Magic Tree House Series

Image from Chapters.ca

The Magic Tree House series, written my Mary Pope Osborne, features two siblings, Jack and Annie, who travel back in time to visit historically significant places. Jack is older and studious and Annie is an energetic and inquisitive girl. Although Annie is sometimes shown as more reckless than Jack, both children are equally involved in seeking adventure and in leading themselves out of misadventure. They clearly enjoy a healthy sibling relationship, with not a hint of condescension between the older boy and younger girl. Although he sometimes rolls his eyes at her, Jack respects his sister, treats her as his equal, and never takes on the role of protector.

I have selected the image of this particular title because it involves a trip to ancient Greece, where the children get a lesson in gender equality when they discover that girls in that era were not allowed to go to school, attend the Olympic games, or act in plays. Titles build on each other, so it is best to read this series in order. Good for ages 6 and up, but may need to be read aloud to younger kids.