Guest Author - Bonnie Sayers

The Magic School Bus® is an animated TV series that started out on the PBS network provided by Microsoft Home. Here in the Los Angeles market a few years ago The Magic School Bus® was seen on the local Fox network mid- afternoons, which was perfect afer a school day to view before starting homework. Currently the show is being aired on The Learning Channel weekday mornings at 7 am.

Scholastic’s The Magic School Bus® Hops Home: A Book About Animal Habitats was copyrighted in 1995 by Patricia Relf with the illustrations by Nancy Stevenson. The original television episode this book was adapted from was written by Ronnie Krauss, Brian Meehl and Jocelyn Stevenson. Scholastic and The Magic School Bus® are registered trademarks of Scholastic Inc.

Ms. Frizzle is the teacher who operates The Magic School Bus® with the regular students being Wanda, Ralphie, Arnold, Dorothy Ann and Carlos. The bus has magical powers that take the class off on exotic and interesting adventures that set the theme for the story. Ms. Frizzle is a bit strange at times but the kids like learning from her and seeing what weird clothes she wears to school.

In The Magic School Bus® Hops Home: A Book About Animals Habitats the school day begins with the students learning about animals homes. Wanda brought in Bella her pet bullfrog that is her best friend as well. Ms. Frizzle starts the discussion by asking the class what Bella would need for her home or habitat. The students agreed that water, fresh air and food were the essentials needed, but before they could finish the habitat they were making for Bella she jumped out the window.

Wanda suggests that she and Arnold go looking for Bella when Ms. Frizzle decides it is a good idea for a field trip. Arnold was not too thrilled with this idea but climbed aboard the bus with the rest of the class. Ms. Frizzle thinks that the best way to find a frog is to be one so the bus turned into a frog and hopped away.

The students all had hats on with bandanas around their necks. They headed fast towards a creek when Ralphie started feeling ill when they hit a bounce. Ms. Frizzle decided this was the spot to search for Bella so they started the search along the creek. They noticed this was the perfect habitat for Bella since there was running water and insect to eat. Of course it would not be an adventure without Wanda and Arnold falling into the creek being swept downstream.

The Magic School Bus® comes to the rescue with a net they were able to sit in and get onto dry land. At this point while composing themselves the students were discussing what if Bella had laid eggs in the water and where they would end up. They surmised that the water was too noisy and Bella would seek quieter water when they noticed a Blue Heron fly by. Ms. Frizzle suggested following the bird while Arnold questioned this idea.

They hiked until they came upon a big beaver pond that was nice and quiet. Carlos informed the other students about Beavers since he had just finished reading a book on them. Wanda spotted Bella in the pond and gasped when she noticed the Blue Heron was not too far from Bella. She feared that the Blue Heron would want Bella for its next meal.

Wanda went into the water to save Bella but splashed too much to see Bella at the lily pond and saw the Blue Heron’s beak coming towards her. When the students looked up the Blue Heron flew away but Wanda could not find Bella and thought the Blue Heron took her away. It turned out Bella was back on her lily pad in the pond with Wanda exclaiming Bella better come home with her.

Ms. Frizzle explained to the class that Bella was able to move about in her own habitat and not get caught by the Blue Heron. They heard a strange noise and found Herman a male bullfrog that greeted Bella. Arnold suddenly worried how they would get two bullfrogs back to the classroom when Wanda realized that Bella had all she needed at the spot they were in. Wanda decided to leave Bella in her new habitat she picked out.

Wanda said goodbye to Bella before the class headed back to The Magic School Bus® waving goodbye to Bella and Herman. Ms. Frizzle was happy once they got in their classroom announcing another great class trip. Arnold was just glad to have his lunch and milk in his own habitat. Wanda was sad already since she missed Bella when the students presented her with a toy bullfrog that made a sound when you pressed a button.

The class was happy that this bullfrog would not need water, fresh air or food nor would it be jumping out a window anytime. This consists of approximately thirty-two pages with detailed illustrations portraying each student in their personality as seen on the television series. The last page consists of letters from readers and then the back page shares tips for kids, parents and teachers on learning about animal habitats.

The lessons learned within The Magic School Bus® Hops Home: A Book About Animal Habitats is that there are various types of habitats for animals to live, eat and raise their young. There are specific needs that need to be met plus habitats change and the animals can adapt to different habitats and make their homes in new environments. Plants and animals interact and require water, food and insects to survive. The climate such as rain can change the shape of a habitat while beavers can make dams to overcome their habitats.

Each student is unique in the classroom and most children will have a favorite that they can identify with in the series. My son Nicholas likes to laugh along with them and talk about what the bus is doing and how Ms. Frizzle is so funny. There are always surprises along the way and we are never quite sure how the bus does what it does, or how the kids change outfits and clean off before they go home.

I suggest the books for children in the K-2 grades and especially for those that like science, nature and adventure. For a child that cannot yet read, the stories are easy to follow by the colorful illustrations that guide you along with the class on their field trip.

This is a perfectly suited book to read during Turn Your Tv off week, April 24-30, 2006. It would also be a nice addition to the Easter Basket instead of just candy and toys. Colorful books that spark the imagination of children in vibrant images are the way to celebrate the start of the spring season.

Facts about the Magic School Bus