DS wants to read Harry Potter but teacher thinks it'not his level.

[KillBing]

Just that really. DS is in Y3 and twice he tried to take the first Harry Potter book home for reading but apparently his teacher said no as 'it's not his level'. He said he was really annoyed and angry as some of his classmates could ( higher reading level?). Since we have a copy at home buried under a ton of crap I told him he could read it and that's we could look up any word he doesn't understand. Not sure if I should have, am I undermining the teacher or should I encourage DS to read it for fun?

[mamaduckbone]

I'd second sharing the reading of it with him at home.
My Ds1 brought home Harry Potter from school in year 3 (just onto free readers) and found it much too hard going - he gave up after a few chapters.
Fast forward 2 years and he's half way through the Half Blood Prince having devoured the whole series. I've still read some of it to him though (as much for my enjoyment as his).

[WellTidy]

This is interesting, as my year 3 DS has also been asking when he can read the first Harry Potter book. I think he has heard older children talk about it in the playground, and it is seen as a book that good readers enjoy. He wants to be like them, and experience what they experience.

Have you had a look at it and formed. View as to whether he would enjoy it, and manage at least parts of it?

I've read them all a few times, and i am trying to divert him away to be honest. It is well beyond his abilities at the moment. I would rather him read, and read with him, books that he would struggle less with. I'm all for him being stretched and going put of his comfort zone, and that is why he is reading Demon Dentist, and loving it. Plenty of time for much more challenging reads.

[Potterwolfie]

Let him read it at home, it doesn't matter if he doesn't understand some words, or the nuances of the story, what matters is that he's keen to read and is enjoying the incredible story telling and magic of the books.

Many 7 and 8 year olds read and love HP, and then read them again and again as pre teens and young adults, taking something different from the books each time. I agree with PP that the illustrated version of HP&TPS is beautiful and a great addition to the other books.

[TeenAndTween]

I'm hoping they do the other 6 books as illustrated versions too (though dread to think how large some of them would be).
DD1 age 11 prefers books with pictures....

[StepAwayFromTheThesaurus]

I'm hoping they do all the books as illustrated editions too. DS2 really did enjoy the illustrated version (even) more than he enjoys reading the chamber of secrets.

I can imagine the later ones might be multi-volume though.

[fuzzpig]

Me too! We haven't bought the illustrated one yet (DH has the box set of regular books) but am so tempted. We always get the DCs lovely illustrated versions of stories for Christmas and birthdays (the rest of the year any books come from charity shops/library so I like the ones we do get to be really special). Currently reading DD this copy of Narnia - so beautiful (it wasn't that expensive when we got it though!)

As an aside, I once asked for recommendations of such books for my DCs (7 and 5 then) and was told that illustrations shouldn't matter in chapter books, as it's only the words that count. I disagree. Not that you can't enjoy a book with no pictures of course (unless you're Lewis Carroll's Alice I suppose :o) but why shouldn't DCs read beautiful colour versions if they're available

[BeaufortBelle]

Spiderwick Chronicles were brilliant. Less text than HP but felt like grown up chapter books.

[fuzzpig]

Haven't heard of Fabelhaven, thank you

I found DD a colour copy of Heidi so I've got her that for her birthday although my mum is going to give it to her - I hadn't realised it was one of her favourite books as a child, so it'll be far more special coming from Nanny. She's also trying to find a nice copy of A Little Princess but no luck yet (which I've found surprising, considering how many lovely versions there are of Secret Garden

(sorry for derail OP!)

[mrz]

Ive taught Spiderwick in year two and ended up working through the whole series because it was so popular.
I'd also recommend Brandon Sanderson's Alcatraz series I used Alcatraz v the evil librarians with Y4 reading cafe

[fuzzpig]

Oh wow - thank you, that looks perfect! I'll tell mum, she'll be really pleased.

I was wondering about Little Women, that was one of the other ones available from Usborne (where I got Heidi) - I've never read it, but doesn't one of the characters die?! I'm not sure DD could handle that really

[fuzzpig]

The above was to iris

Not heard of that series though mrz sounds interesting thanks :)

[mrz]

www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2013/may/14/review-alcatraz-versus-evil-librarians-brandon-sanderson

[BackforGood]

I'm more surprised it is in the class 'bank' of books in Yr3, tbh. It's not really a book for 7 / 8 yr olds generally. Yes, I know some will have read it, or enjoyed having it read to them, but I understand they were written for teenagers ??
That said, most dc just read whatever comes home from school to tick that box, and actually read for pleasure whatever they pick from the library or their own shelves at home. From that pov, if you feel he is mature enough to cope with it, then just quickly read the book that comes home from school, and then let him read your own copy in his own time. No issue.

[mrz]

The first book is suitable for this age group the later books are more suited to older children 11+

[mrz]

The Rithmatist also Brandon Sanderson would suit a 12 year old

[mrz]

might also like Septimus Heap series and Lockwood and co

[pointythings]

Septimus Heap is awesome, so is Rick Riordan - a bit American, but very witty, accessible and you learn a lot about mythology too.

[greenbloom]

Since when does Harry Potter have a reading level? I wouldn't stop a child reading anything they wanted too, provided the material wasn't unsuitable in any way. Surely if they find it too hard they'll bring it back and try something easier next time?

[sleeponeday]

DS has read all the Harry Potters at home, and they are way over his school reading level. I get why they are, too; his spelling when he writes and some of his grammar isn't anything like that stage, and reading books of that complexity mean he can't learn osmotically - he can only read for meaning. When he reads books at his official reading level, he will hopefully also absorb spelling, grammar and punctuation.

I let him read whatever he wants from our books, and then his school reading alongside.

[sleeponeday]

fuzzpig I don't think Beth dies in Little Women; I think she dies in a sequel, Good Wives? But I may be misremembering, given I've not read them in 30 years!

[JimmyGreavesMoustache]

Read it to him?
dd1 is nearly 9, and we still read to her at night. Gives her a chance to enjoy something a little harder, as she's not focused on decoding/expression etc.