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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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Witch
Points: 692
~Remember Snape~ says:
WOW! That is such a honor for her. I am so happy that she could get that kind of recognition.
Posted Oct 9, 2006 at 4:20 PM EST
Squib
Points: 112
Ginnyish3890 says:
I am glad she is one of the twenty Way to go J.K, she really deserves it.
Posted Oct 9, 2006 at 5:28 PM EST
Hogwarts Founder
Points: 3479
Godric Gryffindor says:
By the way, JKR did change the life of many, because rading is extrmely important!
Posted Oct 9, 2006 at 6:11 PM EST
Harry’s Egg, Dan’s Duck
Points: 4731
Pearl* says:
She sure deserves a place here! Think of all she has contributed to kids (and adults ;-) and their lives! Not just reading, a whole amazing imaginary magical world. Not enough thank you's have ever been said I guess! ^_^
Go JKR!!!
Posted Oct 9, 2006 at 6:18 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 449
Emma#1fan says:
YAY! i know for one thing, she changed my life becase harry potter= my life
Posted Oct 9, 2006 at 7:09 PM EST
Comedy Princess
Points: 3398
Ginevra M. Weasley says:
Ohhhh...this is sooo sweet!!!...She is great...I mean, JKRowling is the best!!!...SHe has a very good heart!!!...Thats why I admire her sooo much.
Posted Oct 9, 2006 at 8:49 PM EST
Student
Points: 205
jerb123 says:
Thats really cool. I would have been surpirsed if she didnt make it acctually. She helped me get into reading and so many more people.
Posted Oct 9, 2006 at 8:54 PM EST
Witch
Points: 639
Harry(the 4th champion) says:
JK Rowling is AMAZING!!!!!!!!
I never used to like reading at all... but when the HP books came out, I became a bookworm. Now Im addicted to HP!!!!
Jos books are wonderful. Those who haven't read them yet have to go to a book store and buy them all and read!!!!
READ READ AND READ!!!!!
Posted Oct 9, 2006 at 9:21 PM EST
Witch
Points: 664
HelenasChemicalRomance says:
Congrats Ms. Rowling! You made the list with Jonas Stalk! Imagine being on the same list as the man that found the vaccine for polio!!
Posted Oct 9, 2006 at 9:40 PM EST
Witch
Points: 844
hwhitesi says:
YAY JK!! Thats always a great achievement. I was kinda stuck by the Beatles but then it made sense. I am so glad she is on the list with them and Seuss and so many others. You deserve it JK!
Posted Oct 9, 2006 at 10:08 PM EST
Prince Charming
Points: 8423
Knight and Shining Armor says:
I don't think J.K. Rolling did that much to do to change childrens stories books. If you think about it their will always be another writter to replace JK rollings.
Posted Oct 10, 2006 at 12:15 AM EST
Squib
Points: 139
accioqrana says:
That's absolutely right! Harry Potter has helped children into reading. We must thank JK. No point of ban Harry Potter!!
Posted Oct 10, 2006 at 3:09 AM EST
Marauder Groupie
Points: 2948
Marauding Mara says:
Oh, that's wonderful for her. Well, she deserves, she managed to a whole generation of kids to pick up a book again :)
Posted Oct 10, 2006 at 6:07 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1424
prajakta d priceless says:
This is fantabulous and she really deserves it.
my imagination has started going haywire ever since i got hooked to these HP books!!!
i know that when i have children after 15 yrs i will tell them to read this series
Posted Oct 10, 2006 at 7:44 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1031
Gibraltar says:
Congratulations! It's true, her books inspire kids to read and be creativ.. She deserves to be on the list for sure!
Posted Oct 10, 2006 at 10:13 AM EST
Mistress of Enchantment
Points: 19630
Muse of the Aurors says:
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.
In all honesty, when you're reading the books though, it really doesn't seem like 600 pages. You're so wrapped up in the adventure and mystery and watching them grow up that you don't even notice the number of pages.
Rowling, in my opinion, is a pure genius! She definitely deserves to be on this list.
Posted Oct 10, 2006 at 11:20 AM EST
Witch
Points: 506
luna_moon says:
I was nine or ten when I first discovered Harry Potter. She inspired me to become an avid reader and even to become an aspiring author. I saw what she did with words and wanted to do the same thing. I'd always loved writing, but I became passionate about it when I got into HP.
Toodles!
~Abby
Posted Oct 10, 2006 at 4:43 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 442
dalishka says:
That's is sooooooo true... The harry potter series did inspire me to read other books... JK is a genious and of course nobody wll write like her.... But her books kept me reading and reading and until the final book comes out she has inspire me to discover other books... So stop saying that harry potter is evil or bad for children... Or better yet stop saying it is not good for kids, because it is.... I mean maybe not for under 10 but higher than that yes....Congratulations JK!!!
Posted Oct 10, 2006 at 6:33 PM EST
Hobbit at Heart
Points: 2777
DangerousBookworm says:
Wow! She deserves this so completely...she did something for kids' literature that nobody else ever has.
Posted Oct 10, 2006 at 7:55 PM EST
Squib
Points: 162
mumof5wizards says:
WOW! She not only changed childhoods of today but I believed she has inspired parents to want to participate more in their childrens reading skills and enjoyment in reading. Totally Fabulous!
Posted Oct 11, 2006 at 1:12 AM EST
Witch
Points: 841
Bossy Boots says:
I wish HP books were around when I was a kid. I didn't start reading them until halfway through high school. Even though I'm not a kid, I am still inspired by her work. Jo, you rock!!!
Posted Oct 11, 2006 at 1:22 AM EST
Slugmeister
Points: 3697
Prawg says:
Awh! And she changed adulthood for some of us as well! I can hardly say she changed my childhood, since I was barely a kid anymore when I started to read HP (hmmm, how ols was I? 15 or something?), but she sure has made me spend a lot more time online than I would if HPANA hadn't been like a third home to me (after Norway and Japan - yes, I consider HPANA a country...)!
Posted Oct 11, 2006 at 5:29 AM EST
Student
Points: 228
Jlgrigsby says:
YAY! Oh I cant wait until it comes out!
Posted Oct 11, 2006 at 8:29 AM EST
Witch
Points: 708
Star Simmons says:
That's great! Congratulations to Jo!! She totally deserves that! She is totally one of the best authors in the world! :)
Posted Oct 11, 2006 at 9:04 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1056
GeeMessy says:
Awww, JKR did change childhood. She inspired a generation to read. There is so much technology that kids can get distracted and the HP books turned kids towards picking up a book instead of sitting in front of a tv
Posted Oct 11, 2006 at 11:15 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1252
1USHPFN says:
Ms. Rowling has had such an impact on my son and his love of books. I can not agree more with Ms. Rowlilng being included on this list.
Posted Oct 11, 2006 at 11:23 AM EST
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