Thank you, Carolina.

Though she graduated from Carolina in 1971, Mary Pope Osborne has adventured in the age of the dinosaur, explored outer space and journeyed through the Amazon. All of these exciting experiences, and more, were made possible through her characters Jack and Annie in her No. 1 New York Times best-selling series The Magic Tree House.

“Long ago, in a poetry class in the English department at UNC, I gained the confidence to put thoughts and images on a page and share them with others. In that class, I began my love affair with the English language, with the magic and mystery of words. Since then, I’ve published over a hundred children’s books, and my ardor has not cooled a bit. Every day it fuels my work and brings happiness. Thank you, Carolina,” Osborne said.

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Osborne has sold more than 134 million copies of her books worldwide, which have been translated in 35 languages. In 1994, Osborne received a Distinguished Alumna Award and in 2013, the University awarded her an honorary degree. In 2015, the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center awarded Osborne and her husband, Will, the Jupiter Award for Outstanding Contributions to Science Education.

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