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Spellbound
It should have been a normal summer's day. But suspicious goings-on were reported on every High Street. Strange beings, resembling school children, were storming bookshops across the country. A new craze for reading? Nah, I'd sooner believe in magic.
It was only with the release of JK Rowling's second book that Harry Potter really walloped the world over the head with his broomstick. Of course, children caught on a bit quicker than the rest of us. That's how they nabbed all the first editions.
So, are you happy your kids are hooked on Hogwarts? Here's some reasons you should be:
Back to books
Everybody agrees that one of the best things about Potter's popularity is that he's got children reading again. We all know that reading is a 'good thing' but why exactly is it so important for kids?
For the Play Station generation, entertainment has become multi-sensory. Which is why TV and computers are so seductive - you don't have to imagine what the character looks like because there they are, you don't have to understand the words to get the atmosphere - suspense, romance and excitement are evoked by sound effects and music. You really don't have to work at all. It's extremely relaxing. If your child is crying, stick the television on and nine times out of ten, they'll calm down. It's an instant pacifier.
Now, I'm not being a killjoy. I love East Enders as much as the next person. Television, films and computer games can be incredible, and children should be able to enjoy them. The difference is that reading provides a different and arguably more stimulating form of entertainment.
Understanding, and enjoying, a book requires imagination, concentration and a bit of work. The latest Harry Potter, The Order of The Phoenix, is especially demanding. Aside from the challenging plot and ideas, at 255,000 words and 38 chapters, it could double up as a doorstopper.
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Created: 19/05/2003 Updated: 15/09/2003
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