Lions at Lunchtime 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,

  Your letters continue to help me write the Magic Tree House series.

  One day while I was writing Lions at Lunchtime, I got stuck—I couldn’t figure out what should happen when Jack and Annie get caught by the Masai warrior. Finally, I decided to take a break and read some letters from you. I read a letter from a boy named Mark, who lives in Massachusetts. He had written to suggest that Jack and Annie decide to visit the tree house on their way home from the grocery store. A light bulb went on in my head, and I figured out a way Jack and Annie could make friends with the warrior.

  Thank you, Mark. Thanks to all you readers. Your enthusiasm for the series keeps me writing more books.

  All my best,

  Text copyright © 1998 by Mary Pope Osborne.

  Illustrations copyright © 1998 by Sal Murdocca.

  All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions.

  Published in the United States by Random House, Inc., New York.

  http://www.randomhouse.com/

  http://www.randomhouse.com/magictreehouse

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Osborne, Mary Pope. Lions at lunchtime / by Mary Pope Osborne ; illustrated by Sal Murdocca.

  p. cm. — (The magic tree house series ; #11) “A stepping stone book.”

  Summary: The magic tree house takes Jack and Annie to Africa where they meet up with wonderful wild animals, a very hungry warrior, and where they even solve a riddle.

  eISBN: 978-0-375-89468-8

  [1. Tree houses—Fiction. 2. Magic—Fiction. 3. Zoology—Africa—Fiction.

  4. Africa—Fiction.] I. Murdocca, Sal, ill. II. Title. III. Series: Osborne, Mary Pope.

  Magic tree house series ; #11. PZ7.O81167Li 1998 [Fic] 21 97-19885

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

  v3.0

  Cover

  Dear Readers

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  1. Before Lunch

  2. Jump, Beasts! Jump!

  3. Disaster

  4. Mud Bath

  5. Ha-Ha

  6. Spick-and-Span

  7. Hi, There

  8. Yum

  9. Tiptoe

  10. After Lunch

  Special Preview of Magic Tree House #12: Polar Bears Past Bedtime

  To Shana Corey,

  with appreciation for all her help

  Jack and Annie were walking home from the grocery store. Jack’s pack was heavy. It held a big jar of peanut butter and a loaf of bread.

  “Are you going to have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?” said Annie. “Or a peanut butter and honey sandwich?”

  Jack started to answer, but stopped.

  “Oh, man,” he whispered.

  “What is it?” said Annie.

  “Look at that!” said Jack.

  He pointed to the edge of the Frog Creek woods. In the shadows stood a small, delicate animal. It looked like a tiny deer.

  “It’s a sign,” whispered Annie. “Remember when we saw the rabbit? He was a sign of the Wild West.”

  The deerlike creature leaped into the woods.

  Jack and Annie didn’t stop to think. They followed as fast as they could. Jack’s heavy pack thumped against his back as he ran.

  Finally, they stopped and looked around.

  “Where did she go?” he said.

  “I don’t see her,” said Annie.

  “Oh, wow,” said Annie. She pointed up.

  There was the magic tree house. It was shining in the noon sun, at the top of the tallest tree in the woods. Its rope ladder swayed in the shadows below.

  “Where’s Morgan?” said Annie.

  Morgan le Fay wasn’t waving at them from the window. She wasn’t even at the window.

  “I don’t know. Let’s go up,” said Jack.

  They climbed the ladder and went into the tree house.

  Sunlight streamed through the window. It lit a stack of books and two scrolls in the corner. The ancient scrolls held the answers to riddles Jack and Annie had solved earlier.

  Jack took off his heavy pack.

  “Did Morgan leave us a third riddle?” said Annie.

  “Looking for someone?” said a soft voice.

  Jack and Annie whirled around.

  “Morgan!” said Annie.

  Morgan le Fay had appeared out of nowhere. She looked ancient and lovely in the bright light.

  “Do you still want to become Master Librarians?” she asked Jack and Annie. “So you can help me in my work?”

  “Yes!” they said together.

  “Wonderful,” Morgan said. Then she reached into her robe and pulled out a scroll.

  “You’ve solved two riddles so far,” she
said. “Here is your third.” She handed the scroll to Annie. “And for your research—”

  She pulled a book out from her robe and handed it to Jack. The book’s cover said THE PLAINS OF AFRICA.

  “Africa?” said Jack. “Oh, man, I’ve always wanted to go there.”

  He opened the book. He and Annie stared at a picture.

  It showed hordes of zebras, tall giraffes, big animals with horns, and tiny, deerlike creatures.

  “Hey, that’s the animal that led us here!” said Annie.

  “A Thomson’s gazelle, I believe,” Morgan said.

  “Where are the lions?” said Jack.

  “You’ll find out,” said Morgan.

  “Um … maybe we need to plan this trip,” said Jack.

  Morgan smiled. “No. Go ahead. Make your wish now.”

  Annie pointed at the picture. “I wish we could go there,” she said.

  “Be careful,” said Morgan. “Just keep an eye out.”

  “For what?” said Jack.

  “The lions, of course,” she said.

  “Wait!” said Jack.

  Too late.

  The wind had started to blow.

  The tree house had started to spin.

  Jack squeezed his eyes shut.

  The tree house spun faster and faster.

  Then everything was still.

  Absolutely still.

  Bright light flooded the tree house again. A rustling sound came from outside the window.

  Annie peeked out and laughed. “Hey, there,” she said.

  Jack looked out, too. A giraffe was eating leaves off the tree. It had a sweet, goofy face.

  Jack peered at the world beyond the giraffe. He couldn’t believe his eyes.

  He saw a huge grassy plain, a wide river, and tons of birds and animals—more than he had ever imagined in one place.

  Giraffes and zebras were on the side of the river where Jack and Annie were. Thomson’s gazelles and the big horned animals were on the other side.

  “Where are the lions?” said Jack.

  “I don’t know,” said Annie. “Do you think it’s always this crowded?”

  “Let’s find out,” said Jack.

  He picked up the book on Africa and looked at the picture of the animals. He read aloud:

  Every year, in late spring, thousands of zebras and gazelles and millions of wildebeests (WILL-duh-beests) migrate from the dry plains of Tanzania to Kenya.

  “What’s ‘migrate’ mean?” said Annie.

  Jack pushed his glasses into place. “It means they go someplace else for part of the year—like birds going south for the winter.”

  “Oh, right,” said Annie.

  Jack turned the page to read more.

  Before they are safe in Kenya, the animals must first cross the Mara River. Zebras go first, then the wildebeests. The tiny gazelles swim last.

  “Ohh,” said Annie in a sad voice.

  “What’s wrong?” said Jack.

  “Poor beasts.” She looked out the window. “They seem afraid.”

  On the far side of the river, the horned animals were standing at the edge of the steep bank of the river. They stared down nervously at the rushing water.

  “Jump, beasts! Jump!” Annie shouted.

  “Don’t be silly. They can’t hear you,” said Jack.

  He studied the broad plain. “I wonder where the lions are,” he said.

  “I don’t know. But I have to go,” said Annie.

  “Go where?” said Jack.

  “To the river to help them,” she said.

  “Help who?” said Jack.

  “Those wild beasts on the other side!” said Annie. “I have to help them migrate.”

  “Are you nuts?” said Jack.

  Annie handed Jack the scroll and started out of the tree house.

  “Wait a second!” said Jack. “We haven’t even read Morgan’s riddle yet!”

  Annie stopped on the ladder.

  “Read it now,” she said.

  Jack unrolled the ancient scroll and read aloud:

  I’m the color of gold and as sweet as can be. But beware of the danger that’s all around me. What am I?

  Annie started down again.

  “Annie!”

  “We’ll look for the answer in a minute,” said Annie.

  “What are you doing?” Jack called.

  But there was no stopping her. Jack watched as she hopped off the ladder. Then she started to walk through the tall grass, between the zebras and giraffes.

  “I don’t believe her,” he said to himself. He quickly put the Africa book into his pack.

  He started down the ladder.

  When he stepped onto the ground, he looked around carefully.

  The giraffes were eating the tree leaves.

  The zebras were grazing in the grass.

  Tons of birds flapped overhead.

  This is okay, he thought. He just had one little question:

  Where are the lions?

  “Come on, Jack!” Annie called. She was almost to the river.

  “Just a minute!” he shouted. He wanted to study the giraffes and zebras.

  He pulled out the Africa book and found a picture of giraffes. He read:

  The giraffe is the tallest animal in the world. Its legs alone can be six feet tall, and its hooves can be as big as dinner plates. The giraffe has a very powerful kick, which makes it dangerous to attack. For this reason, lions tend to avoid giraffes.

  Jack pulled out his notebook and wrote:

  He turned the page and read more:

  Zebras live in family groups. As no two zebras have exactly the same pattern of stripes, every baby zebra must learn its own mother’s pattern.

  Jack studied the zebras, trying to see their different patterns. But in the hazy afternoon light, all the stripes made him dizzy.

  He blinked to clear his head, then read more:

  Zebras are the first to cross the river because they eat the coarsest grass. After they’ve thinned down the top layer, the wildebeests arrive and eat the next layer. They prepare the grass for the gazelles, who come last.

  Wow, thought Jack. Each animal depends on the one that goes before.

  He wrote:

  Jack heard Annie shouting from the riverbank. “Jump, beasts! Jump! You can do it! Don’t be afraid! Come on!”

  He looked up. Annie herself was jumping as she called to the wildebeests.

  Jack sighed. I’d better stop her before there’s trouble, he thought.

  He put away the Africa book and his notebook. Then he jogged toward the river. His pack was heavy and lumpy, bumping against his back. He’d forgotten to take out the jar of peanut butter and the loaf of bread.

  Jack decided to leave them at the tree house. He turned to go back.

  But just then, Annie’s shouting stopped.

  Jack looked at the river.

  She had vanished.

  “Annie?” he called.

  No answer.

  Where was she?

  “Annie!” Jack shouted.

  She had completely disappeared.

  “Oh, man,” said Jack.

  Their trip had barely begun, and already disaster had struck!

  He forgot about the stuff in his pack. He just ran as fast as he could.

  He wove his way between the grazing zebras and giraffes as he raced to the river.

  “Help!” called Annie.

  Jack looked over the edge of the riverbank.

  Annie had fallen into a pool of mud near the water. The thick black mud was up to her chest.

  “I slipped,” she said. “It feels like quicksand.”

  Jack threw down his pack and got on his knees.

  “Be careful,” said Annie. “Don’t slip, too.”

  Jack pointed to a tangle of old tree roots sticking out of the bank. “Grab those!” he said.

  Annie reached for the roots. “Too far,” she said, breathing hard. “I’m sinking.”

  She was sink
ing. The mud was up to her neck.

  “Hold on!” Jack looked around wildly. He saw a fallen tree branch near the bank.

  He raced to it, picked it up, and carried it back to Annie. Only her head and arms stuck out of the mud now.

  Jack held out the branch. Annie grabbed it.

  “Hold tight,” said Jack. “I’ll drag you over to the roots!”

  He started pulling on the branch.

  “I’m still sinking!” Annie wailed. The mud was up to her chin.

  “Come on!” said Jack. “You can do it! I know you can! Try! Try!”

  Just then, Jack heard a splash! He looked up.

  On the other side of the wide river, a wildebeest had jumped into the water. Another jumped … then another. They were headed right toward Jack and Annie.

  “Hold on tight!” said Jack. He pulled on the stick again.

  Annie moved a tiny bit.

  “Hey, Jack, on the moon it felt like I weighed ten pounds,” said Annie. “And in this mud it feels like I weigh a ton.”

  “Concentrate, Annie,” said Jack, trying not to slip down the bank.

  “I am.”

  The lead wildebeests were halfway across, swimming toward them. Many more wildebeests were jumping into the water.

  “It’s now or never!” said Jack. He took a deep breath. He pulled really hard.

  Just then, a shadow passed over them. Jack looked up.

  “Uh-oh,” he said.

  A huge vulture circled overhead.

  “It thinks you’re near the end,” said Jack.

  “Oh, get out of here!” Annie shouted at the vulture. “I’m fine!”

  In a burst of fury, she let go of the branch. She lunged for the roots. She grabbed them!

  “Yes!” cried Jack. “Pull! Pull!”

  Slowly, Annie pulled herself out. She was covered with the black mud from head to toe.

  Jack helped her onto the bank, getting mud all over himself.