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There is something much more engaging and perilous about Mildred's struggles than Harry's-she will always be nice, but might not succeed; he will always succeed by being nice (and the reader knows it).

I should have got Potter as a kidult but never did-Pullman, Reeve, Pratchett's 'kids' works yes; Horrid Henry and Captain Underpants yes, but Potter no, neither characters nor writing did it for me.

Thankyou!!! I was mad when I saw the Harry Potter books, so much seemed a rip off of The Worst Witch... much better children's books in my opinion.

Agree flying - I refused to read them for years for the same reason, but eventually gave in to the hype (as I always do )

Nooo Harry Potter is awesome! (Though admittedly so is The Worst Witch )

I can't agree that HP is awesome, but I will concede that it is better than the Twilight drivel... a friend bought me the books as a gift so I had to read through them... I like to think even as a 14 year old leaving a bedroom window open each night in hopes of a nocturnal visit from a Lestat or similar, I would have found them badly written and dull...

I love both. Dd loved the worst witch too.

I love the Worst Witch too. I still wish I could go to their school. I always liked Maude.

They're basically the same story though, aren't they? Ethel = Draco Malfoy. Mrs Hardbroom = Snape. 3 main characters who are friends. Mrs Cackle = Dumbledore. Mrs Bat = I have no idea but there are plenty of batty characters in HP. Boarding school. Of course WW came first.

I think YABU though. I love both! The TV adaptation of The Worst Witch was fantastic, too. The characters were all spot on and even the things they changed were perfectly fitting to the series. I can still sing the school song/theme tune word for word

Worst Witch - better written, a more satisfying read
Potter - top marks for exciting plot and associated details

Growing up isn't easy.....oh me and eldest dd watched the movie again.the other day....she's almost 18

YATNBU!!

I adored Worst Witch, HP just sounds like a weak re-imagining. Cannot bring myself to read it.

There was a TV version of WW?! Must watch it!

I liked both. Eva Ibbotson even better. Agree with Adelofablois that Pullman and Pratchett kids is good.

Yeah, Tiffany Aching kicks other witches arses!

YANBU. I loved Mildred and Maude...and Ethel was just so infuriating!

I might have to dig those books out again, I think.

YANBU. I never understood why so few people have picked up on this until now. With no disrespect intended to JK Rowling, the Worst Witch was the original and imo the best. I don't understand why it doesn't get name-checked more.

Ethel was my first crush-is that horribly revealing about my values?

The 1998-2001 version was the one I was referring to. There were earlier TV film adaptations but I can't speak for those, as I haven't seen them.

This one

Look! There's an episode on Youtube!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwXKcPNbwqw

There are loads of episodes on YouTube! Can't wait to introduce it to DD (she's too young atm) - just hope she likes it!

Yes Worst Witch is much better. For a start, the author could write.

There was also the Worst Witch film with Tim Curry as the Grand High Wizard.

Don't underestimat e plot.

Now that hp is over it is only a matter of time until hollywood 'does' the ww.(I hope)