Alright, I'll admit it, we are officially hooked on Harry Potter. Usually, I'm pretty geeky, and I like to keep certain movies "special" for certain holiday seasons. Harry Potter is great for Halloween time, but over the last few weeks with all of the rainy weather we've had, and the fact that the next movie is comming out on July 15th, we started watching the movies. No matter how many times we have seen them, we love them! There is something about the magic and fantasy that is so exciting, while the tragedy and the portrayal of friendship and love touches you on a completely different level.
Suddenly, it dawned on us, we should start reading the Harry Potter books, by J.K. Rowling! Our son, Tobin, loves to be read to, and last summer, we began reading the Magic Tree House children's series by Mary Pope Osborne. I was amazed at how Tobin was not only able to sit through an entire reading of these books but also loved it! This became our almost daily ritual during Fifi's nap time. Moving onto the Harry Potter books would surely take longer to get through, but I knew we could do it!
Over one weekend we read the first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and are now almost through the second, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. My husband and I take turn reading aloud to the children. I love it that we will spend a majority of our nights of family time reading together and only one here and there actually watching the movies. These are the kinds of moments that I really treasure. I love seeing the light in my son's eyes as he listens to the stories, it is truly amazing. I hope that this time that we spend together reading will be one of my children's fondest memories and will grow in them a lifetime love of books and reading.
I think it is up to each family as to whether or not these stories are too old for their children, but if they are, there are many other wonderful stories out there that can be read and enjoyed as a family. That is really the most important thing...even though Harry Potter is great, it is really the time we spend together reading that makes this such a fun activity! Perhaps choosing a book to read aloud together might be a fun summer activity that your family might enjoy?
Happy reading!
a.
That picture of Tobin is awesome! So cute :o)
Posted by: Tammy | July 02, 2009 at 05:24 PM