I’m a little late.
But, since I saw so many Harry Potter costumes this weekend and learned that J.K. Rowling is now the wealthiest woman across the pond, I had to see the movie.
That’s right – the movie.
It was good, not great.
I am thrilled that it is encouraging so many young people to read, but I am disheartened to know that a lot of adults are peaking at this reading level.
Granted, I did watch the movie instead of reading the book, but that was for research purposes only.
I think J.K. Rowling has set the bar high for the children of the world. She is challenging them mentally and forcing them to use their imagination.
What worries me is that so many adults are reading these books and getting into it as much as their children are.
I had been told by all of my Harry Potter fanatic friends that the books and the movie were beyond entertaining and that they are actually not really “kids” books.
I never saw that.
These books and movies are great for children to have someone to read with and talk about reading but when you are pushing other children out of the way in the book store to get your hands on the next book and you are above the age of 14, there is a problem.
Think about this. If you read Harry Potter with your children and you are into it as much as they are, you are basically teaching them that Harry Potter is the highest reading level they need to strive for.
Don’t get me wrong. It was a great story. I can imagine that if I were still in grade school, I would probably be obsessed with it.
However, as someone who is closer to having grade school children than being one, I can’t imagine freaking out at the sight of Hermini lip gloss and Dumbledorf play dough like a 6-year-old.
Before the Potter fans come firebomb my house, I want to explain my logic.
All I am asking is that when you put down the Potter books, suggest The Scarlet Letter.
Still witches but add a dose of reality and history.
See what I mean?
If your kids are getting excited about reading, capitalize on that and hand them the biography of someone you think they should learn about.
Disclaimer: do not give your 6-year-old the Hitler memoirs. This would be bad.
Parents should at least read books and explain them to their children if they aren’t ready to actually read them for themselves – not sitting outside Barnes and Noble waiting for the 65th book with their Griffendorf signature robe on.
Harry Potter is a great way for your children to explore books and to hone in on their imagination and creativity, but it certainly does not add to their social and historical development.
It scares me that a lot of parents are thrilled that their children are reading, but that their children are reading things that are no more important than the meaningless cartoons they were watching on television.
I know I sound like a narrow-minded party-pooper, but I think if children were given a dose of reality in their reading at a young age, I think our society may have a sporting chance.
I think we can stop praising the Potter books as the savior of all literature.
All I am saying is my kids will have Harry Potter 1 through 100, but they will also have the biography of Malcolm X and Pope John Paul II.