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Lions at Lunchtime is the eleventh installment to the Magic Tree House series. The book is preceded by Ghost Town at Sundown and succeeded by Polar Bears Past Bedtime. It was published in January 12,1998.

Synopsis[]

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

Chapters[]

  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

Plot[]

As Jack and Annie walked home from the store, they spotted a creature resembling a small deer, it was a gazelle. Curious, and remembering the rabbit, they followed it and discovered that it led them to the magic tree house. Inside, they met Morgan le Fay, a sorceress, who presented them with their third riddle and a book titled "The Plains of Africa". Using the tree house's magic, Annie wished to travel to Africa, and they were instantly transported there. In Africa, the children were amazed by the abundance of wildlife surrounding the tree house. Annie noticed a group of wildebeests attempting to cross a river. Seeing their distress, she wanted to help them. Jack reminded her that they needed to solve Morgan's riddle first.

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?

After reading the riddle, Annie was still determined to help the wildebeests. In the process, she fell into a mud pit and began to sink. Jack rescued her using a branch, but they needed to clean up. Before they could do so, two hyenas approached. Using their book, the children learned that hyenas were timid and managed to scare them away.

The children headed toward a pond to clean up, but just as they prepared to, an elephant emerged from the trees. Annie wanted to watch the elephant, but Jack planned to slip away. However, when the elephant started using its trunk to shower Annie, Jack allowed it to wash him as well. Afterward, Jack wanted to focus on solving the riddle, but Annie was distracted by a bird—a honey guide. She followed it through the forest to a beehive. With the help of their book, they learned how to scatter the bees and knock down the hive. It was then they realized that honey was the answer to the riddle.

As they enjoyed the honey, they noticed a Masai warrior observing them. Jack recalled that these warriors were skilled in battle and often gathered honey by knocking down beehives. The children attempted to speak to the warrior, but he didn’t respond. Jack remembered the bread and peanut butter they had brought from the store earlier and, as a peace offering, they made a peanut butter and honey sandwich for the warrior. He ate it and then left.

With the riddle solved, Jack and Annie headed back to the tree house, but they encountered a pride of lions resting beneath the tree. Jack recalled that lions tended to avoid giraffes, so he told Annie to stand near a giraffe. Annie thought he was crazy, but Jack pulled her close, and they stood underneath the giraffe, moving with it as it neared the tree house. When they were close enough, they made a run for the tree house and made it inside safely. They were whisked back home.

Once back, Jack and Annie debated whether to tell their mother about their African adventure. Knowing she wouldn’t believe them, they decided to give vague answers to any questions she might ask. The story ended with their mother asking if they were ready for lunch.

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