Mary.Pope Osborne author page

Mary Pope Osborne biography

Mary Pope Osborne is an American author best known for her children’s book series, Magic Tree House. Osborne grew up in a military family and lived in several states and countries during her childhood. She attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she majored in drama. After college, Osborne held a variety of jobs and traveled extensively before beginning her writing career.

Osborne published her first book, Run, Run As Fast As You Can, in 1982. She has since written numerous books for children, including picture books, retellings of mythology and folklore, and historical fiction. Her most widely recognized work, the Magic Tree House series, began with Dinosaurs Before Dark in 1992. The series follows siblings Jack and Annie as they travel through time and around the world using a magical tree house. Osborne has also written companion nonfiction books for the series, known as the Magic Tree House Fact Trackers.

Osborne has received several awards for her contributions to children’s literature, including the 2005 Ludington Memorial Award from the Educational Paperback Association. As of 2022, she continues to write and publish new titles in the Magic Tree House series.