Reading Harry Potter and Other Books

Maia loves loves loves Harry Potter stories. Until recently, she had only seen the movies. When her brother read the books, he and I would often talk about how the books and movies were different. It annoyed her no end to not know the "special stuff" which is only in the books. I told her that I really wanted her to be able to read the herself since part of what makes Harry Potter books so interesting to me is the way the writing draws you in and you do not want to put the books down. So she picked up Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and started reading. It was very slow going since there were so many words she chose to ask about. But she was reading it. She would read a paragraph at a time and go over it several times until she could read it aloud without pausing or mistakes. The day after she got to the 4th page (remember she is 6), we had houseguests and activities changed. She had not gone back to reading Harry Potter yet, but she still expressed a desire to know what was in the book version of the stories.

Then I got her first audiobook from the library. Of course it was the first Harry Potter book. Once she learned how to use the cassette tape player, oh how times have changed, she was off and reading. She draws and plays while she listens. I can sit with her and do a wide variety of activities or be in the kitchen playing while the story is blaring out. She stops frequently to ask questions. She rewinds to hear details or dialogue that she missed the first time. It is fun to watch her explore this new media. Yesterday she started on the second HP book and got to chapter 5 before she switched activities. Next up, following along with the printed book so even more of those words can become familiar.

Of course, she does read a variety of things quite often. Yesterday's trip to the library yielded 11 "early reader" books. Five are level 3's which were brought home "for when I want it to not be so hard to read". The rest are level 4 books. I am starting to think about the next level of books and what titles I will suggest to her when the time is ripe.

Cleopatra and Brothers

Two nights ago we were reading Story of the World. We finished the chapter about Julius Caesar and Cleopatra. The next morning, Maia is having breakfast and says to me:

I am a bit like Cleopatra. We both have a brother who wants to do what we are doing. Our brothers like to fight a lot and tell other people what to do. I mean they were both Pharoahs and had to rule together and they fought a lot. But I don't want the same thing to happen to Evan as what happened to Cleopatra's brother. That was mean.

So that is her analysis of Cleopatra's brother, the Pharoah.