Happy Birthday Harry Potter (and J.K. Rowling)

By Stacey Anter
The Library Detective

So many books, so little time! The librarian in me is magically drawn to stop and browse in every bookstore I encounter and so while I was browsing the books section while food shopping this weekend, I found two kids perched on the end of the display table reading books. It’s always nice to see kids hooked on reading, and for quite a while before the explosion of Harry Potter phenomenon, not too many kids were excited about reading. It just so happens that July 31st is Harry Potter’s birthday, and coincidentally, J.K. Rowling’s birthday. I also recently found out that J.K. has just written another Harry Potter story from the point of view of Rita Skeeter, the gossip columnist. To see this and more, visit her new website Pottermore.

While awaiting the latest Harry novel, I wished I could read everything with Harry Potter in the title, and there are a slew of titles out there. Having read the entire series, in order to recapture the magic and do a little reminiscing, I am tempted to read up on (and re-read) the fictional supplementary titles, the informative topics like mythology and philosophy; the controversial issues discussed by parents and professors alike; and let’s not forget the fun websites.

Written by J. K. Rowling but under the clever pseudonyms of Newt Scamander and Kennilworthy Whisp, Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them, and Quidditch Through The Ages are fictional books supplemental to the series and mentioned as being in the Hogwarts library. These titles also add a personal touch with handwritten notes and flip commentary as written by Harry and friends. And let’s not forget the book given to and translated by Hermione, The Tales of Beedle the Bard. For readers familiar with the series who want an inside look at special secrets and clues, you’ll like The Ultimate Unofficial Guide to the Mysteries of Harry Potter by Galadriel Waters and Astre Mithrandir.

If you’re not sure what a muggle is, there’s no need to panic. There are supplemental guides to the series for readers, both familiar and unfamiliar with the wizard and muggle worlds. To acquaint yourself, you’ll need An Unofficial Muggle’s Guide to the Wizarding World: Exploring the Harry Potter Universe by Fionna Boyle. Along with many more Harry Potter terms found in this book, you’ll find that a muggle is an ordinary mortal or a non-magical person. Allan Zola Kronzek and Elizabeth Kronzek, who are father and daughter, present us with interesting connections between Harry Potter’s world and our own mythology, folklore, and history in The Sorcerer’s Companion: A Guide to the Magical World of Harry Potter. And speaking of mythology, The Magical Worlds of Harry Potter: A Treasury of Myths, Legends, and Fascinating Facts by David Colbert is a great resource for anyone reading the series and it provides a wonderful introduction to mythology, fantasy and folklore. Terms like “animagus” and “Voldemort” are defined and explained as well as other deeply researched facts. In The Science of Harry Potter: How Magic Really Works by Roger Highfield, Publisher’s Weekly states that “British science writer Highfield…takes on J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series ‘to show how many elements of her books can be found in and explained by modern science.’”

Harry Potter and Philosophy: If Aristotle Ran Hogwarts by David Baggett, Shawn Klein and William Irwin, gives us a glimpse of what it would be like if the famed philosopher Aristotle ran a school of witchcraft and wizardry. For me, Professor Albus Dumbledore (especially in the form of the late great Richard Harris) epitomizes the wise, gentle advisor and philosopher perfectly. Another wise professor, Edmund M. Kern, Associate Professor of History, writes of the moral complexities facing children today, specifically how Harry faces such problems and how he resolves them in The Wisdom of Harry Potter: What Our Favorite Hero Teaches Us About Moral Choices.

The Hidden Key to Harry Potter: Understanding the Meaning, Genius, and Popularity of Joanne Rowling’s Harry Potter Novels by John Granger looks at the famous series as classic literature in the same way one would study the works of J.R.R. Tolkien or C.S. Lewis. From an author who initially read the series in order to explain to his children why they should not read the books, Granger quickly changed his opinion and is now a staunch supporter of the series as a springboard for discussions. Looking For God in Harry Potter is another book by Granger, who writes in the same vein as The Hidden Key, and provides interesting points for parents to use in teaching their children moral values. Two other books that may be of interest to parents are by another Christian writer, Connie Neal. In What’s a Christian To Do With Harry Potter, and The Gospel According To Harry Potter: Spirituality in the Stories of the World’s Most Famous Seeker, Neal explores the ever-present concerns about the popular series and suggests that parents do the same as Granger, read the series for yourself and then decide.

Since books cost money, unless you borrow them from your local library (hint-hint), the next best resource is the Internet. There are plenty of websites for perusal and play. The most charming is that of the author herself, http://www.jkrowling.com and specifically of the author’s Harry Potter universe is, https://www.pottermore.com . Prior to the finale of the Harry Potter series, could see her virtual desk with much to peek at, including her Frequently Asked Questions, rumors, news, a biography, wizard of the month, links and extra stuff. But, now that she has branched off into other works of fiction, it has changed into a simpler, general author website with news and announcements, biographical, and works information.

I must say that Madam Irma Pince, the Hogwarts Librarian, is quite unlike most other librarians in that we are not all the stereotypical bun-haired “shushers” spying on patrons to ensure that library rules are strictly enforced, although, common courtesy is requested.

Before I pop off, I wanted to let you know that starting next week I will be posting to my blog monthly instead of weekly. I miss writing fiction and I have wanted to get back to it for a while. I have some ideas floating around in my head and I’d like to put them down on paper.

I call myself the Library Detective because I can find the answers to any question you can think of, or at least I can point you in the right direction. To find out more about the Harry Potter phenomenon or author J.K. Rowling, visit your local library; there are more Library Detectives there, too.