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Harry Potter
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From: Dean Schneider <schneiderd>
Date: Thu, 3 Jun 1999 11:49:37 -0500
Never, in my 25 years of teaching, have I seen a book catch on in such a short time as Harry Potter has. I was constantly buying extra copies of The Sorcerer's Stone for my classroom library (grades 7&8), and I had to order several paperback copies of the Chamber of Secrets from Amazon.co.uk. And during the height of the feeding frenzy, all of my copies were always out, with several names on waiting lists. Then, students from third and fourth grades came to borrow copies from me. And adults who got curious about the appeal of the books found themselves hooked, too.The books apparently work well with quite young students, too. Students who read both of the Harry Potter books wanted more books like those and went on to read Susan Cooper's Dark Is Rising, books by Diana Wynne Jones, etc. So, the discussion of the relative merits of Harry Potter versus Diana Wynne Jones or others is not that important to me; kids, as always, who find a book or author they like, will go on to other similar books and authors, and lo and behold, you have an avid reader on your hands. I liked Harry Potter and I liked Diana Wynne Jones's The Dark Lord of Derkholm; in fact, I need to get more copies of the Dark Lord because my one copy disappeared after being lent out so often. (I hope I got the title right since my copy of the book is not on hand!)
This is just an observation about the appeal of the books at my school. Megan's thoughts about the reason for that appeal seem to be right on the money and are well stated.
Dean Schneider Ensworth School Ensworth Avenue Nashville, TN 37205
Received on Thu 03 Jun 1999 11:49:37 AM CDT
Date: Thu, 3 Jun 1999 11:49:37 -0500
Never, in my 25 years of teaching, have I seen a book catch on in such a short time as Harry Potter has. I was constantly buying extra copies of The Sorcerer's Stone for my classroom library (grades 7&8), and I had to order several paperback copies of the Chamber of Secrets from Amazon.co.uk. And during the height of the feeding frenzy, all of my copies were always out, with several names on waiting lists. Then, students from third and fourth grades came to borrow copies from me. And adults who got curious about the appeal of the books found themselves hooked, too.The books apparently work well with quite young students, too. Students who read both of the Harry Potter books wanted more books like those and went on to read Susan Cooper's Dark Is Rising, books by Diana Wynne Jones, etc. So, the discussion of the relative merits of Harry Potter versus Diana Wynne Jones or others is not that important to me; kids, as always, who find a book or author they like, will go on to other similar books and authors, and lo and behold, you have an avid reader on your hands. I liked Harry Potter and I liked Diana Wynne Jones's The Dark Lord of Derkholm; in fact, I need to get more copies of the Dark Lord because my one copy disappeared after being lent out so often. (I hope I got the title right since my copy of the book is not on hand!)
This is just an observation about the appeal of the books at my school. Megan's thoughts about the reason for that appeal seem to be right on the money and are well stated.
Dean Schneider Ensworth School Ensworth Avenue Nashville, TN 37205
Received on Thu 03 Jun 1999 11:49:37 AM CDT
