J.K. Rowling's best selling Harry Potter books worked their magic on millions of kids by turning them on to reading. Hundreds of teachers and librarians from around the world, eager to encourage this exciting trend, have created online reading lists for readers waiting for the next HP book. These sites are the best of the lot.
The Arapahoe Library District (of Englewood, Colorado) recommends fifteen fantasy books for young teens. Even if you don' have an Arapahoe library card, clicking on "Reserve this Book" button will allow you to research additional books by the same author, or in the same genre. Other worthwhile clicks are the Teen Email Newsletter (with book and movie reviews) and Homework Help (with both live help and links to other homework helper sites.)
The biggest list of the day is found at BookHive, with 102 book reviews in the Fantasy category for intermediate readers (fourth through sixth grade.) I like this site because you add your own comments about any book, and the book reviews are more substantial than those at the other sites. BookHive is published by the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County, and the "Request from Library" link only applies to local library cardholders.
Vicky Morgan, a children's librarian from Boston, Massachusetts, lists fourteen individual books, and fourteen book series, such as "Redwall" by Brian Jacques, and "The Chronicles of Narnia" by C.S. Lewis. But Boston Public Library doesn't only cater to Harry Potter fans. Click on Booklist for Kids for forty-seven more reading lists. From "All Aboard: Picture Books about Trains" to "Turtle Island Tales: Native American Folktales, Myths, and Legends," there is something here for every age group and nearly every interest.
The librarians from L.A. have over forty books and book series to recommend to Harry Potter fans wanting more. "XY" indicates a fantasy book. "X" means the book is fiction. Additional K-6 reading lists can be found by following the Recommended Reading link at the bottom of the page. And for beginning readers, I really like the Tumbleweed narrated, interactive online books. From Kids Path, look for the "e-books for e-kids" graphic.
Salt Lake County Library has thirty-four book recommendations for Harry Potter fans, each illustrated with the book cover. For more reading lists, follow the Kid's Page link (at the bottom of the page) and then click on Children's Books. Here you'll find dozens of book lists from the library staff, as well as links to external literature-related websites.
Buy If You Like Harry Potter Printable for $2.00
or try a FREE trial of the Printables ClubThe following links are either new discoveries or sites that didn't make it into my newspaper column because of space constraints. Enjoy!
Monroe County Library: If You Liked Harry Potter | Neutral Bay Public School: Harry Potter Alternatives |
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