The sound of a wooden snare drum greeted Jefferson Elementary students as they filed into the gym Friday for a trip back to the American Revolution—and a surprise introduction to their next shared reading adventure.

Thirteen-year-old Fisher Wilson set the scene for the school’s book reveal with a glimpse into the duties and daily life of a Revolutionary War drummer boy. Wilson participates in Civil War and Revolutionary War reenactments and taught himself to play both the snare drum and the fife. He comes from a long line of educators and credits his grandmother, a longtime history teacher, with sparking his interest in history.

Wilson welcomed the Tigers with drum solos and, on his fife, played the familiar tune “Yankee Doodle,” even sharing a conversation with George Washington, commander in chief of the Continental Army, as part of the presentation.

Then it was time to solve the mystery. Leaders from each Jefferson group collected a challenge envelope containing questions students had to answer together before retrieving their treasure boxes.

Inside was the big reveal: copies of Revolutionary War on Wednesday, the 22nd book in Mary Pope Osborne’s Magic Tree House series.

The story follows siblings Jack and Annie as their magic tree house carries them to a dark, snowy night during the American Revolution. They meet General George Washington as he prepares to cross the Delaware River for a surprise attack. With dangerous weather threatening his plans, Jack and Annie find themselves on a mission to help keep history on track.

The reveal launched the latest in a series of Jefferson’s One School, One Book reading experience, bringing students, families, and staff together around the same story. Trivia activities and hallway displays will extend the adventure beyond the pages, building shared vocabulary, encouraging conversations, and helping students discover the joy of reading.

For Jefferson Tigers, the treasure inside each box was more than a new book. It was an invitation to explore history and enjoy a reading adventure together.