神奇树屋MTH38MondayWithaMadGenius.docx

1、神奇树屋MTH38MondayWithaMadGeniusMonday with a Mad GeniusMagic Tree House, #38Mary Pope OsborneFor James Quinn CourtsDuring spring vacation when I was in kindergarten, my brothers and I decided wed try to fly like birds. We knew that people couldnt fly, but that didnt stop us. We were excited by the tho

2、ught that wed be the first to do so. For our launch pad, we chose the playground near our house. We tried swinging and then leaping into the air, flapping our arms wildly. Of course, we kept falling to the ground. Next we climbed to the top of the slide and took turns jumping off, again flapping as

3、hard as we could-only to drop again and again to the sand beneath the slide. We were lucky that we didnt get hurt. All morning we tried to fly, until finally we gave up and went home, satisfied that wed given it our best shot.The great thing about being a kid, I think, is that your imagination can m

4、ake life full of wondrous adventures. Leonardo da Vinci, one of the worlds greatest geniuses, was a lot like a kid who never completely grew up. Even when he was working, he seemed to be playing, always looking at the world and asking, I wonder what would happen if . . . He had great enthusiasm for

5、experimenting with different ways of doing things and for exploring new ideas including trying to fly! I hope that when you meet Leonardo in this new Merlin Mission, you will feel that youve made an amazing new friend.I wish to work miracles. -from the notebooks of Leonardo da VinciPrologueOne summe

6、r day in Frog Creek, Pennsylvania, a mysterious tree house appeared in the woods. A brother and sister named Jack and Annie soon learned that the tree house was magic-it could take them to any time and any place in history! And no time at all would pass in Frog Creek while they were gone.Jack and An

7、nie also learned that the tree house belonged to Morgan le Fay, a magical librarian from the legendary realm of Camelot. After they went on many adventures for Morgan, Merlin the magician began sending Jack and Annie on Merlin Missions in the tree house. With help from two young sorcerers named Tedd

8、y and Kathleen, Jack and Annie visited four mythical places and found valuable objects to help save Camelot.On their next four Merlin Missions, Jack and Annie once again traveled to real times and real places in history. After proving to Merlin that they knew how to use magic wisely, he entrusted th

9、em with the Wand of Dianthus. With the help of the wand, Jack and Annie would now be able to make their own magic.On their most recent adventure, Teddy and Kathleen told Jack and Annie that Merlin was very unhappy and not well and that Morgan wanted them to search for four of the secrets of happines

10、s to share with Merlin.Now Jack and Annie are waiting for the tree house to return and take them on their second mission to help Merlin.CHAPTER ONEOld FriendsJack poured milk over his cereal. His stomach felt fluttery. It was Monday-the first day of a new school year.Jack always felt nervous on the

11、first day. What would his new teacher be like? Would his desk be close to a window? Would friends from last year be in his class again this year?Annie, hurry! Jacks mom called upstairs. Its fifteen minutes till eight. School starts in half an hour.Jacks dad walked into the kitchen. Are you sure you

12、and Annie dont want me to drive you? he asked.No thanks, we dont mind walking, said Jack. Their school was only three blocks away.Annie, hurry! their mom called again. Youre going to be late!The back door banged open. Annie rushed into the kitchen. She was out of breath.Oh, I thought you were upstai

13、rs, their mom said with surprise. You were outside?Yes! said Annie, panting. Just taking a quick walk. She looked at Jack. Her eyes sparkled. Hurry, Jack. We really should go now!Okay, Im coming! said Jack. He leapt up from the table. He could tell Annie wasnt talking about school.The tree house mus

14、t be back! Finally!Jack grabbed his backpack. Annie held the door open for him.No breakfast? their mom asked.Too nervous to eat now, Mom, said Jack.Me too, said Annie. Bye, Mom! Bye, Dad!Have fun, their mom said.Learn a lot, said their dad.Dont worry, we will! said Annie.Jack and Annie slipped out t

15、he door and walked quickly across their yard.Its back! said Annie.I figured it was! said Jack.Morgan must want us to look for another secret of happiness to help Merlin, said Annie.Yep! said Jack. Lets run!Jack and Annie dashed up the sidewalk. They crossed the street and headed into the Frog Creek

16、woods. They ran between the trees, through shadows and light, until they came to the tallest oak.High in the tree was the magic tree house. The rope ladder was swaying in the chilly morning wind.How did you know it was here? asked Jack, catching his breath.I woke up thinking about Teddy and Kathleen

17、, said Annie, and I had this strange feeling.Really? said Jack. Teddy! Kathleen! he shouted up at the tree house.Two young teenagers looked out the tree house window: a curly-haired boy with freckles and a big grin and a smiling girl with sea-blue eyes and dark wavy hair.Jack! Annie! the girl said.

18、Come up! Come up! said the boy.Jack and Annie hurried up the rope ladder. When they climbed inside the tree house, they threw their arms around their friends.Are we going to look for another secret of happiness? said Annie. To help Merlin?Yes, and this time you will travel back to Florence, Italy, f

19、ive hundred years ago, said Teddy.Florence, Italy? said Jack. Whats there?An amazing person who will help you, said Kathleen.Who? asked Annie. Is this person magical?Teddy grinned. Some people might say so, he said. He reached into his cloak and pulled out a book. The cover showed a drawing of a man

20、 wearing a purple cloak and floppy blue cap. He had a long nose, bright, kind eyes with heavy eyebrows, and a flowing beard. The title said: Leonardo da VinciLeonardo da Vinci! said Jack. Are you kidding?Ive heard of him, said Annie.Who hasnt? said Jack. He was an incredible genius!This biography of

21、 Leonardo will help you on your mission, said Teddy.And so will this rhyme from Morgan, said Kathleen. She pulled a small piece of parchment paper from her cloak and gave it to Annie.Annie read the words on the paper aloud:Jack, and Annie of Frog Creek;Though the question is quite simple,Simple answ

22、ers might be wrong.If you want to know the right one,Help the genius all day long,Morning, noon, and afternoon,Till the night bird sings its song.So to find the secret of happiness, we need to spend the whole day helping Leonardo da Vinci, said Jack.Yes, said Kathleen. Teddy nodded.I wish you could

23、come, too, said Annie. And help us, said Jack.Never fear, said Kathleen. You will have the help of the great genius. And the Wand of Dianthus.Oh! Annie said to Jack. Did you bring our wand?Of course, said Jack. I always carry it with me for safekeeping. He reached into his backpack and pulled out a

24、gleaming silver wand.The Wand of Dianthus, Teddy said in a hushed voice.The wand looked like the horn of a unicorn. It burned in Jacks hand-with cold or warmth, he couldnt tell which. He carefully put the wand back into his pack.Remember the three rules of the wand? said Kathleen.Sure, said Annie. Y

25、ou can only use it for the good of others. You can only use it after youve tried your hardest. And you can only use it with a command of five words.Excellent, said Kathleen.Thanks, said Annie. Ready? she asked Jack.Jack nodded. Bye, Teddy. Bye, Kathleen. Good-bye, said Teddy.And good luck, said Kath

26、leen.Jack pointed at the cover of the book. I wish we could go to Leonardo da Vinci!In the distance, the school bell started to ring, letting kids know that school would start in ten minutes. But in the Frog Creek woods, the wind started to blow.The tree house started to spin.It spun faster and fast

27、er.Then everything was still.Absolutely still.CHAPTER TWOLooking for LeonardoA different bell was bonging in the distance. Bright early sunlight poured through the tree house window. Teddy and Kathleen were gone.Jack looked down at his clothes. He was wearing a knee-length tunic and dark tights. Ann

28、ie wore a long dress with puffy sleeves. Jacks backpack had changed into a cloth bag.Jack and Annie looked out the window. The tree house had landed in a tall tree in a garden surrounded by green hedges. Beyond the garden was a sea of red-tiled roofs. A huge eight-sided dome and a stone tower rose h

29、igh above the red rooftops.Welcome to Florence, Italy, said Annie.Jack opened their book and read aloud:In the early 1500s, many artists and craftspeople lived in the city of Florence. The city was filled with silk weavers, potters, and marble workers. Artists made sculptures, paintings, and tapestr

30、ies.Cool, said Annie. I love art. Jack read more:But the most amazing genius of that time did a bit of everything. Leonardo da Vinci was not only a great painter but also an inventor, architect, stage and costume designer, horseman, chef, geologist, and botanist.Whats a geologist and a botanist? sai

31、d Annie.Theyre scientists, said Jack. A geologist studies rocks, and a botanist studies plants. He turned the page.Come on, we should go, said Annie. The tree house probably brought us right to Leonardo. We have to find him before he gets away!Oh, right, said Jack.Annie started down the ladder. Jack packed up their research book and climbed down after her.Jack and Annie walked around the tall hedge and came to a busy road that ran along a river. They stared at all the people going by. There were women in long silk dresses, priests in black robes riding donkeys, and soldiers in blue