From: Susan Daugherty <kdaugherty>
Date: Thu, 05 Jun 2003 18:04:14 -0500

I can't really agree that the Harry Potter books are not appropriate for younger children although I admit that when I first read The Sorcerer's Stone, I did not purchase it for our K-2 school. I bowed to popular demand later, thinking that there was nothing in it that was truly horrific. When I read the fourth book, however, I realized that although many of our kids were having it read to them, I did not feel comfortable adding it to our collection. I draw the line at murder. I tell children that I feel that
#4 is too violent for a K-2 school, and they usually say that it didn't bother them! As you know, they are watching really frightening things on television. Still, I don't have to condone it.

It makes sense to me that librarians are looking at the content of each book and placing it in the part of their collection that corresponds to the level. Fortunately, we are no longer living in the time when children are not allowed to check out books from certain parts of the library. I used to be stared at when I waited for my grandfather in the adult section, idly perusing the spines of the books. And once I was asked to leave and go downstairs to the children's room. I was really embarrassed and angered. We have made some progress.

My 30-year-old daughter and I eagerly await Harry 5. The 28-year-old could not care less.

Susan Franklin School Madison, Wisconsin
Received on Thu 05 Jun 2003 06:04:14 PM CDT