While waiting for Harry Potter V

Thank you so much for posting this website! I had heard about these books but thought they would be too dreary for dd. After reading some of the excerpts, I think they will appeal.

If these books work, my husband will thank you from the bottom of his heart, as he can hardly stand to hear anything related to Harry Potter anymore.

Mary

Forgive me but why would anyone want to read or allow their child to read a book with the title The Bad Beginning or the Vile Village (or whatever it’s called). Good grief. Isn’t there enough bad in the world today without willingly reading it?

Harry Potter books are horrible. A friend was talking to a witch, yes a witch (self admittedly) and after she got done raving about Harry Potter books said that children have a phycic ability that is yearning to get out and adults today are squelching that ability. WHAT??????? And she said that those Harry Potter books are allowing that ability to get out. I can even get you her phone number. She has a store and they sell wiccan stuff so I can back up what I just wrote here.

I encourage all Harry Potter fans to research what these books are all about. Because it isn’t just fun reading. There is a message behind those books and it isn’t a good one I can guarantee you that.

Please don’t feel the need to bombard this post with rudeness. We are all entitled to our opinion and I just posted mine. Take it for what it’s worth to yourself please.

Mary, I sympathize deeply with your husband. I’ve read all four of the Harry Potter books aloud three times. I was really grateful to stumble over Lemony Snicket. Plus, his books sneak in a lot of literary criticism concepts and vocabulary in an amusing, faux world weary way. Also, some nice moral lessons for siblings, which mine could really use. Like if brothers and sisters support one another and recognize and appreciate each other’s different talents, together they can conquer adversity and evil. (One quibble: not much character development, although the flatness of the charcters is part of the amusing charm.) Marie

I suppose if loyalty and courage are not what you consider good messages, you’re right, we should all steer clear of Harry POtter.

I would certainly watch what direction my kid read — there are lots of books that do encourage real experimenting with the occult and there are TV shows that are well on the other side of creepy.
It’s been pointed out that the magic in Harry Potter is mechanical magic, though, not occult. You wave a wand and “poof” — rather different than trying to commune with spirits or participating in wicca ceremonies. Yes, in a way Harry “communes” with spirits — the ghosts wandering around and they talk to ‘em. But the ghosts are just there — they don’t do anything to summon them up.
Your mind is clearly made up — just know that many good folks out here who aren’t witches like Harry Potter too (I understand witches eat peanut butter… for all I know they think they have psychic interactions with it… same with using the phone book.) Not going to stop me from eating peanut butter.) If you were to read the Harry POtter books you’d find no instructions that would work for Muggles for magic. It just happens. If a kid behaved exactly like the kids in Harry POtter — at least like the characters that are the “good guys” — wouldn’t be a bad thing, all around, though those kids weren’t perfect either.
So you’re right, if you want books with 100 % perfect models of character in an ideal world… Harry Potter isn’t it. And you’re quite entitled to express your opinion, and I hope you don’t consider a different one to be “rude” by definition.

It’s a Muggle world, by golly.

As a Christian, writer, and publisher some of you (on both sides) have taken Harry to extremes never intended. For witches glorying in the work - Grow to hell up! It ain’t real.

For those thinking these books intend to corrupt our young ones with anti-Christian messages - take a closer look. It’s fantasy.

Why not chuck out C.S. Lewis’s great books, the Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland, Robin Hood, Cinderella, anything not absolutely real???

and then there’s our politically correct neighbors
and out goes
everything written by white men, everything written by Europeans after 1200AD,

and what survives must be carefully analyzed for non-offensive words like: mankind

and so it goes. Sit down, read.

For the record, I’m reading George MacDonald’s Lilith to my 6 and 8 year olds. It’s quite difficult - I must translate much for them - but they are growing. Before Lilith we read O’Dell’s Island of the Blue Dolphins. Next comes Treasure Island……maybe.

Bravo! Ken I am delighted when my 8 year old wants to read and be read to I let him pick anything he wants. Many times it is the Smithsonian Mag. or Time which is not alway a topic I would choose.

Yes we read Harry Potter and the Bible which is not all loaded with wonderful people there are some pretty unpleasant stories there too.

As parents it is our responsibility to help our kids understand what they are reading. Discuss messages in stories.

If we will not open our minds how can we ever unlock our childrens potential.

Marion, Exactly my attitude. Our reading together enables us to discuss our Christianity, our family ethos together. Certainly I could not agree with everything presented as we read - we talk. My kids have never given me an iota of trouble about going to bed - bedtime has always been story time, followed by prayers. When they grow up and leave, this is what I’ll miss the most.
Americans have time for 20 hours of tv per week (I watch about two) but no time for reading to their kids. If national data is to be trusted, it appears that those with the least amounts of free time in our society read to their children the most.
…..yes, and I do censor what we read and watch. I steer clear of overt, anti-religious propaganda that pervades. While I anxiously await the next Harry Potter book. Ken

I hate to add more to this discussion but Harry Potter has been fabulous for my dyslexic 10 year old son. After his teacher read the first book in class, my son has read the other 3 books. Even the fourth book which is over 800 pages. For a dyslexic kid who hates to read to WANT to read 800 pages is so wonderful. And I think my son clearly understands that this is fantasy, just like Pokemon.

Now the trick will be to find another book (or series) that he likes so he keeps on reading! Because his reading will only improve with practice.

Going back to where this started—take a look at Lemony Snicket for your child while awaiting Harry Potter V

Whatever happened to Dr. Suess? Aren’t we trying to make our kids grow up just a little to fast these days? Sure seems like it to me but then again, who am I.

Who are you? In my opinion as valuable as any of us….

Re: Dr. Seuss - We’ve read all of his works - mostly at ages two to four for my kids. Now mine enjoy the continuing saga kind of stories at story time - like Harry Potter - and other children’s novels. Always read to them at about one grade level or so above the expressive vocabulary. Always translate the new words. Ken