Good Morning, Gorillas Read online

  Here’s what kids have to say to

  Mary Pope Osborne, author of

  the Magic Tree House series:

  WOW! You have an imagination like no other.—Adam W.

  I love your books. If you stop writing books, it will be like losing a best friend.—Ben M.

  I think you are the real Morgan le Fay. There is always magic in your books.—Erica Y.

  One day I was really bored and I didn’t want to read … I looked in your book. I read a sentence, and it was interesting. So I read some more, until the book was done. It was so good I read more and more. Then I had read all of your books, and now I hope you write lots more.—Danai K.

  I always read [your books] over and over … 1 time, 2 times, 3 times, 4 times … —Yuan C.

  You are my best author in the world. I love your books. I read all the time. I read everywhere. My mom is like freaking out.—Ellen C.

  I hope you make these books for all yours and mine’s life.—Riki H.

  Teachers and librarians love

  Magic Tree House® books, too!

  Thank you for opening faraway places and times to my class through your books. They have given me the chance to bring in additional books, materials, and videos to share with the class.—J. Cameron

  It excites me to see how involved [my fourth-grade reading class] is in your books … I would do anything to get my students more involved, and this has done it.—C. Rutz

  I discovered your books last year … WOW! Our students have gone crazy over them. I can’t order enough copies! … Thanks for contributing so much to children’s literature!—C. Kendziora

  I first came across your Magic Tree House series when my son brought one home … I have since introduced this great series to my class. They have absolutely fallen in love with these books! … My students are now asking me for more independent reading time to read them. Your stories have inspired even my most struggling readers.—M. Payne

  I love how I can go beyond the [Magic Tree House] books and use them as springboards for other learning.—R. Gale

  We have enjoyed your books all year long. We check your Web site to find new information. We pull our map down to find the areas where the adventures take place. My class always chimes in at key parts of the story. It feels good to hear my students ask for a book and cheer when a new book comes out.—J. Korinek

  Our students have “Magic Tree House fever.” I can’t keep your books on the library shelf.—J. Rafferty

  Your books truly invite children into the pleasure of reading. Thanks for such terrific work.—S. Smith

  The children in the fourth grade even hide the [Magic Tree House] books in the library so that they will be able to find them when they are ready to check them out.—K. Mortensen

  My Magic Tree House books are never on the bookshelf because they are always being read by my students. Thank you for creating such a wonderful series.—K. Mahoney

  Dear Readers,

  Last year, while my husband Will and I were doing research for our Magic Tree House Research Guide on rain forests, we visited the Bronx Zoo in New York. As we passed by the gorilla area, we saw a large gorilla sitting under a tree. She was staring very intently at us. We said hi to her—and she stuck out her tongue at us! I’m convinced she was just trying to make us laugh. And we did! In fact, we still laugh whenever we think about that moment.

  We found out later that the gorilla’s name is Pattycake. I keep a photograph of Pattycake on my desk, and I feel as if she’s a giant, friendly spirit who overlooks all my work.

  I love gorillas more than I can say. And I hope that by the time you finish reading Good Morning, Gorillas, you’ll love them as much as I do.

  All my best,

  Text copyright © 2002 by Mary Pope Osborne

  Illustrations copyright © 2002 by Sal Murdocca

  All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. Published in the United States by Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc., New York, and simultaneously in Canada by Random House of Canada Limited, Toronto.

  www.randomhouse.com/magictreehouse

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Osborne, Mary Pope.

  Good morning, gorillas / by Mary Pope Osborne; [Sal Murdocca, illustrator].

  p. cm. — (Magic tree house; #26) “A stepping stone book.”

  SUMMARY: The magic tree house takes Jack and Annie to an African rain forest,

  where the siblings encounter gorillas and learn to communicate with them.

  eISBN: 978-0-375-89483-1

  [1. Gorillas—Fiction. 2. Human–animal communication—Fiction.

  3. Time travel—Fiction. 4. Magic—Fiction. 5. Tree houses—Fiction.]

  I. Murdocca, Sal, ill. II. Title. PZ7.O81167 Go 2002 [Fic]—dc21 2002017828

  Random House, Inc. New York, Toronto, London, Sydney, Auckland

  RANDOM HOUSE and colophon are registered trademarks and A STEPPING STONE BOOK and colophon are trademarks of Random House, Inc. MAGIC TREE HOUSE is a registered trademark of Mary Pope Osborne; used under license.

  v3.0

  Cover

  Dear Readers

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Prologue

  1. Dark and Rainy

  2. Cloud Forest

  3. Bu-bu

  4. Nightmare

  5. Silverback

  6. Good Morning, Gorillas

  7. Eating Out

  8. A Special Language

  9. Good-bye, Gorillas

  10. A Special Magic

  More Facts

  Special Preview of Magic Tree House #27: Thanksgiving on Thursday

  For Dr. Michael Pope

  One summer day in Frog Creek, Pennsylvania, a mysterious tree house appeared in the woods.

  Eight-year-old Jack and his seven-year-old sister, Annie, climbed into the tree house. They found that it was filled with books.

  Jack and Annie soon discovered that the tree house was magic. It could take them to the places in the books. All they had to do was point to a picture and wish to go there. While they are gone, no time at all passes in Frog Creek.

  Along the way, Jack and Annie discovered that the tree house belongs to Morgan le Fay. Morgan is a magical librarian of Camelot, the long-ago kingdom of King Arthur. She travels through time and space, gathering books.

  In Magic Tree House Books #5–8, Jack and Annie help free Morgan from a spell. In Books #9–12, they solve four ancient riddles and become Master Librarians.

  In Magic Tree House Books #13–16, Jack and Annie have to save four ancient stories from being lost forever. In Magic Tree House Books #17–20, Jack and Annie free a mysterious little dog from a magic spell. In Magic Tree House Books #21–24, Jack and Annie help save Camelot. In Magic Tree House Books #25–28, Jack and Annie learn about different kinds of magic.

  Tap-tap-tap.

  Jack sat up in bed. Rain tapped against his window. His clock said 5 A.M. It was still dark outside.

  Annie peeked into his room.

  “Are you awake?” she whispered.

  “Yep,” said Jack.

  “Ready to find some special magic?” she asked.

  “Maybe we should wait,” said Jack. “It’s so dark and rainy.”

  “No waiting,” said Annie. “I’ll get an umbrella. You bring a flashlight. Meet you downstairs.”

  “Okay, okay,” said Jack.

  He jumped out of bed. He pulled on his clothes and put on a jacket. Then he grabbed his backpack and flashlight.

  Jack slipped downstairs and out the front door. Annie stood on the porch in jeans and a T-shirt. The air was chilly and bre
ezy.

  “Don’t you need a sweater or something?” said Jack.

  “I’m okay,” she said. “Let’s go.”

  Annie raised the umbrella. Jack turned on the flashlight. They followed a circle of rainy light down their street into the woods.

  They headed through the Frog Creek woods. The flashlight lit up the trees—the wet leaves and dark branches. Then it shined on a dangling rope ladder.

  Jack raised the flashlight beam.

  “There it is,” he said.

  A circle of light lit the magic tree house.

  “Morgan’s not there,” said Annie. “I can tell.”

  “Maybe she left us a message,” said Jack.

  Jack grabbed the rope ladder and started up. Annie put the umbrella down and followed. When they climbed inside, Jack shined the flashlight around the tree house.

  Morgan le Fay wasn’t there. But the scrolls from their trip to old England were.

  “Here’s proof we found a special magic yesterday,” she said.

  “Yeah,” said Jack, smiling. “Theater magic.” He had great memories of acting in a play by their friend William Shakespeare.

  “Did Morgan leave us a new secret rhyme?” asked Jack.

  He shined the flashlight on a book lying under the window. A piece of paper was sticking out of the book.

  “Yes!” said Annie. She picked up the book and pulled out the paper.

  Jack shined his light on the paper while Annie read aloud:

  Dear Annie and Jack,

  Good luck on your second journey to find a special magic. This secret rhyme will guide you:

  To find a special kind of magic

  in worlds so far apart,

  speak a special language,

  talk with your hands and heart.

  Thank you,

  Morgan

  “What kind of language does she mean?” Jack asked.

  “I guess we’ll find out,” said Annie. “Where are we going?”

  Jack shined the flashlight on the cover of the book. It showed huge trees partly hidden by mist. The title was:

  AN AFRICAN RAIN FOREST

  “Rain forest?” said Jack. “Good thing we brought our umbrella and flashlight. Remember the rain in the Amazon rain forest? Remember how dark it was under the treetops?”

  “Yeah,” said Annie. “Remember the spiders and scary ants?”

  “Well … ,” Jack said, “not all rain forests have the same bugs.”

  “Remember the river snakes?” said Annie. “And the crocodiles?”

  “Well … ,” said Jack, “not all rain forests have big rivers. There are different kinds of rain forests, you know.”

  “Right,” said Annie. She pointed to the cover of the book. “I wish we could go there.”

  The wind started to blow.

  “Oh, remember the jaguar?” said Annie. “And the vampire bats?”

  “Wait!” said Jack.

  But it was too late. The wind was blowing harder. The tree house started to spin.

  It spun faster and faster.

  Then everything was still.

  Absolutely still.

  Jack opened his eyes.

  “I can’t tell what kind of rain forest this is,” said Annie. She stared out the window.

  Jack looked out, too. It seemed to be daytime, but he couldn’t see much of anything. The quiet forest was covered with fog.

  Jack opened their research book and read:

  The misty rain forest in the mountains of central Africa is called a “cloud forest.”

  “Oh, I get it,” said Annie. “We’re up so high, it’s like we’re in a cloud.”

  “Cool,” said Jack. He pulled out his notebook and wrote:

  Then he read more:

  The African cloud forest is home to many animals, including elephants, water buffaloes, black leopards …

  Jack looked up.

  “Black leopards?” he said.

  “Don’t worry,” said Annie.

  Jack cleared his throat and kept reading:

  … antelopes, wild hogs, and gorillas.

  “Gorillas?” said Annie.

  “Don’t worry,” said Jack.

  “I’m not worried. I love gorillas,” said Annie. “They’re totally great!”

  “I don’t know about that,” said Jack. He pictured huge apes pounding their chests. “I’d like to study them, though. Write down their habits and behavior, just like a real scientist.”

  “Whatever,” said Annie. “Let’s just go. This’ll be a fun adventure!” She took off down the ladder.

  Jack threw his notebook, the research book, and the flashlight into his pack. He hooked the umbrella over his arm. Then he followed Annie.

  When they stepped onto the ground, Jack could see better. The fog had turned into a fine mist.

  Jack and Annie started through the cloud forest. They walked around huge trees draped with moss. They pushed past tall shrubs and leafy plants.

  “Wow, look at that tree,” said Annie.

  She pointed to a fat tree. It had wide lower limbs padded with thick cushions of moss.

  “It looks like a piece of furniture,” said Annie, “like an armchair.”

  “Yeah,” said Jack. “I better draw it.”

  He put the umbrella on the ground. He pulled the flashlight out of his pack and put it next to the umbrella. Then he took out his notebook and pencil.

  As Annie walked ahead, Jack started to draw a simple picture of the fat tree.

  “Hey, Jack,” Annie called in a whispery voice. “Come here. Quick!”

  Jack grabbed his pack. He moved around the tree and caught up with Annie.

  “Listen,” she said.

  Jack heard branches snap.

  Crack!

  A leopard? he wondered.

  Crack! Crack!

  Jack nervously looked around the forest.

  “Maybe we should go back up to the tree house,” he said. “We could read a little more and learn a little more.”

  Annie didn’t answer. Jack turned to her. She was grinning from ear to ear as she stared into the bushes. Jack followed her gaze.

  A dark, shaggy little head was peeking out from a cluster of leaves.

  “Bu, bu?” a small gorilla asked.

  The gorilla’s fur was very black against the green leaves. She had large nostrils and small ears. Her bright brown eyes were full of mischief.

  “Bu, bu, bu,” she said. “Bu, bu.”

  “Bu, bu yourself,” said Annie.

  The gorilla hid behind the leaves again. Then she poked her head out.

  “Peekaboo!” said Annie.

  The gorilla clapped her hands together. She stuck out her tongue.

  Jack and Annie both laughed.

  “Bu, bu, bu!” the gorilla said. Then she bounded away through the misty forest.

  “Hey, Bu-bu! Don’t leave us!” Annie called.

  Jack rolled his eyes. “Don’t name her Bu-bu,” he said to Annie. “You don’t have to—”

  “Wait, Bu-bu!” Annie shouted. She took off after the small gorilla.

  “—turn every animal into your best friend,” Jack finished. He shook his head. Then he made a list in his notebook.

  As he wrote, Jack heard Annie laughing. But then he heard high shrieks.

  He caught his breath. A leopard? he wondered.

  Carrying his notebook, Jack hurried in the direction of the noise. He found Annie and the small gorilla perched in two trees.

  “What’s wrong?” said Jack, standing beneath the trees.

  “Nothing!” called Annie. “We’re just playing.”

  The small gorilla screeched again. Then she scratched her head and hiccuped.

  Annie screeched, too. She scratched her head and hiccuped.

  While they played, Jack studied the gorilla a bit more.

  He noticed she was about the size of a three-year-old kid. Her fingers looked like human fingers. They even had fingernails! He made a new list:
/>   Jack heard the tree leaves shaking. He looked up. Annie and the gorilla had both climbed higher.

  “Hey, come down, Annie!” Jack called. “You might fall. Plus, it’s getting dark.”

  Jack looked around. Light was fading quickly from the forest. Is night falling? he wondered. Or is a storm coming?

  The small gorilla screeched again and climbed even higher.

  “Hey, Bu-bu! Where you going?” said Annie. She climbed even higher, too.

  “That’s enough, Annie. Come down now!” said Jack. “I’m serious.”

  To his relief, the gorilla settled on a branch. Annie did the same.

  The gorilla broke off a piece of tree bark. She nibbled it like a candy bar.

  Annie broke off a piece of bark. She nibbled it like a candy bar, too.

  The gorilla threw down her bark. She grabbed a tree branch and swung to another tree.

  “Don’t try it, Annie!” shouted Jack.

  But his warning came too late.

  Annie threw down her bark. She grabbed a tree branch and tried to swing to another tree.

  Annie didn’t swing like a gorilla. She fell from the tree—and crashed down to the ground near Jack.

  “Annie!” he cried.

  Jack knelt beside Annie. She was gasping for breath.

  The gorilla bounded down the tree and over to Annie. She bit her lower lip as if she were worried.

  “Are you okay?” Jack asked Annie.

  “Yes—” Annie panted, “just—got the breath—knocked out of me—”

  “Wiggle your arms and your legs,” said Jack.

  Annie wiggled her arms and her legs.

  “Good, nothing’s broken,” said Jack.

  Just then, he felt a drop of water hit his arm. The mist had turned to rain.

  “Uh-oh,” said Jack. He threw his notebook into his pack.

  “I better get our umbrella and flashlight,” he said. “I left them near that tree that looked like a chair.”