Pottering is a Magical Time For You and the Kids

By JAMES ANTHONY

Harry Potter. The name excites children with tales of sorcery and magic and fires their imaginations with the hidden glories of books.

Unfortunately, the same Harry Potter conjures (sorry) up fears of the devil in some adults.

Needless to say, most of the God-fearing - or even more Potter-a-fearing - types live in the southern states of America, where some headmasters have gone so far as to ban the books being read in class by teachers.

Hello! Earth to Cretins Anonymous.

What the hell is wrong with children being excited by books, looking forward to reading and having their minds opened up? What is wrong with wizards, dragons and the like?

Most normal adults would give a vote of thanks to J.K. Rowling for her creation. Harry Potter is one of the most likeable fictional characters around and, together with his mates Hermione and Ron, get themselves into all sorts of mystical trouble.

The trio's adventures also have children flocking back to books.

For those not up on the series, Harry is a teenage wizard whose parents were killed protecting him during an attack by the evil wizard Voldemort.

Left scarred with a scarlet lightning bolt on his forehead by the murder attempt, Harry is sent to live with his Muggle (non-wizard) relatives, who fear and hate him.

When he is old enough he is sent to Hogwarts boarding school, an institution for training wizards, and finds himself sandwiched between the Good and Dark sides of wizardry.

The characters are wonderful - both teachers and students - and the hidden world that JK Rowling has created around wizardry is imaginative and fun.

One of the best things about the series is that it is very readable for older children, and also provides the perfect opportunity for parents of younger ones - say six and up - to get some important bonding time telling the story to them.

I have been reading Harry's adventures to my five-year-old for months, at a chapter or so a night and, while there are dark bits to the books, she absolutely loves the general story.

They are perfect for bath-time and a tub-side reading, or sitting on the couch in the wind-down phase of the evening.

As a working dad who is making an effort to spend a lot more time with his beloved little ones, Harry offers another exciting opportunity.

And, having got half-way through the fourth book, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, I haven't noticed my five-year-old daughter sacrificing the cats in front of a pentangle chalked on to the floor.

But don't worry Headmaster Billy-Bob-Betty-Sue-Jim-Bob-Mary-Ellen-Timmy-Tam, if she starts to - I'll ban Harry.

Scholastic's Harry Potter Site

Official Harry Potter Movie Website