KidTeller BlogEvery Magic Tree House Book in Order, Merlin Missions Included
What is the order of the Magic Tree House books?
Read the main Magic Tree House series in number order, 1 to 40, starting with Dinosaurs Before Dark from 1992. The 27 Merlin Missions were once numbered 29 to 55, but since 2017 they form their own series, numbered 1 to 27. Start them after book 28 or once a child handles longer chapter books. The 44 Fact Trackers are optional nonfiction companions.
Key takeaways
- The main Magic Tree House series has 40 books: books 1 to 28 came out from 1992 to 2003, and books 29 to 40 from 2017 to 2025.
- The 27 Merlin Missions were first numbered 29 to 55 and were renumbered 1 to 27 as their own series in 2017.
- Two different books are therefore called number 29: Christmas in Camelot under the old numbering and A Big Day for Baseball under the current one.
- Random House lists the original books for ages 6 to 9 and the Merlin Missions for ages 7 to 10, with Dinosaurs Before Dark at Lexile 240L.
- The 44 Fact Trackers are nonfiction companions to the stories, and an 8-book graphic novel series retells the first adventures in full color.
Your child finishes Dinosaurs Before Dark and wants book 2 by Saturday, but the library shelf shows two different books numbered 29. How many Magic Tree House books are there, and which one comes next? The Magic Tree House books in order are easy to follow once you know that the Magic Tree House series was renumbered in 2017.
This guide gives you every number, title and year, the Merlin Missions under both numbers, and a plan for reading the books aloud or alone.
Why the Magic Tree House order confuses parents
The Magic Tree House series has one author, Mary Pope Osborne, and two numbering systems. From 1992 Random House published the books as one long run, and the run reached book 55 in 2016 (Wikipedia). Then the publisher split it in two.
Books 29 to 55 were the harder Merlin Missions, and in 2017 they became their own series, numbered 1 to 27. Random House says so on the series page: Merlin Mission #40, Eve of the Emperor Penguin, "was renumbered as Merlin Mission #12 when the series was rebranded in 2017" (Magic Tree House).
Two books called number 29
The renumbering freed the numbers after 28, so new books took them. The current Magic Tree House #29 is A Big Day for Baseball from 2017, but an older copy of Christmas in Camelot also says #29 on its cover.
How many Magic Tree House books are there, then? Today the count is 40 main books, 27 Merlin Missions and one Super Edition, which makes 68 novels. The 44 Fact Trackers and 8 graphic novels come on top of that.
All 40 Magic Tree House books in order
The main series runs from 1 to 40. Books 1 to 28 came out between 1992 and 2003, and books 29 to 40 between 2017 and 2025. Sal Murdocca drew the pictures until 2016, and AG Ford draws the newer books.
| # | Title | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dinosaurs Before Dark | 1992 |
| 2 | The Knight at Dawn | 1993 |
| 3 | Mummies in the Morning | 1993 |
| 4 | Pirates Past Noon | 1994 |
| 5 | Night of the Ninjas | 1995 |
| 6 | Afternoon on the Amazon | 1995 |
| 7 | Sunset of the Sabertooth | 1996 |
| 8 | Midnight on the Moon | 1996 |
| 9 | Dolphins at Daybreak | 1997 |
| 10 | Ghost Town at Sundown | 1997 |
| 11 | Lions at Lunchtime | 1998 |
| 12 | Polar Bears Past Bedtime | 1998 |
| 13 | Vacation Under the Volcano | 1998 |
| 14 | Day of the Dragon King | 1998 |
| 15 | Viking Ships at Sunrise | 1998 |
| 16 | Hour of the Olympics | 1998 |
| 17 | Tonight on the Titanic | 1999 |
| 18 | Buffalo Before Breakfast | 1999 |
| 19 | Tigers at Twilight | 1999 |
| 20 | Dingoes at Dinnertime | 2000 |
| 21 | Civil War on Sunday | 2000 |
| 22 | Revolutionary War on Wednesday | 2000 |
| 23 | Twister on Tuesday | 2001 |
| 24 | Earthquake in the Early Morning | 2001 |
| 25 | Stage Fright on a Summer Night | 2002 |
| 26 | Good Morning, Gorillas | 2002 |
| 27 | Thanksgiving on Thursday | 2002 |
| 28 | High Tide in Hawaii | 2003 |
| 29 | A Big Day for Baseball | 2017 |
| 30 | Hurricane Heroes in Texas | 2018 |
| 31 | Warriors in Winter | 2019 |
| 32 | To the Future, Ben Franklin | 2019 |
| 33 | Narwhal on a Sunny Night | 2020 |
| 34 | Late Lunch with Llamas | 2020 |
| 35 | Camp Time in California | 2021 |
| 36 | Sunlight on the Snow Leopard | 2022 |
| 37 | Rhinos at Recess | 2023 |
| 38 | Time of the Turtle King | 2023 |
| 39 | Windy Night with Wild Horses | 2024 |
| 40 | Sea Otter Sunrise | 2025 |
Books 1 to 28 come in sets of four, and each set solves one mystery. In book 1 Jack finds a gold medallion with the letter M, and in book 4 he and Annie meet Morgan le Fay, the "M" herself. Keep each block of four together even if you skip around later.
The newest book and what comes next
Sea Otter Sunrise, book 40, came out on July 1, 2025, and Random House lists it as book 40 of 40. It takes Jack and Annie to Monterey Bay, where Annie finds an injured sea otter.
The next title starts a new line. Magic Tree House History's Heroes #1: The Greatest Fossil Finder is announced for January 5, 2027, in full color with pictures by Dagmar Smith (Penguin Random House).
The Merlin Missions in order, old and new numbers
The Merlin Missions are 27 books from 2001 to 2016, and each one now carries two numbers. Use the new number to shop and the old number to decode a secondhand copy. The publisher's page for book 1 says: "Formerly numbered as Magic Tree House #29, the title of this book is now Magic Tree House Merlin Mission #1: Christmas in Camelot" (Penguin Random House).
| Merlin Mission # | Old # | Title | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 29 | Christmas in Camelot | 2001 |
| 2 | 30 | Haunted Castle on Hallows Eve | 2003 |
| 3 | 31 | Summer of the Sea Serpent | 2004 |
| 4 | 32 | Winter of the Ice Wizard | 2004 |
| 5 | 33 | Carnival at Candlelight | 2005 |
| 6 | 34 | Season of the Sandstorms | 2005 |
| 7 | 35 | Night of the New Magicians | 2006 |
| 8 | 36 | Blizzard of the Blue Moon | 2006 |
| 9 | 37 | Dragon of the Red Dawn | 2007 |
| 10 | 38 | Monday with a Mad Genius | 2007 |
| 11 | 39 | Dark Day in the Deep Sea | 2008 |
| 12 | 40 | Eve of the Emperor Penguin | 2008 |
| 13 | 41 | Moonlight on the Magic Flute | 2009 |
| 14 | 42 | A Good Night for Ghosts | 2009 |
| 15 | 43 | Leprechaun in Late Winter | 2010 |
| 16 | 44 | A Ghost Tale for Christmas Time | 2010 |
| 17 | 45 | A Crazy Day with Cobras | 2011 |
| 18 | 46 | Dogs in the Dead of Night | 2011 |
| 19 | 47 | Abe Lincoln at Last! | 2011 |
| 20 | 48 | A Perfect Time for Pandas | 2012 |
| 21 | 49 | Stallion by Starlight | 2013 |
| 22 | 50 | Hurry Up, Houdini! | 2013 |
| 23 | 51 | High Time for Heroes | 2014 |
| 24 | 52 | Soccer on Sunday | 2014 |
| 25 | 53 | Shadow of the Shark | 2015 |
| 26 | 54 | Balto of the Blue Dawn | 2016 |
| 27 | 55 | Night of the Ninth Dragon | 2016 |
Christmas in Camelot came out in 2001, two years before book 28 of the original run. The numbers say "after 28", but a child can start the Merlin Missions as soon as the longer chapters feel comfortable.
Where the Super Edition fits
One Super Edition exists: Danger in the Darkest Hour, from January 6, 2015, later reprinted as World at War, 1944. Jack and Annie go to World War II shortly before D-Day to rescue Kathleen from behind enemy lines, and at 183 pages it is longer than any original book or Merlin Mission. Save it for after the Merlin Missions, when your child is ready for a darker story.
How to read the Magic Tree House series, step by step
The Magic Tree House series works as a ladder from picture books to real chapter books. Random House describes the main series as "perfect for kids ready to transition from leveled readers and picture books to longer novels" (Penguin Random House).
- Start with book 1, read aloud. Dinosaurs Before Dark is 80 pages. Read one or two chapters a night, and stop where the chapter leaves Jack and Annie in trouble.
- Finish the first block of four. Book 1 plants the mystery of the letter M, and book 4 solves it. That answer pulls most children into book 5.
- Hand over one chapter. By book 3, Mummies in the Morning, let your child read one chapter alone and you read the next. Taking turns keeps the story moving while the reading load grows.
- Add a Fact Tracker when a topic hits. A child who loves the dinosaurs or the Titanic gets the matching Fact Tracker. Then the next story comes with real facts behind it.
- Let your child choose the next topic. After book 8, the order matters less from one block to the next. A child who wants ninjas or the Olympics can jump to that block of four.
- Move to the Merlin Missions. When your child finishes a main-series book in one or two sittings, the Merlin Missions are the next rung up.
Read aloud or read alone
For a 4- to 6-year-old, read the series aloud. Short chapters, a brother and sister who argue a little, and a new place every book make Magic Tree House one of the easiest first chapter books to share. Our list of read-aloud books for kids has more books that work at bedtime.
For a 6- to 9-year-old, let them read alone and keep the read-aloud for a harder book. Dinosaurs Before Dark sits at Lexile 240L and Fountas and Pinnell level M. A child who reads that level comfortably can carry the main series alone.
Magic Tree House series compared
The four Magic Tree House lines differ in length and reading level, and the levels here come from the publisher's own product pages. Pick the line that matches your child, not the next number on the spine.
| Line | Books | Ages (publisher) | Example level | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magic Tree House | 40 | 6 to 9 | Dinosaurs Before Dark, 80 pages, Lexile 240L | First chapter books, read-aloud at bedtime |
| Merlin Missions | 27 | 7 to 10 | Christmas in Camelot, 144 pages, Lexile 420L | Confident readers who want longer quests |
| Fact Trackers | 44 | 7 to 10 | Dinosaurs, 128 pages, Lexile 780L | Curious kids, school projects |
| Graphic novels | 8 | 6 to 9 | Dinosaurs Before Dark Graphic Novel, 176 pages | Reluctant readers, comic fans |
Fact Trackers, the nonfiction companions
The Fact Trackers are nonfiction books that answer the questions the stories raise. They were first called Research Guides, and the first one, Dinosaurs, came out on August 1, 2000, as "a nonfiction companion to Magic Tree House #1: Dinosaurs Before Dark" (Penguin Random House). Mary Pope Osborne writes them with her husband Will Osborne or her sister Natalie Pope Boyce.
Fact Trackers read harder than the stories they follow, so read them together at first. The graphic novels go the other way: since June 15, 2021, the original adventures have been retold in full color, adapted by Jenny Laird with art by Kelly and Nichole Matthews (Penguin Random House). The eighth, Midnight on the Moon, came out on September 2, 2025, and a separate line of Fact Tracker graphic novels covers Dinosaurs, Space and the Titanic.
Common mistakes when you buy the series
Buying 68 books in two numbering systems goes wrong in a few predictable ways.
- Mistake: trusting the number on an old cover. A copy printed before 2017 can say #29 to #55 and still be a Merlin Mission. Match the title against the table before you buy.
- Mistake: buying a Merlin Mission for a brand-new reader. Christmas in Camelot is 144 pages, against 80 for book 1. Start with the main series and save the Merlin Missions for later.
- Mistake: treating Fact Trackers as story books. A child who expects Jack and Annie's next adventure gets photos, illustrations and facts. Present them as a bonus, not as the next book.
- Mistake: splitting a block of four. Books 1 to 28 build each mystery over four books. A box set of books 1 to 4 is a better start than four random titles.
- Mistake: thinking the series ends at 28. Older lists stop at High Tide in Hawaii, but the main series continued in 2017 and now runs to 40.
The edge case: a child who reads ahead of age
Some young children read Dinosaurs Before Dark alone and race through 28 books in a year. You do not have to move them to harder books at once. The Merlin Missions keep the same characters, so a fast reader can climb in difficulty without leaving the world they love.
If your child is ready for more, our guide to chapter books and the right starting age and our list of chapter books for kids graduating from picture books give the next series to try. For a quieter week, classic fairy tales by age work well between two Magic Tree House books.
Your Magic Tree House checklist and next steps
- Start at book 1. Dinosaurs Before Dark, read aloud, one or two chapters a night.
- Keep blocks of four together. Books 1 to 4 solve the first mystery and hook most readers.
- Check two numbers. Use the Merlin Mission number to shop and the old number to decode secondhand copies.
- Add one Fact Tracker. Pick the topic your child talks about most after a story.
- Mark January 5, 2027. History's Heroes #1, The Greatest Fossil Finder, is the next announced book.
A time-travel adventure is the easiest story to make your own. In KidTeller, choose the Adventure theme or type your own idea, such as a trip back to the age of dinosaurs. Add your child's photo, and the story is written for your child, with them drawn as the hero on every page.
The story structure changes with age, from repetition for toddlers to the rule of three for ages 3 to 7 and a want-versus-need arc from 8 up. You can listen to it in a natural AI voice or in your own cloned voice, and order a full-color softcover print. For a first plot, browse story ideas by theme.
Make your child the hero of a story
KidTeller turns your child's name and photo into an illustrated storybook in minutes. Read it on web or mobile in 30+ languages, or order it printed.
Frequently asked questions
How many Magic Tree House books are there?
There are 68 Magic Tree House novels: 40 in the main series, 27 Merlin Missions and one Super Edition. Around them sit 44 nonfiction Fact Trackers and an 8-book graphic novel series. A new full-color line, History's Heroes, is announced for January 5, 2027.
What order do you read Magic Tree House in?
Read the main series by number, 1 to 40. Books 1 to 28 form four-book mysteries (1 to 4, 5 to 8, and so on), so keep each set of four together. Add the Merlin Missions, 1 to 27, after book 28 or when your child is ready for longer chapters.
What age is Magic Tree House for?
Random House lists the original books for ages 6 to 9, grades 1 to 4, and the Merlin Missions for ages 7 to 10, grades 2 to 5. Read aloud, the series also suits younger children, because the chapters are short and each one ends on a hook.
What is the difference between Magic Tree House and Merlin Missions?
The main series is for children who are new to chapter books: Dinosaurs Before Dark is 80 pages at Lexile 240L. The Merlin Missions are longer and harder, with Christmas in Camelot at 144 pages and Lexile 420L. Merlin sends Jack and Annie on these missions, and some take place in fantasy realms such as Camelot.
