their magic tree house.

The latest book in the series, “A Perfect Time for Pandas” is an exciting tale that takes Jack and Annie to present-day China, where they are on a mission to find a magical food that will help break a spell cast back in Camelot. They are given only an obscure rhyming clue and a magic potion to help them on their way.  Beyond that, they must figure out how to find the food and complete the mission before it’s too late.

When Jack and Annie arrive in China, they immediately begin their search for the special food.  After an unsuccessful meal at a restaurant, they decide to learn a little bit more about the part of China they’re visiting. According to their guidebook, they are in Wolong Town, and Annie is delighted to find out that it is home to the Wolong Reserve – a place where Giant Pandas are protected. Annie decides that they should visit the reserve and Jack reluctantly agrees.  The siblings have an exciting bike ride up a mountain and eventually reach the reserve.

At the Wolong Reserve, they are able to help out as volunteers. Jack and Annie get to meet a gorgeous Giant Panda named Bing-Bing, and watch the adorable cubs. After a few hours, they decide to return to Wolong Town, but on their way back down the mountain, a terrible earthquake hits. Now Jack and Annie must make a tough decision: do they return to the Wolong Reserve and make sure the pandas are okay, or do they continue down toward the town and see about completing their mission?

Annie points out that whenever they do what seems right, everything turns out fine. They know in their hearts that they must make the treacherous journey back up the mountain. The workers at the Wolong Reserve are very happy to see the siblings and their help is once again enlisted. Jack and Annie not only find some of the cubs that escaped, but they also get to bring the beloved Bing-Bing home. And it is at this point that Jack stumbles upon the magic food they’ve been searching for. It seems Annie was correct; when you do the right thing, everything turns out for the best.

This book is filled with adventure, excitement, and lots of educational information about giant pandas. It’s a great addition to the series, and young readers will love the ending. If your child is a fan of the Magic Tree House books, or simply someone who loves animals and adventure (and isn’t that all kids, really?), “A Perfect Time for Pandas” is a must-have on your at-home bookshelf!