[NOTD] News Of The Day - 03/08/2007

The 17-year-old boy the world knows as Harry Potter is taking the world by storm, or by broomstick, and is taking young readers with him.

Harry Potter, though a fictional character, is familiar to millions of child and adult minds. According to the Associated Press, the first printing of the seventh book in the Harry Potter series, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," was 12 million copies.

Librarians and teachers say the young wizard does magic with young readers.

April Harrison, director of the Pleasant Grove Public Library, said the Potter books may be around for a while because they have changed how young people see reading.

"I personally think he might become a classic. I think he started an awareness of a different exciting way to look at reading."

In general, children do not read for fun like they used to.

An upcoming report by the National Endowment for the Arts found that children are ceasing to read for leisure as they get older.

Sunil Iyengar, director of research and analysis for the NEA, said children begin to quit reading for fun at about age 11, choosing instead to watch TV, listen to music or play on the computer.

The young wizard may not be stopping the tide of declining readers yet, but Donna Cardon, Children's program coordinator at Provo City Library, said he may have helped some children figure out that they could tackle a whole novel. "Deathly Hollows" has more than 700 pages.

"It taught a whole generation of readers that a book is good and that they can read a big book," Cardon said.

Children keep it up after Harry, too. Cardon said some fantasy books are being released double spaced to appear thicker.

Karen Brown, a literacy specialist for the Provo School District, said she sees children who may not normally tackle such a large book reading Harry Potter and continuing to read with increased confidence.

Brown noticed the phenomenon first with her own son, who was reluctant to read. Brown noticed a Harry Potter display in a bookstore and thought he might like the books because he liked the fantasy genre.

"He just gobbled it up," Brown said.

Now she uses "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" and "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" to teach students reading skills, and it's working.

"They feel success reading a book that's that thick and that long," Brown said.

From there students feel like they have the ability to read other things. They also latch on to the series and want to know what happens and more about the characters.

"I think that the Harry books have brought along a whole group of kids who may not have read otherwise," Brown said.

Others said Harry may not make readers out of non-readers, but Debra May, curriculum specialist for language arts for Nebo School District, said the books have caused children to be interested in reading.

"I'm not sure that it makes readers out of kids," May said. "It has increased interest in reading."

May said every child wants to be able to read the Harry Potter books. She's seen second-graders carrying the books around. Some of them can't quite read the books themselves, and carry them around to look at them and flip through the pages.

Harrison said after they have finished a Harry Potter book, children come in looking for things that are similar. The library has lists that suggest books that Harry Potter fans would probably like.

Vicky Turner, children's librarian at American Fork City Library, said children usually like the Eragon, Charlie Bone and the Magician series, and Ella Enchanted.

Brown said Rowling has created a world that kids can relate to, but be fascinated with at the same time. For example most of the stories happen at school, a place most children have experienced too, but it's school in a magical realm that they can imagine.

Sharlene Ricks, a literacy specialist for Alpine School District, said it could be the adventure, but it was probably the hype.

"I really think it's just the publicity," Ricks said. "It became a kind of a phenomenon."

Or it could be their literary quality.

"They're well written," May said. She likes that Rowling writes to make readers feel like they are in the book and can see the story happening.

Catching the reading bug as a child can have benefits.

"It's better than video games. Granted, your thumbs don't get as much exercise," Turner said.

Reading improves imagination and the ability to read when children don't like what they read but have to read it anyway.

"If they read for pleasure they develop their reading stamina," Ricks said.

Iyengar said readers are more likely to be involved in their communities, volunteer and play or watch sports.

People may stop reading as they grow older, but they're definitely reading Harry Potter. Cardon said Wednesday that there were 321 holds on the seventh book at the Provo City Library.

Source: Herald Extra, Utah