The eleventh volume of the Magic Tree House series is titled "Lions at Lunchtime". In this book, written by Mary Pope Osborne, the main characters Jack and Annie travel back in time to the African savanna. The story begins with Jack and Annie finding a magical tree house filled with books. They discover that by pointing at a picture in a book and wishing to go there, the tree house transports them through time and space to that location. In "Lions at Lunchtime", Jack and Annie wish to go to Africa to find a gift for their friend Morgan Le Fay. They arrive in the African grasslands and encounter a group of Maasai warriors who escort them through the savanna.
0. A point (no dimension)
The ideas presented here come from chapter one of a new book called Imagining the Tenth Dimension a new way of thinking about time and space , written by Rob Bryanton. If that paper is now folded in the middle, we create a way for our Flatlander Ant to magically disappear from one position in his two-dimensional world and be instantly transported to another.
They arrive in the African grasslands and encounter a group of Maasai warriors who escort them through the savanna. Along the way, they encounter various African animals such as giraffes, zebras, and elephants. Eventually, they come across a pride of lions, something they had wished to see.
The Four Dimensions – Spiritual, Mental, Emotional and Physical
Both secular and Torah sources discuss that human beings experience the world in four Dimensions: Physical, Emotional, Mental, and Spiritual. For example, eating occurs primarily in the physical dimension. Love is an emotional experience. Learning takes place in the mental realm. And prayer is a spiritual pursuit.
Each Dimension has four important aspects:
core components, through which we experience that Dimension best
a flourishing currency, the thing that you are trying to access in that Dimension
a primary good habit that we need to cultivate
a deterrent that keeps us from flourishing
Although we experience the world in all four Dimensions, they are not equivalent. There is a hierarchy which starts with the Physical Dimension, where we are focused on self and which becomes increasingly less self-centered as we move towards the Spiritual Dimension, where we are focused on God. Let’s take a look at some examples of this.
The pleasure of the Physical Dimension is completely self-focused; that chocolate cake tastes great, but that’s only because I like chocolate cake, it has nothing to do with anyone else. Emotional happiness, achieved through positive relationships, involves me and at least one other person. When I move up to finding meaning in the Mental Dimension, I’m even more outwardly focused and involved in pursuits that help others and improve the world. Finally, purpose in the Spiritual Dimension places God at the center of all my activities, it’s about what He wants, not what I want.
The lines between Dimensions are porous, meaning that flourishing in one Dimension often creates flourishing in another. Indeed, that’s one of the goals of Four Dimensional Flourishing, to take an activity in one dimension and raise it to a higher level. For example, eating a delicious Yom Tov meal is a physical pleasure that becomes spiritual when I’m focused on the fact that this is the type of pleasure that Hashem has commanded me to have on Yom Tov.
At the same time, two different activities might cause flourishing in the same Dimension but they may be of a very different quality. For example, eating a delicious weekday meal will provide physical pleasure but might also make me happy, which is an emotional state. Doing something meaningful, like volunteer work will make me happy as well, but it’s easy to see that these are different types of happiness. The happiness from pleasure ends after the last bite, while the happiness from meaning is more deep seated and enduring.
The chart below summarizes the Four Dimensions and the overview that we have just covered. You might want to refer to the chart as we discuss each Dimension individually.
The lions prove to be friendly and curious, and Jack and Annie have a remarkable encounter with them. They even get to join the lions for lunch, as the title suggests. As the day comes to an end, Jack and Annie are whisked back to the magical tree house and return home. Through this adventure, "Lions at Lunchtime" introduces readers to the African wilderness and highlights the importance of respecting and appreciating wildlife. It also emphasizes the power of imagi nation and teaches readers about different cultures and landscapes. This volume, like the others in the series, is a fun and educational read for young readers who enjoy adventure and learning about different parts of the world..
Reviews for "Exploring the power of imagination in The Eleventh Volume of the Magic Tree House series"
1. Jane - 2 stars - I was extremely disappointed with "The eleventh volume of the magic tree house series". The plot felt rushed and underdeveloped, and the characters lacked depth. The writing style also felt very juvenile, as if it were targeted towards a much younger audience. Overall, it failed to captivate my attention or engage my imagination. I would not recommend this book to anyone older than a young child.
2. Mark - 1 star - "The eleventh volume of the magic tree house series" was a complete letdown. The story lacked originality and seemed to follow the same formula as the previous books in the series. The dialogue was weak, and the plot felt repetitive. I was hoping for something fresh and exciting, but unfortunately, this book failed to deliver. I would not recommend wasting your time or money on this installment.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - I found "The eleventh volume of the magic tree house series" to be boring and predictable. The storyline was unoriginal and lacked any real depth or surprises. The characters felt flat and one-dimensional, making it difficult to feel invested in their journey. Overall, this book did not live up to my expectations and left me feeling unsatisfied. I would not recommend it to anyone looking for a captivating and engaging read.
4. David - 1 star - I was thoroughly unimpressed with "The eleventh volume of the magic tree house series." The writing style felt amateurish and lacked creativity. The plot was predictable and lacked any real substance. The characters were forgettable and lacked any development. It felt like a recycled story with no originality. I would not waste your time reading this book.