The boys who wouldn't read Harry Potter

My older son started reading Harry Potter when he was six.

Now I know there is an annoying tendency for parents to humblebrag about when their child started reading Harry Potter, but I tell you this not to boast, subtly or otherwise. The fact is that—while I was impressed—I felt my first-grader was just too young to read the series, and so I tried to dissuade him. He was adamant however, and started boycotting reading altogether until I caved and got him the first few books.

Initially, he was completely immersed, tearing through them and giving me lengthy accounts of how quidditch is played. But sure enough, when he got partway through book three, he put the series down. The plot was getting really dark really fast and was far too much for a first-grader of his temperament at the time to handle. And that was it: he stopped reading them, and has refused to attempt the series again.

I tried to avoid the “I told you so,” and instead pinned my hopes on my younger son, who I expected would gravitate toward the series at a more appropriate age. Unfortunately, on the matter of Harry Potter, little bro took his cues from big bro, and has been refusing to ever read them as well.

I have been getting a bit desperate, to say the least. Of course there are worse problems to have, but I am a kids-books blogger for heaven’s sake! I felt pretty fraudulent standing on my soapbox of encouraging kids to read when my own kids wouldn’t read the most famous series of their generation.

I also felt really sad that my kids would miss out on experiencing a superb story, a brilliantly-realized and immersive world, and a cultural touchstone.

But at a friend’s home recently, I found her daughter engrossed in an illustrated version of Harry Potter that I knew nothing about! And it was unabridged. HALLELUJAH! I just knew I had found our antidote. I quickly purchased a copy and presented it to my surprised younger son—now 10-years old—as a gift.

And I am happy to report, the Potter-Boycotter spell has been broken.

The illustrated book is gorgeously realized by Jim Kay, and it is irresistible. My younger son is racing through the The Sorcerer’s Stone right now, asking eagerly when the next one will be in hand.

I am hoping that at some point my older son will give these versions a chance too.

At the time I am writing this, just two of the illustrated books have been published. The third, Prisoner of Azkaban, will emerge in early October 2017, and the next 5 are slated to be published at some point as well.

But no rush Mr. Kay, you brave and wondrously talented man: You just go ahead and take your time with these works of art. If my sons have to wait for a while between issues, their experience will be no different from that of kids of the original Potter generation, who waited for years, breathless with anticipation from one installment to the next, for this incredible tale to unfold.