The Knight at Dawn

Jack is Annie’s older brother and one of the story’s two main characters. Sal Murdocca’s illustrations depict the eight-year-old with brown hair, brown eyes, glasses, and his trusty red backpack, where he keeps his notebook and reference books at the ready. Jack’s methodical personality prompts him to take careful notes of his journeys through time, as the book’s opening summary of the events of Dinosaurs Before Dark demonstrates: “found tree house in woods / found lots of books in it / pointed to Pteranodon picture in book / made a wish went to time of dinosaurs” (1). At times, Jack’s meticulous nature leads him to be somewhat pedantic, which Osborne uses as a source of humor: “‘Someone lost a gold medal in dinosaur time,’ said Annie. ‘Medallion!’ said Jack for the third time” (4). Although he isn’t as daring as his younger sibling, Jack possesses a powerful curiosity that motivates him to return to the magic tree house despite the perils they faced during their time in the Cretaceous Period. Osborne portrays the boy’s hunger for knowledge and his love of reading as two of his greatest assets on his adventures.