Harry Potter is magic

Thank you JK Rowling.. and Harry, of course.

I’m sure I can find plenty of you to disagree, but in my very humble estimation, author JK Rowling and her series of Harry Potter books have changed a generation. I’d go so far as to say that she’s the most influential writer of a generation. And I don’t think you’d be able to argue too much.

And just speaking from experience here, and as the latest Harry Potter movie is about to hit the theatres, my children are out of their shoes excited. They’ve been racing to re-read the series of books to prepare for Harry’s latest adventure on-screen. Prior to Harry, Hermione and Ron, these kids weren’t too hot on picking up a book for the fun of it.

I suspect for millions of children the world over, Harry and his tales of Hogwarts have been a shared inspirtation. They’ve allowed little imaginations to soar. To think of worlds truly apart from reality. Even of words that make no sense.

Forget about arguing the merits of reading a book about magic and whether or not that’s healthy. Because I’ll tell you what is healthy: four kids, on a rainy afternoon, reading and talking about the books they’re reading instead of parking their hind sides on the couch and watching TV or playing video games all day long.

Personally, I adore the Harry Potter books. I read all of them aloud to my youngest two children before they were capable of reading them for themselves. Now, we’re taking turns re-reading the last book (“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”) aloud and I get to listen. We do this over breakfast and the last hour or so before bed. And these children are begging to stay up, not to watch another cartoon, but to read just one more chapter of these precious books.

I believe JK Rowling is a genius. The way she weaves not only the people in and out of her story lines is brilliant. But more than that, she’s inspired my children to learn and understand Latin and mythology.

Everything seems to have a reason in her novels. Trust me, my children inform me about it. From the white peacock in the first chapter of the last book, I am now being schooled by my 7th grader about why, based upon mythology, the peacock is the exact animal that should be roaming in the yard of a particular wizard’s home.

My children now explain to me the meaning of the characters names and the spells based upon what they’ve learned in Latin class. Can you imagine how brutally boring learning Latin must be? Not for these kids, who’ve been fed a steady diet of Latin-based words via Harry Potter books. They get it and they want to get it and I couldn’t be more grateful.

And yes, I’m a giant HP fan too. I’ve learned to love the boy and his wizarding life. I’ve fallen in love the with the stories, so brilliantly told. An old chick like me loves reading these books. And most importantly, I love sharing something like this with my kids.

So, thanks JK Rowling. Thanks for giving my children something they loved to read and the love of reading. Thanks for opening their minds to learning things they may have deemed too dull otherwise. Thanks for giving them Harry, Hermione, Ron and their wonderful tales. And, thanks from one mom to another, for giving me just another reason to spend time with my children.