From: Kathleen Horning <horning>
Date: Wed, 04 Jun 2003 12:47:58 -0500

What you describe, Nancy, is very interesting! Sounds almost like what happened a few years ago with the Goose Bumps series, when younger kids latched onto them (not to read, just to carry around and "be seen" with) and then they became babyish and uncool for the age level they were intended for. It'll be interesting to see if this happens with Harry Potter. I do think that the movies and the merchandising aimed at younger kids have probably hurt the books' appeal for the 11 age range.

I remember hearing two 13-year-old girls talking about Harry Potter a few years ago, and one of them said, anxiously, "What if we get to old for Harry Potter before the next one comes out?" I'm afraid that, for these kids at least, that will probably be the case.

KT

Kathleen T. Horning, Director Cooperative Children's Book Center University of Wisconsin-School of Education 4290 Helen C. White Hall 600 North Park St. Madison, WI 53706

horning at education.wisc.edu Voice: 608&3721 Fax: 608&2I33 www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/

  I work in two elementary schools in Appleton, WI. The kids who admit to being anxious about the release are kindergarteners through 3rd graders. They overwhelming respond "yes" when asked if they are Harry Potter fans and are anxious for The Order of the Phoenix to come out. When asking 4th, 5th and 6th graders they are not so enthusiastic and look around before raising their hands. The best way to know is, to ask the older kids again a year from now to see how many of them read it.
 

Nancy Kiefer Library Media Specialist Edison and Richmond kiefernancy at aasd.k12.wi.us
Received on Wed 04 Jun 2003 12:47:58 PM CDT