Daily children’s book recommendations and events from Anita Silvey.
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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Today marks the birthday of the world’s best-known literary character. He has taken his place along with Sherlock Holmes and Winnie the Pooh as a household name. And he’s only been around since 1998. If you guessed that his name is Harry Potter, you are correct.
Harry emerged in the mind of his creator J. K. Rowling on a train trip. Today, everyone wants to be like J. K. Rowling. Celebrities by the score, writers of adult books, and people who never thought of writing a children’s book are all enticed by her wealth and notoriety. I doubt that many would choose her early path as a novelist. Almost every publisher in England rejected the manuscript of Harry Potter; she had to persevere for years with a story that seemed to be only of interest to her. Finally, she found an editor new to the field in a small publishing house: Barry Cunningham of Bloomsbury Press was willing to take a chance on her book. For around $1,000 dollars he acquired the rights to publish the first book about Harry Potter, and when he called her in for an editorial meeting, he told her that she needed to get a job, because “Nobody, absolutely nobody, ever makes any money in children’s books.”
Why does Harry intrigue so many people? His saga combines an orphan story, a school story, magic, adventure, intrigue, and page-turning drama. Certainly the seven books about him are among the most child-friendly volumes of the last two decades. Not only does Harry have loyal and wonderful friends like Ron and Hermione, but he also encounters intriguing adults—Albus Dumbledore and Professor Snape for instance. After I read Harry Potter, I had a new life goal—some day I want to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts. Millions of other readers have projected themselves into the stories in entirely different roles.
In very short order, after the publication of the first book, the world became wild about Harry Potter. Now there are more than four hundred million copies of Harry Potter books in print. So happy birthday, Harry. Since 1998 you have fought and won a battle against “You-Know-Who” and also convinced millions of young children, who thought they didn’t like to read, that books can be exciting. Also, happy birthday to J. K. Rowling; by some strange coincidence she shares this birthday with her most famous literary character.
Here’s a passage from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone:
The storm raged more and more ferociously as the night went on. Harry couldn’t sleep. He shivered and turned over, trying to get comfortable, his stomach rumbling with hunger. Dudley’s snores were drowned by the low rolls of thunder that started near midnight. The lighted dial of Dudley’s watch, which was dangling over the edge of the sofa on his fat wrist, told Harry he’d be eleven in ten minutes’ time. He lay and watched his birthday tick nearer, wondering if the Dursleys would remember at all, wondering where the letter writer was now.
Five minutes to go. Harry heard something creak outside. He hoped the roof wasn’t going to fall in, although he might be warmer if it did. Four minutes to go. Maybe the house on Privet Drive would be so full of letters when they got back that he’d be able to steal one somehow.
Three minutes to go. Was that the sea, slapping hard on the rock like that? And (two minutes to go) what was that funny crunching noise? Was the rock crumbling into the sea?
One minute to go and he’d be eleven. Thirty seconds… twenty… ten… nine—maybe he’d wake Dudley up, just to annoy him—three… two… one…
BOOM.
The whole shack shivered and Harry sat bolt upright, staring at the door. Someone was outside, knocking to come in.
Also recommended:
- All of the seven Harry Potter titles by J. K. Rowling
Additional Information
A few other events for
- Happy birthday Muriel Feelings (Jambo Means Hello), Robert Kimmel Smith (The War With Grandpa), J. K. Rowling (Harry Potter series), and Lynne Reid Banks (The Indian in the Cupboard).
- In 1790, the first U.S. patent was granted. Read So You Want to Be an Inventor by Judith St. George, illustrated by David Small.
- Shredded Wheat, now considered a breakfast cereal, was invented by Henry Perky in 1893. Read Quirky, Jerky, Extra Perky by Brian P. Cleary, illustrated by Brian Gable, and A Plump and Perky Turkey by Teresa Bateman, illustrated by Jeff Shelly.
- It’s Mutt’s Day. Read Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine & a Miracle by Major Brian Dennis, Kirby Larson, and Mary Nethery and Help Me, Mr. Mutt by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel.