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A popular series, new work from a popular author, and a whole lot of monkeys.
Since the kids are taking about Harry Potter to each other, to parents and to anyone else who will listen, I'd better devote some time and space to the three Harry Potter books: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Arthur A. Levine, 1998 ISBN 0590-35340-3), Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Arthur A. Levine/ Scholastic, 1999 ISBN 0-43906486-4) and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Scholastic, 1999 ISBN 0-439-13635-0).
Rotten relatives. Not since Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Knopf, 1985 ISBN 0-39481011-2) have I seen such widespread enthusiasm for a book. Furthermore, these books are well-written.
In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry s life among the "Muggles" (ordinary humans) and particularly among his cruel relatives will remind you of poor James with his rotten aunts in Dahl's James and the Giant Peach (Knopf, 1996 ISBN 0-679-88090-9).
Harry's life is terrible indeed until a mysterious letter from Hagrid, a friendly giant, informs him that he has been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Real adventure. At Hogwarts, Harry Potter is surrounded by friendship and caring, and the real adventure begins. It turns out that Harry's parents were killed by an evil wizard - a creature so evil that others are afraid even to speak his name, but well utter it here: Voldemort.
Also injured at the time was Harry, who got a lightning-shaped scar on his forehead. Now Harry...