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Original poster

How old is old enough for the first Harry Potter book?

30 replies

MrsWembley · 14/02/2016 20:08

A boy in DD's class (Yr2) has just finished the second and she is asking if she can read them too.

Now, I don't want to do the competitive parent thing but she is just as good a reader as he is (both got the pass to take books from the library at about the same time). However, I seem to remember something about them having been written for the age group that Harry was in each book (obviously with a year or two either side), so I'm not sure if she's really ready emotionally. It's been a while since I read them and they're all in store atm, so if anyone can tell me what they did, before I go searching for them, that would be fantastic.Smile

OP posts:
soapybox · 14/02/2016 20:14

A very wise teacher once said to me that by reading a book which you are too young for, a child loses out twice over. The first time when they read it and are too young to access the full meaning of it and the second time when they are old enough to understand it but having read it before it has lost its magic.

There is an abundance of age appropriate themes in books which are complex enough to stretch even the best young readers, that there really is no need to read books that have themes that are meant for older readers, other than of course the school gate vanity/kudos!

Leave HP until they are 10/11/12 and let them enjoy books much better suited to Y2!

TannhauserGate · 14/02/2016 20:13

Y2 is probably okay, presuming you're reading it to him. Only the first one though. They get quite scary.

Jamarama · 14/02/2016 20:12

I think the first two are fine maybe 3 as we'll but they do start to get a bit dark. Book 3 is about Sirius and dementors and can be scary for children. You should have a read yourself and then you can see how suitable it will be for dc

MooPointCowsOpinion · 14/02/2016 20:12

If you're happy with the content, that it's not too scary, then I would never say no to a child asking to read. If it's slightly too difficult you can always offer to give her a break by reading a chapter to her every now and then.

SellFridges · 14/02/2016 20:10

All the Y3's I know are well into the series, so I would expect a mature Y2 would be OK.

In fact, I know several Y1's who are reading the early books with parents which I will hope to do next year with DD.