“A book is waiting to be read. When you open that book, you give it life. Let it live. It wants to live,” I often advised my students. Yes, I know books are inanimate, lifeless. They are simply words on pages (or Kindles or Nooks or other e-readers, but that’s not the point) bound together. Lifeless.
But books don’t have to be lifeless. They can lead you anywhere and to anything. Books can take us on journeys, teach us lessons, foster our imaginations, help us to appreciate others, and so much more.
Yes, books serve as our travel agents to anywhere and can leave us laughing, crying or both along the way.
But for a book to live, it needs to be opened.
As an English teacher, I had shelves lined with books in my classroom. Students were given time to read in class. All they had to do was select a book of their choice –I was there to offer guidance – and enjoy the journey. Some jumped in and relished this part of the class. Unfortunately, many of the students saw this part of the class as a time to go off task. I’m sure there were many reasons for choosing not to journey. Some of those reasons were probably legitimate while other reasons probably revolved around a student and what he/she wished for rather than what the teacher asked of him/her.
Their loss.
And a great loss it is.
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Recently, BR and I brought Harry Potter to life. Yup, BR was the last 10 year old (and I the last adult) on Earth who had not read or even seen a Harry Potter movie.
It wasn’t for lack of encouragement. In fact, I’ve been trying to get BR to read Harry Potter for a couple of years now. I’d bring it up to BR periodically, but he would nix the idea, “I don’t like the magical stuff.”
I don’t know if he even what he was talking about. I think he just likes to be contrary sometimes. Anyone else know a kid like that? Anyway, after talking to my dad blogger friend, Whit Honea who has two boys who are similar in age to BR, I decided to try again.
And BR cracked. Pretty easily, I might add. He must have been ready because he doesn’t crack that easily normally. Chocolate can help in that process by the way. Just saying.
So, last month we began (and completed the reading of) J.K. Rowling’s, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. We learned about muggles, Hermione (didn’t know how to pronounce her name) Weasley, Dumbledore, Hagrid, Lord Voldemort, Gryffindor, Slytherin, Quidditch, Diagon Alley platform nine and three-quarters, Hogwarts and more.
Now, we are in the middle of the second book, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. We have learned about Gilderoy Lockheart, Moaning Myrtle, Dobby, Nearly Headless Nick, and more.
Yes, a new world (not to mention the fact that if either one of us ever goes on Jeopardy or gets into crossword puzzles, we will have a much better chance of success) has opened up to BR and I. We have learned about friendship, good and evil, loyalty, courage, etc. We have traveled to England – both real and imagined places. We have joined a young boy as he journeys from outcast to hero. We brought Harry Potter to life, and he is giving back so much more.
When we finish Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, we’ll take it back to the library, and it will go back on the shelf. The book will wait with all the others till someone else checks it out and opens it. So, go grab a book, open it up, and bring it to life. A new world is waiting for you.
Don’t you love to read?
My oldest and I read all the Harry Potter books together. With the last several, he was certainly old enough to read them himself, but it had become our thing. I’ll always remember those times, curled up on the couch, reading with my son. My youngest never got into Harry Potter. But luckily, we had other books we could enjoy together. 🙂
I can see my boys and I following that same script.
I love HP! They are amazing books, and I re-read them every couple of years – and I love the movies, too 🙂 The movies aren’t near as good, but still wonderful!
Mr. T had an away game on Thursday so I got to sit down and have a cup of coffee and read a book, it’s been awhile since I’ve had that kind of time and it felt good!
I hope you guys enjoy HP!
It does feel good to be able just chill and read. Love it.
Wow, when do you have time to read anything else?
I think you’re doing great, you and BR. I just love the post. 🙂
Thank you so much.
You can tell BR I have read the entire series twice. That is a good one to read with the kids.
So far, so good. He has the day off from school and we are going to read a chunk of it today.
When I want to give my children a really challenging consequence I take away their e-readers. It kills them. Recently I decided a new creative consequence for my 16-year-old daughter is to read non-fiction books (she loves fantasy and reads a steady diet of Manga). This was very hard on her. I took away her novels and graphic novels and handed her “The Diary of Anne Frank”. She finished it in a few days and said it was wonderful. She started getting cheeky and said it wasn’t much of a punishment and stuck her tongue out at me (in jest) so I told her next time she’ll be reading the biography of Winston Churchill. She became very quiet, very fast.
I’m so glad you and BR have discovered Harry Potter and his friends. They are wonderful stories! I’ve read them multiple times.
I love this response!! Hearing about kids reading makes me happy. Im glad your children are readers. I’m sure it will prove beneficial to them as they get older.