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JKR included on '20 People Who Changed Childhood' list 
OCTOBER 7, 2006 at 8:53 PM
Posted by GERI
Source: Child magazine via The Scotsman
Harry Potter author has been named one of the 20 people who have done most to inspire children. JKR was selected for her "unique contribution" to children's literacy and joins such other notables as Walt Disney, Michael Jordan, Jonas Salk, Steve Jobs and The Beatles.
The list, compiled by Child
magazine, writes:
Before J.K. Rowling's bespectacled boy wizard went off to study at Hogwarts, some parents feared their kids would never enjoy reading. Once Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone hit U.S. bookstores in 1998, followed by five more installments, parents found their kids couldn't get enough of Rowling's fantasy adventure novels, some longer than 600 pages. To date more than 300 million Harry Potter books have sold worldwide; they crowded The New York Times bestseller list for so long that the newspaper created a separate children's list. "The Harry Potter books not only sparked an explosion of interest in reading," says Lisa Von Drasek, the children's librarian at the Bank Street College of Education in New York City, "they inspired kids to go out and discover other great books too."
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Auror
Points: 2522
Roswelladdict says:
She may have inspired children but she has also inspired adults to return to reading as a form of entertainment. I am so glad to see her getting the accolades she so desperately deserves.
Maybe when she sees this she will have to think long and hard ebfore she kills off Harry in her last book about him (not saying that she will, just that she might and the possiblity makes me feel ill and maybe when she realizes the impact she has had on kids it will disuade her from doing that to him or any of the trio.)
Posted Oct 8, 2006 at 11:35 AM EST
Witch
Points: 525
Draco'z Devil says:
Doctor suess and the beetles were on there too. JK rowling really did change childhood although it does make a lot of other books look boring.
Posted Oct 8, 2006 at 11:45 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1675
lissir10 says:
Its just like me!! Her books Have made me love reading!! I'm so glad I chose GoF to read when my mother asked me to!
"they inspired kids to go out and discover other great books too."
Yup thats me!!
Posted Oct 8, 2006 at 11:53 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1420
~Hermione says:
Wow, that's so cool and real. When you think of it, her books really changed people. I'm really happy there is a J.K.Rowling and her books on the earth.
Posted Oct 8, 2006 at 12:06 PM EST
Witch
Points: 675
Hogwarts-Phoenix says:
Well deserved. She is brilliant. I think her whole story about how she came to write them is inspiring.
Posted Oct 8, 2006 at 12:11 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1375
'Arry + Hermy says:
There is no doubt she changed childhood. Imagine how many kids were actually interested in reading because of her books!
Posted Oct 8, 2006 at 12:15 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1249
Angelina blu Johnson says:
Yay! Well done Jo, she does inspire us all doesnt she!
Posted Oct 8, 2006 at 12:16 PM EST
Student
Points: 267
Jamie*Owns*Your*FACE! says:
Ha that's pretty cool, I am hoping of course that they thought she changed things for the better...
Posted Oct 8, 2006 at 12:26 PM EST
Points: 10143
GodricGryffindor says:
that's good...she changed my childhood kind of...i probably would have never read a book unless i read Harry Potter...it's still one of the only books that I read.
Posted Oct 8, 2006 at 12:27 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1468
ALLI8 says:
hmm, congrats to JO. i wonder who eles made this list...
alli8!
Posted Oct 8, 2006 at 12:27 PM EST
Witch
Points: 681
Marietta Edgecombe says:
Good job JK!
She really has changed my life and plenty of others with the Harry Potter series.
=]
Posted Oct 8, 2006 at 12:28 PM EST
Head Boy
Points: 415
øffe-joe687½ says:
She never changed my childhood, i was 21 when i read the books for the first time - 1 year ago.
Posted Oct 8, 2006 at 12:30 PM EST
Witch
Points: 678
Witchick says:
Of course she's on this list! Congrats to Jo! I know she definitely changed my life! Don't know how I even got by without my good ole HP....
Posted Oct 8, 2006 at 12:46 PM EST
The Usual Suspect
Points: 3418
Orchid says:
That's very true. I wished I could have been a kid when these books came out, but then again, I probably would have read the HP books only. At least I got to read some other books first.
It doesn't really matter anyway as they are books for kids of all ages, not just up to a certain age.
Posted Oct 8, 2006 at 12:46 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 698
cmenges says:
Harry Potter author has been named one of the 20 people who have done most to inspire children. JKR was selected for her "unique contribution" to children's literacy and joins such other notables as Walt Disney, Michael Jordan, Jonas Salk, Steve Jobs and The Beatles.
I have to agree with the COMPLEAT list EXCEPT for Michael Jorden. BUUT other then him a agree and think that it is an impressive list.
Posted Oct 8, 2006 at 12:48 PM EST
Squib
Points: 159
red-heads-rule says:
Shes changed my life too!
Posted Oct 8, 2006 at 12:56 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2419
Gwenyth says:
It is true that JK has done so much to bring reading back to children. Before HP it was not fun any more but now you cant go anywhere without seeing a good book in someones hand. I have alwayes loved to read but when HP came out it awoke something in me and the public that let me with a library now full of exciting tales and adventures. Where would we be if not for JKR?
Posted Oct 8, 2006 at 1:04 PM EST
Seer
Points: 15207
Brittany Radcliffe says:
i think she did change my life. im not a child but i was when i started reading it but when i REALLY got into HP was in high school. and yeah it changed me BIG TIME. i owe a lot to her. because of her i am on this site and have met some of the greatest friends ever!
Posted Oct 8, 2006 at 1:07 PM EST
Witch
Points: 658
harry's_girl_4ever says:
That's awesome! yay for JK Rowling! She totally deserved that, she really did change childhood. I for one was one of those kids who didnt really read much until the Harry Potter books came around. Now I read all the time! The Harry Potter books realy opened the world of books to me(cheesy i know, but oh well).
Posted Oct 8, 2006 at 1:13 PM EST
Student
Points: 211
Maggie_ says:
Yes, she really changed mu life! I was one of those kids who didn't like to read! Now I just love it, and just because HP's books =D So thank u JK :D
Posted Oct 8, 2006 at 1:18 PM EST
Witch
Points: 651
Ginny_Weasley_Potter says:
I totally agree. Eventhough I'm not a kid, those books make my reading habits stronger. Now I love to read anything and that helps me a lot.
Posted Oct 8, 2006 at 1:42 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 570
minister of muggles says:
Well it's clear that she changed most of our childhoods, so yeah.
Posted Oct 8, 2006 at 1:44 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 51
hockeydrea42 says:
That's so awesome! And SO true!
She changed both childhood and for some, adulthood at that....!
Nice...!
Posted Oct 8, 2006 at 1:51 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1029
Magic Dancer K says:
That's so great. I love these books, but I also love reading. I'm glad that other kids have started to realize that there are fantastic books like these around.
Posted Oct 8, 2006 at 2:10 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1847
Silver_Lining says:
I know for sure that JKR changed my childhood - she certainly is inspirational!
Posted Oct 8, 2006 at 2:17 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1535
BB_Sectumsempra says:
Yay, congratulations to J.K. Rowling. I deffinately agree that childhood has been redefined by the Harry Potter books.
Posted Oct 8, 2006 at 2:26 PM EST
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