It's no surprise that the Harry Potter series has generated a reading frenzy among kids.
According to J.K. Rowling, a mother-fan told her that one night, she read the first two chapters of a Potter book to her dyslexic son, who found reading difficult. The next morning, said the mother, she walked into the room to find her son reading the book. She cried. JKR said she almost cried, too. The book was the first the boy had ever finished by himself.
(JKR also said she appreciates letters from boys a bit more because she knows how difficult it can be for them to write and to express themselves.)
I'm sure thousands (millions?) of parents around the world have similar stories to share. Kids who once disdained reading and avoided books flocked to the Harry Potter series. The Christian Science Monitor cites a survey called The Kids and Family Reading Report. According to the report, over half the 500 children and adults surveyed said they hadn't read "for fun" before the HP books arrived on the scene, and 65 percent of the kids said that reading the books improved their performances in school. Boys benefited the most. An excerpt:
Marcus credits the series for getting him interested in reading. He says his grandfather read him the first five books, but he wanted to read the sixth one himself. Since then, he loves to read medieval, fantasy, and science-fiction books, he says. He also now likes the many books he reads for school – even though the majority aren't his favorite genres, he says.
"I whip through 50 books a year," says Marcus matter-of-factly.
Though JKR said she didn't write the books for children, they're a hit with kids nevertheless. The books' themes are universal, and many appeal to children. What child surrounded by ordinariness hasn't dreamed of discovering that he's special?
Ah, but what about the pressure to read Potter? According to the report, 63 percent of boys and 44 percent of girls say they believe it's important to read the books because their friends read them. Hey, whatever gets children reading…
Maintained by La Shawn Barber, this site is not affiliated with Time Warner Entertainment Company, LP, Warner Brothers, The Walt Disney Company, Walden Media, Scholastic, Inc., or Bloomsbury Books. Copyrights and trademarks for books, films, articles, and other promotional materials are held by their respective owners. Their use is allowed under Fair Use.
Unless otherwise noted, site design modifications, original writing, and photography are copyrighted by LBC Media, All Rights Reserved.
Original WP theme Copyright Mike Little
May 2nd, 2007 at 5:21 pm
You might want to take a look at the Pottersaurus web site offering a dictionary of 1,500 words Harry Potter readers should know. The site:
http://www.pottersaurus.com/
May 3rd, 2007 at 9:33 am
My dad had to be in the hospital for several days. He was going nuts and he couldn't really sleep because he wasn't in his own bed. I read the first 2 chapters to him one night before visiting hours were over. When I came back the next day he had finished Sorcerer's stone and was part of the way through the chamber of secrets.
May 3rd, 2007 at 3:56 pm
Don't forget the power of reading to your kids when they are young. They want to be like us and will emulate the things we do for better or worse. My daughter is perfectly happy reading for hours on end. My son is well on that path.
May 4th, 2007 at 3:38 pm
I think it's very disturbing that some children are reading the books only because their friends read them. Sure, they're reading, but are they getting any benefit from it? I don't think so.
I guess what bothers me the most is that word important. I don't approve of anything that encourages conformity.
May 4th, 2007 at 4:29 pm
I lurrve harry potter. Not love, lurrve.
I'm breathlessly awaiting this July's release.
And I don't get it when people are bugged when kids read. Its great to get kids reading.
May 6th, 2007 at 6:24 am
My oldest daughter began a love affair with books almost as soon as she learned to read, but for my youngest daughter, sadly, that was not the case. That is until she read the first Harry Potter book. Now, she reads everything and even checks books out from the local library. My hat's off to JKR for the difference that she's made.
May 6th, 2007 at 9:23 am
It baffles me that anyone reading this board could state (with superior authority) that she "doesn't approve of anything that encourages conformity."
An individual choosing to conform to certain ideals (such as loyaly, courage, respect for others, and even–gasp–belief in God) is the basis of civilization. It also gives us people who bathe, are toilet trained and wear clothing in public. This is NOT the same thing as enforced authoritarian dictates on thought and behavior, such as those imposed by others in socialist/communist/fascist regimes. HP is the exemplar of the individual, conforming to reasonable rules at Hogwarts and using his reason and moral code when those rules are not rational and right. Rigid remarks about "conformity" suggest a flower-power "me-centered" mentality that is the antithesis of the Christian viewpoint. One of the most profound Christian statements is: Love God and do what you will. Conformity to the natural law of God frees each of us to do right, and we all benefit from that.
May 8th, 2007 at 5:50 pm
That story of the dyslexic boy is so touching. I can't imagine how Rowling must feel hearing stories like that one. How beautiful.
May 9th, 2007 at 8:17 pm
Julie–
You malign me. Do you really suppose that thinking it "important" to read the same thing as everybody else is quite in the same neighborhood as bathing, wearing clothing, and not peeing on the living room floor?
Where is my so-called "superior authority?" I have no authority beyond my motherhood and my concern for the children of others. Did you actually READ my comment? Why do you suppose I have any objection to conformity to the law of God? In fact, my comment was exactly the opposite: that I fear these children who say it is "important" to do exactly what everyone else does are conforming to the law of man, not of God.
I don't believe a child who "reads" Harry Potter because it is "important" to do what his friends do is getting any thing out of it. Not loyalty, not courage, not (your gasp, not mine) belief in God,–nothing. I am not sure that such a child is even actually reading the books. Superficial familiarity would be enough–just enough to show you are hip without actually learning anything. I was young once myself.
I'm amused by your accusation that I am proposing a "flower-powered,. me-centered mentality", because I'm usually accused of being a right-wing nut case. I'm flattered; thank you.
If these kids are reading the book and getting something out of it, good. My point was that I don't think they are. I think these books have something to offer, and the
"it's important to do this because my friends do" mentality is going to send them the way of the hula hoop.
May 22nd, 2007 at 12:12 pm
The Pottersaurs is now available at Amazon.com
or you can order direct from the publisher at
http://www.pottersaurus.com/