When is a child old enough to read Harry Potter?
Lila Shapiro-Cyr won last week's ask-a-question contest with this timely query:
"What do you think is an appropriate age for kids to begin having Harry Potter (book 1) read to them?"
It's a high-interest topic, given the release of the latest Harry Potter film and the wonderful possibilities of summer reading.
I asked the experts at the Enoch Pratt Free Library for guidance.Deborah Taylor, the Pratt's School and Student Services Coordinator, and Selma Levi, children's librarian at the Central Library, prepared this answer:
"The Harry Potter books with their magic and humor are very attractive to children of all ages. However, like folklore and fairy tales, they are emotionally intense and probably are most appropriate for young people ages eight and up, both as read –aloud and self reading."
"Selma Levi, Head of the Central Library’s Children’s Department agrees that Rowling’s language and wordplay, especially in the first two books, make the books easy to read and understand but parents may find some of the imagery and circumstances in which Harry finds himself, a bit frightening for very young children. Each of the first two books builds to a very intense concluding episode. Parents should know how their child might react to a very high level of drama."
"From Book Three on, the books get increasingly dark and explore even more emotionally intense areas. Rowling always has plenty of humor providing balance and keeping the readers engaged, however, additions such as the Dementors and the escaped criminal Sirius Black will probably make this volume and the subsequent ones in the series more appropriate for readers ages ten and up."
(Associated Press photo of a scene from "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by Peter Mountain/Warner Bros. Pictures)
Comments
When I was 11 the first Harry Potter book came out. I was literally able to grow up as Harry Potter grew up because I was always the same age as Harry. I really think parents should just give the kid the next book as their birthday present every year. That way the book will always be age appropriate because Harry will be the same age they are. Plus I found it fun to have to wait an entire year in between books.
Posted by: Lexi | July 20, 2009 9:11 AM
when I was 9 I saw harry potter's third movie, and loved it. so, I wanted to read the third book, and just when I was 11 I wanted to read the first. Ok, I'm all wrong, but. :B
Posted by: giulia | July 20, 2009 10:01 AM
I agree with Lexi, but I also think that, whilst the themes may be scary for younger children, I think that far too much is placed on the fragility of children these days. Children are, I agree, vulnerable, but they are also exuberant and full of energy, and full of vibrant enthusiasm for the more violent side of things as well. Who hasn't seen boys pretending to shoot guns at each other and beat each other up when they're little? And besides, why shield children from fear, only to find they havnt got an effective shield of their own? If children don't experience fear, then they cant learn to face fear, thus crippling them in dealing with many aspects of adult life.
I read the books since I was seven years old. I agree that the 7/8 mark is probably the right age for children to full appreciate the books, as they are wonderful and complex and I do not think that a six year old would be fully able to understand it.
Posted by: Sylvia | July 20, 2009 2:24 PM
I was 7 when my sister read the first two Harry Potter books to me. After that she wanted me to read the rest on my own, so I did. I wanted her to read the rest to me because 'she could do the voices' but she was adamant that she wouldn't and because I was so into the story I HAD to read them by myself. I grew up with Harry Potter and I thought 7 was a good age to start because I am now an above average reader.
Posted by: Juliette | July 20, 2009 4:15 PM
The Harry Potter series of books is an excellent way to get children reading for recreation. This series brought back the fun of using one's imagination for something other than a video game. I found with my children that they were able to understand and enjoy reading the Harry Potter series when it first came out. They were 8-10 years old at the time.
I also have a children's book, for ages 5-10, called My Mean Old Dad that I hope will have moms and dads, grandpas and grandmas curling up with their children or grandchildren and discovering the joy of reading together. The website for my book is http://www.strategicbookpublishing.com/MyMeanOldDad.html.
Posted by: John Robertson | July 20, 2009 6:24 PM
My name is Allie and I started reading Harry Potter when i was 9. Now im turning 11 and i didnt have a hard time reading it at all but i guess i was a little too young to read Harry Potter.
Posted by: Allie | July 20, 2009 11:02 PM
Beware of experts. My kid is 6 and she has listened to all of the HP audiobooks many times. She has finished reading the first four physical books. The movies thrill her. Maybe it's a good idea to teach children, and experts, to be emotionally mature.
Posted by: Nicolas Martin | July 21, 2009 11:37 AM
Age 8 (in the 3rd grade) is a great time to begin to enjoy Harry and his adventures. If a child start reading the series too young, I find that they push through and lose so much of the magic and wonder of the story. There is alot of confusion keeping the details straight from books 4-7. There are so many details that are not in the movies, younger children might miss these.
Posted by: Karen Clark | July 21, 2009 12:04 PM