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The character Harry Potter has many young fans, and the J.K. Rowling books are encouraging many to read.
By MICHELLE JONES
© St. Petersburg Times, published November 19, 2001
LAND O'LAKES -- The library in Land O'Lakes had a party Saturday afternoon.
A Harry Potter party.
Try saying that 10 times fast and maybe a spell can be cast.
Harry Potter, an orphan and sorcerer's apprentice, has taken kids into a world of imagination like no other character in recent times.
Although no spells were cast Saturday, there were potions -- said to taste like cherry Pepsi -- made; races won; and hats, wands, capes and glasses created with the help of imagination, construction paper and sequins.
The party began by sorting the approximately 50 children into four teams, that is dormitories. Each child picked a name out of a cauldron while wearing a sorting hat.
River Gale, 14, picked Ravenclaw.
He came to the party because he enjoys reading the books by J.K. Rowling.
"I also collect Harry Potter collectibles," River said.
River said he likes to read so much that after his mom makes him go to bed at 9:30 p.m., he reads until midnight.
"I also enjoy fiction adventure books," he said. "Before Harry Potter I was reading, but now I'm reading more."
He said that if he had to make a choice between his favorite television show, Smallville, and reading, he would choose a book.
After selecting their dorms, the children went outside for a relay race.
Members of the four teams had to put on a hat, a cape and glasses, and carry a broom while racing to an adult and back. The first team to finish won a prize.
The yellow team, or Hufflepuff team, finished first.
"We ran super fast, even when everything fell apart," said Tyler Teegarden, 11.
After the race, the four teams divided up to go to Diagon's Alley for a shopping spree and to create their costume, which was led by Professor McGonagall, played by Linda Rothstein, and to the potion demonstration and trivia game, held by Professor Snape, portrayed by Terry Eago.
Afterward they ate cake and punch and received prizes, which included Harry Potter lunch boxes.
Shannon Bennett-Manross, the branch manager of the Land O'Lakes Library, says that children's reading habits have picked up since the Harry Potter books came on the scene.
"The never-before readers are reading," she said. "And the readers are reading more, and parents are reading Harry Potter with their kids."
Patrick Morris is one of the parents.
He was sitting and reading the Chamber of Secrets, the second in the series, while his two children, Amanda Morris, 9, and Andrew, 7, partied.
"I'm going to read the rest," he said. "They are well-written and captivating."
He said his daughter's level of reading has skyrocketed since she began reading the series.
Inside Diagon Alley, the shopping district for witches and wizards, was a book shop where the children could pick out bookmarks, tattoos and games.
This is where the Mirror of Erised (desire spelled backward) was located.
"It will show your secret heart's desire," said Rothstein.
Jamie Sherman picked a paper from the cauldron and held it to the mirror.
On the paper was written: You are going on a Voyage.
Jamie, 8, said it was wrong.
"I like horses better than any other animal," she said. "I would love to have one."
Well, so much for magic.
-- Michelle Jones covers central Pasco community news. she can be reached at (813) 909-4612. Her e-mail address is jones@sptimes.com.