Buffalo Before Breakfast is the eighteenth installment to the Magic Tree House series. The book is preceded by Tonight on the Titanic and succeeded by Tigers at Twilight.
Synopsis[]
The magic tree house takes Jack and Annie to the Great Plains, where they learn about the life of the Lakota Indians.
Chapters[]
- Teddy's Back!
- Ocean of Grass
- Black Hawk
- Good Manners
- Sunlight and Midnight
- Stampede!
- White Buffalo Woman
- Sacred Circle
- Lakota School
- Good Medicine
Plot[]
Jack and Annie were eagerly anticipating their grandmother’s arrival when a dog named Teddy unexpectedly showed up. Teddy was under a spell that required the children to find four special items in order to break it. They had already discovered a gift from the Titanic, and now their next mission was to find a gift from the prairie blue. Following Teddy to the magic tree house, they found a book titled *The Great Plains*. Realizing that this book might help them locate the next item, they decided to explore its contents.
Upon arriving in the vast, open plains, the children found themselves dressed in buckskin clothing, surrounded by endless sky. With no clear destination in sight, they began walking in search of the item. After crossing a small rise, Annie spotted a Lakota Indian camp. Unsure of its safety, they hid in the tall grass until a young warrior named Black Hawk noticed them. At first cautious, he quickly saw they meant no harm and invited them to meet his grandmother at the camp.
Black Hawk introduced Jack and Annie to his grandmother, who shared insights about the Lakota way of life. They learned that bravery was highly valued in Lakota culture, and the people believed that by wearing the skins and claws of animals, they could absorb the animals' courage. Black Hawk showed them the wolf skin he wore when hunting, and Grandmother explained how the Lakota depended on the buffalo for food, tools, and shelter.
Eager to show Jack and Annie the buffalo, Black Hawk prepared to lead them to a herd. Before they set off, Grandmother advised him not to hunt, as they already had enough buffalo meat for the day. The children had to ride bareback to reach the buffalo, and while Annie eagerly mounted a horse, Jack felt apprehensive. Remembering the Lakota’s emphasis on courage, Jack pushed himself to climb onto the horse. As they rode, the children were amazed by the vast number of buffalo grazing on the plains. Black Hawk, wanting to demonstrate his bravery, tried to sneak up on one to hunt it. However, a sneeze betrayed him, frightening the buffalo and triggering a stampede. Teddy ran into the chaos, with Annie following close behind. Realizing Black Hawk needed help, Jack rode toward him and managed to save the young warrior.
Jack, Annie, and Teddy receive an eagle's feather as a gift.
In the midst of the stampede, Jack feared for Annie’s safety but eventually spotted her surrounded by calm buffalo. Slowly, the other buffalo began to settle down as well. Annie explained that a mysterious woman dressed in white helped her calm the buffalo before vanishing. Black Hawk identified the figure as the White Buffalo Woman, a spirit in Lakota belief.
Back at the camp, Jack and Annie recounted their adventure to Grandmother, who gave them the Lakota names "Rides-Like-Wind" and "Buffalo Girl" in recognition of their bravery. As a token of gratitude, Grandmother also gave them an eagle feather. Jack and Annie realized that this feather was the next item they needed to free Teddy. They spent the night with the Lakota people and returned to the tree house the following morning.
When they returned home, they were thrilled to find their grandmother finally visiting, just as they had hoped.