Christmas in Camelot: Magic Tree House #29    by Mary Pope Osborne & Sal Murdocca Order:  USA  Can Random House, 2006 (2006) Hardcover, Audio Read an Excerpt     Reviewed by J. A. Kaszuba Locke Jack and Annie are walking home from school at the beginning of winter vacation. In the distance they hear 'Cooo--cooo' in the fading sunlight, while puffy snow clouds gather. Looking up, they spot a dove sitting on a tree branch, They just know it's a signal from Morgan. 'In the hush of the cold twilight, the dove spread its wings and flew into the Frog Creek woods.' When they climb into the Magic Tree House, they find an invitation from enchantress Morgan le Fay to spend Christmas in Camelot. There's no indication of how to get to Camelot. But when Annie wishes to be there, the tree starts spinning 'faster and faster'. As the tree settles, Jack and Annie spot Camelot's castle. Everything looks dismal, haunting, and deserted. On the castle drawbridge, they see a woman in a cloak, carrying a lantern, coming to meet them. Surprised to see her friends, Morgan explains that she didn't send the invitation, even though it was signed with an 'M'. Sadly, Morgan explains that Camelot is not celebrating Christmas this year. King Arthur's enemy Mordred has cast a spell over the kingdom. There's been no music, no laughter, no joy, and no celebration in Camelot for months. Jack and Annie are taken into the castle to meet King Arthur, Queen Guinevere, and the Knights of the Round table. But three Knights are missing: Sir Lancelot, Sir Galahad, and Sir Percival went on quest to the Otherworld but never returned. Into the great dining hall rides a Christmas Knight upon a finely garbed horse. The Knight calls out that 'CAMELOT IS DYING!' Jack and Annie volunteer to visit the Otherworld to recapture the joy of the season. The Christmas Knight gives them rhyming clues on how to find the Keepers of the Cauldron - 'a cauldron filled with the Water of Memory and Imagination'. They travel through the night sky on a glowing white stag, with amber eyes, and huge antlers. Jack and Annie arrive at their destination in a 'misty green glade', where they see musicians and dancers in a huge circle happily singing the same theme over and over. Mary Pope Osborne gives us a tale of Camelot, inspired by Celtic legend and the spirit of the imagination. Sal Murdocca's expressive illustrations enhance the story, its setting, and characters. The books in Osborne's Magic Tree House® series are a pleasure for youngsters to read before, during, and after the holidays. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews