From: Andrea Johnson <ajohnson>
Date: Fri, 12 Nov 1999 10:06:41 -0600

I think part of this problem may be caused by the fact that the books are coming from Britain, and publishing is delayed in the US. Each book covers a different year and I believe they were originally published about a year apart. However, in the U.S. the first three were published in a clump, so in effect we do have Harry maturing faster than his readers.

        I don't know the answers to the good questions you've raised. My inclination is that the responsibility lies with the parent. After all, the first book is at a 4-6th grade reading level, and a lot of parents (as well as teachers and peers) have been pushing them on younger kids. They have to realize that the books are going to continue to be aimed at the original group of kids, who by now is growing right along with Harry and should be about 12 or 13.

Andrea Johnson ajohnson at cooklib.org Children's Librarian * Cook Memorial Library * 413 N. Milwaukee * Libertyville, IL 60048
Received on Fri 12 Nov 1999 10:06:41 AM CST