Tree House authors visit Navajo

Bring adventure to Navajo studentsThe sisters are using their trip to the Navajo Nation to promote literacy and wellness.

"We wanted to turn the kids on to more reading than they're already doing," Boyce said in phone interview. "Our underlying message is that reading is a huge component of wellness and a guarantee of happiness."

The Navajo Nation trip comes on the heels of the authors' recent publication of the 39th book in the Magic Tree House series, "Dark Day in the Deep Sea," and the companion research guide, "Sea Monsters." The sister team has sold more than 56 million copies of their books since the series debuted in 1992.

Random House donated copies of "Dark Day in the Deep Sea" and "Sea Monsters" to the 2,000 third- through fifth-grade students attending the presentations this week, said Darlene Begay, school health coordinator with Northern Navajo Medical Center.