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Harry Potter
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From: Jean Casey <jcasey>
Date: Mon, 08 Nov 1999 08:16:58 -0600
Speaking of HP as a read-aloud, I would also mention the audio book which is now available. I read HP last spring after CCBC's intriguing discussion, and enjoyed the first two thoroughly. This fall, when all the students were buzzing about it, I realized I had not gotten all the details they obviously had. Having ordered the tape, I spent a delightful week taking the longest route anywhere I was going in order to have a longer listening time. While I'm NOT encouraging this as a method to avoid the physical act of reading, it is a way to extend the pleasure, and the reader did a phenomenal job.
In addition, I agree with the comments about students being pleased to have read a
"big" book. I'd like to compliment Scholastic for producing such a beautiful book. The quality of the paper and binding enhanced this reader's appreciation of the quality of the writing.
Rambling just a bit longer, I often booktalk fantasy, and find it's a real challenge because so many of the best fantasy requires such a leap of faith by readers to be transported to another life, another place, another world. Here's an easy transition, one that's close enough to reality (as we know it) that it's acceptable to our young readers.
In all, this series of books is a wonderful addition to the literature we offer children. Bravo, J.K.!
Jean Casey
11/ 8 12:46a >>> With all due respect, I must disagree with Karen Grayson's friend's comment about Harry Potter NOT being an easy book to read aloud. I just finished reading the first book aloud to my class of second graders this Friday. They were spell bound the entire time and clamored for more at the close of our read aloud time each day. I find the "well written, complex sentence structure" that Gail Guttman speaks of is what MAKES this superb tale of fantasy a phenomenal oral read. (I must admit...I practiced my Hagrid accent nightly!) Daily, the children were mesmerized by the rollicking adventures of Harry and his posse. Even those children who were familiar with the tale enjoyed hearing aloud and sharing the peaks and valleys with a group of their peers. We took a vote to select our next read aloud and...you guessed it...Harry part two won hands down. Let the adventure begin...er, uh continue, I guess!
Regards, Clark clarku at mindspring.com
Message----From: Karen Grayson [mailto:dyrewolf at worldnet.att.net] Sent: Sunday, November 07, 1999 12:53 PM To: Subscribers of ccbc-net Subject: Harry Potter
This was sent to me by a colleague who is not a subscriber to ccbc-net
(time restraints), but is interested in the Harry Potter discussion. Karen Grayson Ward School New Rochelle, NY
I began my year reading Harry Potter to grades 4 and 5 and the students were mesmerized. They loved everything, from Cousin Dudley to friendly Hagrid. The mixture of fantasy and reality is a key appeal. However, the book is so well written, with complex sentence structure, that it does not serve as a good "read aloud." It is definitely an independent reading book. The graphics are an important component of the story, especially THE HOWLER, and they need to be visualized. Also, it is difficult to pronounce the complex fantasy names. Basically, I devote one lunch period a week to Harry Potter, as a book club. There we read annd share our favorite parts, or review confusing sections. I would not worry about children learning any bad habits or poor morals. Children have an uncanny sense for appreciating good literature, and we should accord them that respect. I see no cause for concern with Harry Potter, least of all the ludicrous connection with witchcraft and occultism.
Gail Guttman Ward School New Rochelle, NY
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Received on Mon 08 Nov 1999 08:16:58 AM CST
Date: Mon, 08 Nov 1999 08:16:58 -0600
Speaking of HP as a read-aloud, I would also mention the audio book which is now available. I read HP last spring after CCBC's intriguing discussion, and enjoyed the first two thoroughly. This fall, when all the students were buzzing about it, I realized I had not gotten all the details they obviously had. Having ordered the tape, I spent a delightful week taking the longest route anywhere I was going in order to have a longer listening time. While I'm NOT encouraging this as a method to avoid the physical act of reading, it is a way to extend the pleasure, and the reader did a phenomenal job.
In addition, I agree with the comments about students being pleased to have read a
"big" book. I'd like to compliment Scholastic for producing such a beautiful book. The quality of the paper and binding enhanced this reader's appreciation of the quality of the writing.
Rambling just a bit longer, I often booktalk fantasy, and find it's a real challenge because so many of the best fantasy requires such a leap of faith by readers to be transported to another life, another place, another world. Here's an easy transition, one that's close enough to reality (as we know it) that it's acceptable to our young readers.
In all, this series of books is a wonderful addition to the literature we offer children. Bravo, J.K.!
Jean Casey
11/ 8 12:46a >>> With all due respect, I must disagree with Karen Grayson's friend's comment about Harry Potter NOT being an easy book to read aloud. I just finished reading the first book aloud to my class of second graders this Friday. They were spell bound the entire time and clamored for more at the close of our read aloud time each day. I find the "well written, complex sentence structure" that Gail Guttman speaks of is what MAKES this superb tale of fantasy a phenomenal oral read. (I must admit...I practiced my Hagrid accent nightly!) Daily, the children were mesmerized by the rollicking adventures of Harry and his posse. Even those children who were familiar with the tale enjoyed hearing aloud and sharing the peaks and valleys with a group of their peers. We took a vote to select our next read aloud and...you guessed it...Harry part two won hands down. Let the adventure begin...er, uh continue, I guess!
Regards, Clark clarku at mindspring.com
Message----From: Karen Grayson [mailto:dyrewolf at worldnet.att.net] Sent: Sunday, November 07, 1999 12:53 PM To: Subscribers of ccbc-net Subject: Harry Potter
This was sent to me by a colleague who is not a subscriber to ccbc-net
(time restraints), but is interested in the Harry Potter discussion. Karen Grayson Ward School New Rochelle, NY
I began my year reading Harry Potter to grades 4 and 5 and the students were mesmerized. They loved everything, from Cousin Dudley to friendly Hagrid. The mixture of fantasy and reality is a key appeal. However, the book is so well written, with complex sentence structure, that it does not serve as a good "read aloud." It is definitely an independent reading book. The graphics are an important component of the story, especially THE HOWLER, and they need to be visualized. Also, it is difficult to pronounce the complex fantasy names. Basically, I devote one lunch period a week to Harry Potter, as a book club. There we read annd share our favorite parts, or review confusing sections. I would not worry about children learning any bad habits or poor morals. Children have an uncanny sense for appreciating good literature, and we should accord them that respect. I see no cause for concern with Harry Potter, least of all the ludicrous connection with witchcraft and occultism.
Gail Guttman Ward School New Rochelle, NY
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Subject: signoff ccbc-net
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Received on Mon 08 Nov 1999 08:16:58 AM CST
