Harry Potter Reading Club
By Polly Conway,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Fun, games, and guidance for kids' first book club.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this website.
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Based on 1 parent review
If your kids can read the HP series or can handle it...let them see this website!
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What’s It About?
Harry Potter Reading Club is an online resource devoted to J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter book series. In Reading Club kids will find games, videos, book excerpts, discussion guides, and more, all revolving around the magical world inhabited by Harry Potter and his companions.
Is It Any Good?
Whether your kids are long-time Potterites or are just being introduced to the books, there's something for every level of interest here. Scholastic has done an excellent job of designing the site to mimic the colors and spooky atmosphere of Harry's wizarding world, and these little touches and details create a really cohesive experience. Once you register, you'll be able to download the Welcome Kit, which includes a handful of fun printables -- like nametags and stickers. Kids will really enjoy being an "official" club. And the site also offers featured activities that change from month to month, keeping kids coming back.
There's a lot to take in and the site can be a bit overwhelming, but as a one-stop-shop for all your family's Potter needs, it does the job. If you want to confirm that your pronuniciation of "Eeylops" is correct, you can do it here. If you've forgotten the motto of famed Quidditch team The Chudley Cannons, this is the place (FYI, it's "Let's all just keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best."). It also includes links to Pottermore, another extensive Harry Potter site, and, of course, options to purchase the books through Scholastic (although they do offer generous samples of nearly 100 pages for each book).
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what makes the Harry Potter series so fun to read. Talk about literary elements: characters, conflict, and plot.
They can also discuss the interesting life and rise of author J.K. Rowling. How did she come to be a successful writer? How much work and perseverance does it take to write something like the Harry Potter series?
Website Details
- Subjects: Language & Reading: discussion, forming arguments, presenting to others, reading, reading comprehension, text analysis, using supporting evidence, vocabulary
- Skills: Thinking & Reasoning: analyzing evidence, applying information, asking questions, decision-making, deduction, making conclusions, thinking critically, Creativity: combining knowledge, imagination, Self-Direction: academic development, initiative, motivation, self-reflection, Emotional Development: perspective taking, self-awareness, Communication: asking questions, friendship building, listening, speaking, Collaboration: cooperation, meeting challenges together, respecting other viewpoints, teamwork, Responsibility & Ethics: respect for others
- Genre: Educational
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy
- Pricing structure: Free
- Last updated: May 1, 2018
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