More than simply a “Christian version” of the popular Magic Treehouse books, the Imagination Station books are a solid chapter book time travel series.
Enjoy this post from our archives! Originally published May 21, 2015.
*The Imagination Station Series by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker. Focus on the Family, 2011-present. 130 pages each.
Reading Level: Chapter Books, ages 8-10
Recommended For: Ages 6-10
Mr. Whitaker is the proprietor of Whit’s End: ice cream shop on one floor and inventor’s workshop on another. His most interesting invention is the Imagination Station, a sort of time travel machine, which he uses to send cousins Patrick and Beth on various missions back in time. The missions range from educational (meeting George Washington) to fulfilling requests from the past (finding a Viking sunstone or mysterious goblet). Mr. Whitaker always gives each of the cousins a special “gift” that they will find useful at some point in their journey. He then sends them to a particular time and place…in costume.
Series fiction at the chapter book level is nothing new, but what sets the Imagination Station series apart from many of its contemporaries is its Christian worldview. For instance, Patrick and Beth stop and pray when they get in trouble. Many of the historical figures they meet are Christians. Sometimes this means the historical figure is being persecuted, while other times the figure is someone like George Washington who was reputedly a believer. Aside from the Christian worldview underpinnings, the writing is certainly equal to other series fiction at the chapter book level.
Action packed, full of historical facts and adventure, and saturated with spiritual truth, this series is more than simply a “Christian version” of the popular Magic Treehouse books. Both boys and girls will enjoy Patrick and Beth’s adventures, and parents and teachers may be surprised at the nuggets of truth children glean in the process. Highly recommended and worth owning if your library doesn’t have them. When your children are finished (allow time for lots of rereading), gift these to your church library or local Christian school library.
Cautions: none
Overall Rating: 5
- Artistic Rating: 5
- Worldview Rating: 5
Categories: Chapter Books, Historical Fiction, Character Values, Christian, Starred Review
*indicates starred review
cover image from amazon
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Do these need to be read in series order to appreciate plot or character development? Or can we pick and choose based on the time period that we’re studying?
They’re pretty much independent (like the Magic Treehouse books). You might try to read the first one first to get some context, but after that, it doesn’t seem to matter much.
If a child can read the Magic Treehouse books, would he or she be able to read these? What Lexile level are tgese, on average?
We don’t look up Lexile levels (but you can probably find them online). That being said, the Imagination Station books are VERY similar to Magic Treehouse in length and reading level.