National Education Association (2007). "Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children". Archived from the original on 20 September 2012 . Retrieved 19 August 2012. Besides the sheer brilliance of plotting in this book, Rowling also presents some interesting commentary with the Dementors, which symbolize depression and force Harry to grapple with his past trauma. Indeed, though Goblet of Fire is widely identified as the “transition point” into the darker themes of the series’ latter half, Prisoner of Azkaban is definitely where those themes begin to take root. My 3rd kiddo, who is now 5 and about to enter kindergarten, is able to read. But he doesn’t usually love to do it unless someone is sitting with him and guiding him through. He still prefers to look at the pictures when spending time with books on his own, and doesn’t quite feel read to read totally independently – which is totally okay! He’ll get there eventually. There is ZERO rush to push them faster than they feel comfortable. Above all, I want reading to be a fun and enjoyable experience. It would be terrible to take away from the magic of Harry Potter by pushing a child to read it independently earlier than they’re comfortable. Of all the zeitgeist-defining fiction to come out of the past twenty years, perhaps none has been more universally beloved than the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. An incredibly imagined fantasy bildungsroman, it follows the eponymous boy wizard as he attends the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and contends with his destiny to fight the Dark Lord, Voldemort. Fortunately, he always has clever, loyal friends Ron and Hermione by his side — plus the invaluable mentorship of eccentric but wise Hogwarts headmaster, Dumbledore.

Person of the Year 2007 Runners-up: J. K. Rowling". Time. 23 December 2007. Archived from the original on 21 December 2007 . Retrieved 23 December 2007. Jennifer Conn used Snape's and Quidditch coach Madam Hooch's teaching methods as examples of what to avoid and what to emulate in clinical teaching, [194] and Joyce Fields wrote that the books illustrate four of the five main topics in a typical first-year sociology class: "sociological concepts including culture, society, and socialisation; stratification and social inequality; social institutions; and social theory". [195] When Bloomsbury Children’s Books published the first Illustrated Edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in 2015, readers were instantly mesmerised by Kay’s magical and rich evocation of the Boy Who Lived. J.K. Rowling said at the time, ‘seeing Jim Kay’s illustrations moved me profoundly. I love his interpretation of Harry Potter’s world, and I feel honoured and grateful that he has lent his talent to it.’ The series established itself as an acclaimed international hit, with fans eagerly awaiting each new instalment. Harry Potter is a series of seven fantasy novels written by British author J. K. Rowling. The novels chronicle the lives of a young wizard, Harry Potter, and his friends Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The main story arc concerns Harry's conflict with Lord Voldemort, a dark wizard who intends to become immortal, overthrow the wizard governing body known as the Ministry of Magic, and subjugate all wizards and Muggles (non-magical people). Nancy Carpentier Brown (2007). "The Last Chapter" (PDF). Our Sunday Visitor. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 October 2007 . Retrieved 28 April 2009.

Gift Editions and Companion Books

Harry Potter transformed children's literature. [165] [166] In the 1970s, children's books were generally realistic as opposed to fantastic, [167] while adult fantasy became popular because of the influence of The Lord of the Rings. [168] The next decade saw an increasing interest in grim, realist themes, with an outflow of fantasy readers and writers to adult works. [169] [170] Rowling stated that she did not reveal Harry Potter 's religious parallels in the beginning because doing so would have "give[n] too much away to fans who might then see the parallels". [30] In the final book of the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Rowling makes the book's Christian imagery more explicit, quoting both Matthew 6:21 and 1 Corinthians 15:26 ( King James Version) when Harry visits his parents' graves. [30] Hermione Granger teaches Harry Potter that the meaning of these verses from the Christian Bible are "living beyond death. Living after death", which Rowling states "epitomize the whole series". [30] [31] [32] Rowling also exhibits Christian values in developing Albus Dumbledore as a God-like character, the divine, trusted leader of the series, guiding the long-suffering hero along his quest. In the seventh novel, Harry speaks with and questions the deceased Dumbledore much like a person of faith would talk to and question God. [33] Themes The novelist, J. K. Rowling a b King, Stephen (23 July 2000). "Wild About Harry". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 17 April 2009 . Retrieved 9 August 2010. ...the Harry Potter books are, at heart, satisfyingly shrewd mystery tales. Harry Potter Books (UK Editions) Terms and Conditions for Use of Images for Book Promotion" (PDF). Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. 10 July 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 July 2007 . Retrieved 7 September 2012. Rowling completed Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in 1995 and the manuscript was sent off to several prospective agents. [56] The second agent she tried, Christopher Little, offered to represent her and sent the manuscript to several publishers. [57] Publishing history The logo used in British, Australian, and Canadian editions before 2010, which uses the typeface Cochin Bold [58]

Harry Potter tour accused of cruelty for use of live 'Hedwigs' ". The Independent. 23 March 2015. Archived from the original on 12 April 2018 . Retrieved 12 April 2018. Rich, Motoko (11 July 2007). "Harry Potter has limited effect on reading habits". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 23 February 2017. Cassy, John (16 January 2003). "Harry Potter and the hottest day of summer". The Guardian. London: Guardian News and Media Limited. Archived from the original on 31 December 2013 . Retrieved 27 September 2008. On 25 January 2021, it was reported that a live-action television series has been in early development at HBO Max. Though it was noted that the series has "complicated rights issues", due to a seven-year rights deal with Warner Bros. Domestic TV Distribution that included US broadcast, cable and streaming rights to the franchise, which ends in April 2025. [243]In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, the book that started it all (understatement of the century), Harry Potter discovers his true identity in the wee hours of his eleventh birthday: he is a wizard, famous in the magical world for having vanquished the evil Lord Voldemort when he was only a baby. This revelation, delivered by a gruff, hairy giant named Hagrid, sets Harry on a fantastical (if also often frightening) journey of a lifetime. Fake Harry Potter novel hits China". BBC News. 4 July 2002. Archived from the original on 1 September 2007 . Retrieved 11 March 2007. Hall, April (15 August 2014). "5 Questions With... Kazu Kibuishi (Amulet series)". www.reading.org. Archived from the original on 18 April 2015 . Retrieved 6 July 2015.

Two characters to die in last 'Harry Potter' book: J.K. Rowling". CBC. 26 June 2006. Archived from the original on 30 June 2006 . Retrieved 1 September 2008. Despite the centrality to the plot of magic/wizards and the battle between good and evil, the deeper appeal of the book is that it's a boarding school novel: about wonderful teachers you love and horrible ones who treat you unfairly; about the ups and downs of relationships with friends and with kids who don't seem to like you—or those who you don't yet know how they feel about you. Age 15/16 is also the year kids in the UK have to deal with the stress of sitting important exams: GCSEs or 'General Certificate of Secondary Education,' known as O or Ordinary Levels in JK Rowling's day. It's no surprise that teenage wizards aren't off the hook and have to sit stressful OWLs or 'Ordinary Wizarding Level' exams in the summer term at Hogwarts. Bloom, Harold (24 September 2003). "Dumbing down American readers". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on 17 June 2006 . Retrieved 20 June 2006. Harry Potter' tale is fastest-selling book in history". The New York Times. 23 July 2007. Archived from the original on 8 December 2011 . Retrieved 30 March 2010.

So what's the recommended reading order (versus the chronological reading order)?

Harry Potter makes boarding fashionable". BBC News. 13 December 1999. Archived from the original on 28 December 2008 . Retrieved 1 September 2008. Fields, J.W. (2007). " Harry Potter, Benjamin Bloom, and the Sociological Imagination" (PDF). International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. 19 (2). Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 August 2010 . Retrieved 15 May 2009. Ellen Jones, Leslie (2003). JRR Tolkien: A Biography. Greenwood Press. p. 16. ISBN 978-0-313-32340-9.