ISBN 0679863710 - Books in series for kids aren't new - Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, the Bobbsey Twins.. right on through to the Babysitters Club and Goosebumps - they've been out there for generations. This series, however, does seem to have a slightly younger target audience than most and that, in my opinion, is a very good thing. The younger they're hooked, the harder it is to give up the habit, and reading is a habit you want to encourage.

Jack and Annie are headed home from the library, wondering where Morgan and the Magic Tree House are and when she and it might return. Annie runs off into the forest and sees that it has returned! The only question is - where's Morgan? A note is found, along with a mouse, and the kids have the tree house whisk them away to Japan, sometime in the 14th-17th centuries, where they are meet ninjas and flee from samurai warriors and gather the first of four items they will need to rescue their friend. They return home in time for dinner, but they still haven't found Morgan!

I have a few problems with the book - for one, the kids go to Japan and meet some ninjas who speak fluent English. Or the kids unknowingly speak fluent Japanese. Either way, they're able to communicate without trouble. Jack makes small notes as he goes, like "ninjas were warriors in old Japan", but there's little effort made to delve too deeply into anything informative. Not that every book in the world needs to be educational, but it feels very much like a missed opportunity. Last is the obvious fact that book #5 comes nowhere near being complete, as Morgan is still missing. It's one thing to hope your readers will return for book #6, it's another thing altogether to split a story that way - whether it's a kids' book or a book for an older audience, every book should stand alone and allow a latecomer to the series to jump in at any point without feeling lost.

Still, I take only one star away for all of that because I think TMTH has tons of potential. This book was action packed, fast paced and full of exciting adventure and kids will enjoy that. What they enjoy, they will read! The prologue, to bring you up to speed, is a help. The back cover says RL 1.9, ages 6-9. I think the more likely audience age group is 5-7 and these chapter books would make an excellent jumping off point to learn about other cultures with Mom and/or Dad's help.

My 1st grader hates to put it down, he would rather read Magic Tree House books, than play video games. He even reads them to his class and explains the story for show and tell. In his kindergarten class the teacher would also let him read the Magic Tree House books out loud, not to give her a break, but to promote reading out loud. Great books!

Night of the Ninjas
By Mary Pope Osborne

Would you like to hear about a book called Night of the Ninjas? The two main characters are Jack and Annie. They find a Magic Tree House that allows them to travel through time. In this book, they go back to the time of the ninjas. They are captured and taken to the head ninja. I'm not telling what's next. The series is Magic Tree House. This is book number five. Read the book to find out what happens to Jack and Annie.

Terry, 7 years old
Cunniff School
Watertown, MA.

This book is a very nice mystery chapter book. When you finish it, you want to add a chapter or 2. This book is mostly about ninjas. Jack and Annie have a big problem to solve. Their friend, Molly, was in a trap! She sends them a letter. It says, "Help! In a land of ninjas! In a tree house!" Jack and Annie are afraid! They want to help Molly but they can't, that's because they don't know how to get to ninja's land. I won't tell you any more. If you want to know more, then read the book. I think it's a good book to read.

Raymond Georges 3/13/06

Ms. Hillgardner Class: English

Title: Magic Tree House #5

Night of the Ninjas

Author: Mary pope Osborne

Illustrator: Sal Murdocca

Jack and Annie the two main characters. They go to the magic Tree house. It whisks them to ancient Japan. Their mission is to find their friend Morgan, while their friend Jack and Annie get seen by two ninjas. Jack saw them as a treat so he was very caution. They followed the Ninjas through valley up mountains and in the forest. They saw a few samurai warriors who were looking for the ninjas since they are with them the samurai see jack and Annie as emesis.
On their little journey they way of Jack and Annie met the ninja Master. He told Jack and Annie," Use nature be nature, Follow nature, if you use these three things you will find your way to the tree house and find your friend Morgan pg 38. I'm not going to tell you anymore because I do not want to spoil it