Harry Potter Reading Club
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this website.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Harry Potter Reading Club is a comprehensive Harry Potter-themed site committed to bringing kids together through learning and sharing their experiences reading the Harry Potter series. A parent or teacher will need to set up the book club and approve each member's request (via email). The site can be a bit overwhelming at first, so having a parent or teacher to help navigate the site will put kids at ease.
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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
- Price: Free
- Pricing structure: Free
- Last updated: November 11, 2020
Our editors recommend
For kids who love wizards and magic
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.