I have discovered the secret of the success of Harry Potter. It is fun to read aloud to children. This evening Link, Gleek, and Patches all sat spellbound as I read chapter one Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. When I tried to stop halfway through the chapter, they pleaded unanimously for me to continue. They were this spellbound even though they have already seen the movie. All the little details drew them right in and they laughed often. I am looking forward to them discovering all the delightful things which are in the books and not in the films.
It wasn’t just the kids who enjoyed it either. The words lend themselves well to expressive reading aloud. Yay for Harry Potter.
I remember when my mother was reading the first book to my brother, back when it was first released.
I, being a teenager that was reading the more epic and adult novels of, uh, Wheel of Time, didn’t want to read a children’s book.
But I was in the room while she was reading it to him. And then I wanted to read it. And we read every book then on, very quickly.
They’re really, really good books for reading aloud. Yay!