Winter of the Ice Wizard

mission?” he asked.
    â€œThis research book from Morgan will tell you,” said Teddy. He took out a book and handed it to Jack. The cover showed a bright, colorful city surrounded by water.
    Jack read the title aloud:
A VISIT TO VENICE, ITALY .
    â€œI’ve heard of Venice,” said Annie. “Last year Aunt Gail and Uncle Michael went there on vacation.”
    â€œAye, ’tis a city that has long welcomed travelers,” said Teddy. “But you and Jack will travel to the Venice of two hundred sixty years ago.”
    â€œWhat will we do there?” asked Jack.
    â€œMerlin has prepared careful directions for you,” said Teddy. He pulled a letter out of a pocket in his cloak and gave it to Jack. “Read this when you get to Venice.”
    â€œOkay,” said Jack. He put Merlin’s letter and Morgan’s research book into his backpack.
    â€œWait a minute,” said Annie. “If we take the tree house to Venice, how will you guys get back to Camelot?”
    Teddy and Kathleen smiled and held up their hands. They each wore a ring made of pale blue glass. “These magic rings belong to Morgan,” said Kathleen. “They will take us home.”
    â€œRemember,” Teddy said to Jack and Annie. “Follow Merlin’s directions carefully. If you prove yourselves to be wise and brave helpers, he will call for you again soon.”
    Kathleen nodded. “Good-bye now,” she said to Jack and Annie. “Good luck.”
    Kathleen and Teddy raised their glass rings to their lips. Together they whispered words too softly to be heard, then blew on the rings.
    Before Jack and Annie’s eyes, the two young sorcerers began to fade into the cool morning air. In an instant, they had disappeared completely.
    â€œThey’re gone,” breathed Jack.
    â€œI guess it’s time for us to go, too,” said Annie.
    Jack took a deep breath. Then he pointed at the cover of the Venice book. “I wish we could go there!” he said.
    The wind started to blow.
    The tree house started to spin.
    It spun faster and faster.
    Then everything was still.
    Absolutely still.

Mary Pope Osborne is the award-winning author of many novels, picture books, story collections, and nonfiction books, including
Adaline Falling Star, Kate and the Beanstalk, New York’s Bravest, Favorite Medieval Tales, Favorite Greek Myths,
and
One World, Many Religions.
Her bestselling
Magic Tree House
series has been translated into many languages around the world. Highly recommended by parents and educators everywhere, the series introduces young readers to different cultures and times in history, as well as to the world’s legacy of ancient myth and storytelling. Mary Pope Osborne is married to Will Osborne, a co-author of many of the Magic Tree House Research Guides. They live in northwestern Connecticut.
    Â 
    Sal Murdocca is best known for his amazing work on the
Magic Tree House
series. He has written and/or illustrated over two hundred children’s books, including
Dancing Granny
by Elizabeth Winthrop,
Double Trouble in Walla Walla
by Andrew Clements, and
Big Numbers
by Edward Packard. He has taught writing and illustration at the Parsons School of Design in New York. He is the librettist for a children’s opera and has recently completed his second short film. Sal Murdocca is an avid runner, hiker, and bicyclist. He has often bicycle-toured in Europe and has had many one-man shows of his paintings from these trips. He lives and works with his wife, Nancy, in New City, New York.

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Discover the facts
behind the fiction with the

Magic Tree House ® Books
    Â Â #1: D INOSAURS B EFORE D ARK
    Â Â #2: T HE K NIGHT AT D AWN
    Â Â #3: M UMMIES IN THE M ORNING
    Â Â #4: P IRATES P AST N OON
    Â Â #5: N IGHT OF THE N INJAS
    Â Â #6: A FTERNOON ON THE A MAZON
    Â Â #7: S UNSET OF THE S ABERTOOTH
    Â Â #8: M IDNIGHT ON THE M OON
    Â Â #9: D OLPHINS AT D AYBREAK
    #10: G HOST T OWN AT S UNDOWN
    #11: L IONS AT L UNCHTIME
    #12: P OLAR B EARS P AST B